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What Is A Stinging Insect?
Homeowners in Buffalo may run into an array of household pests, but some are more problematic than others. Stinging insects are going to cause great concern because they can sting you. These pests belong to the Hymenoptera order. Although stinging insects can create issues for you and your loved ones, they can be helpful to the environment. They’re beneficial pollinators as long as they don’t sting you or destroy your property. Before you can find out how severe the problem is, you need to find out which species you’re working with.
In our service area, many of our clients call after finding paper wasps, yellowjackets, honeybees, carpenter bees, or bald-faced hornets. Just remember that bald-faced hornets and yellowjackets are the same.
Which Stinging Insect Is On My Property?
You need to determine which stinging insect you’re dealing with immediately. Use the tips below to do that.
- Look at the nest and its location
- Look at the color, shape, and size of the insect
Paper Wasps
Paper wasps are not the most aggressive stinging insect, but they might sting you. Prevent that from happening by avoiding getting too close to a paper wasp or its nest.
Nests
Their nests are small and gray. Plus, they’re round and feature honeycomb shapes. Paper wasp nests can be found on fences, eaves, and overhangs.
Looks
There are two primary species of paper wasps in Buffalo. The first is the Northern Paper Wasp which has a brown body and some dark orange spots. Its abdomen features small white and yellow stripes. The European Paper Wasps has black and yellow stripes while its antennas are orange.
Yellowjackets
In terms of aggression, yellowjackets rank near the top of the list, and they become more aggressive near the end of summer and fall. As the colony grows, yellowjackets become more aggressive.
Nests
Yellowjackets have large nests with many individuals. In some cases, a yellowjacket nest will contain thousands of stinging insects. Their nests are covered with a paper-like film that is either black or gray. Most yellowjacket nests are found in attics and under porches, but some are found underground.
Looks
Yellowjackets have yellow and black stripes on their abdomens, but their antennas are black. When flying, they will tuck their legs against their body, and they can fly at high speeds.
Bald-Faced Hornets
These stinging insects are extremely aggressive, so it is best to stay away from their nest. Again, their aggression levels peak in late summer and early fall.
Nests
Their nests contain many stinging insects, and they’re larger than most. Most bald-faced hornet nests look similar to an upside-down tear-drop ball. They’re attached to buildings, trees, and bushes.
Looks
Bald-faced hornets have black and white bodies that are smooth. Their abdomen, thorax, and head are a bit bigger, and they have a stinger.
Honeybees
If you have to encounter stinging insects, you’ll want to run into honeybees because they’re less aggressive. You can get close to some stinging insects without getting stung.
Nests
Honeybee nests are extensive, intricate, and feature combs made from wax. They can be located on walls, trees, and rocks. They’re easy to identify because they have a unique honeycomb pattern. Another thing to note is that honeybees may return to the same nest several years, so they’ll store honey to survive during the winter months.
Looks
Honeybees are orange or yellow with brown, fuzzy bodies. They have a stinger as well.
Carpenter Bees
Although their appearance suggests otherwise, carpenter bees aren’t too aggressive. You can likely approach a carpenter bee nest without getting stung.
Nests
Carpenter bee nests are unique because they’re round holes measuring 3/8” found in wood decks, fascia, and siding. These insects are going to carve a hole in the wood so they can use the wood to care for their young.
Looks
Carpenter bees look a lot like bumblebees. In our service area, the common carpenter bee species are yellow and black. It has a shiny abdomen and males of this species have a yellow dot on their face.
Is A Stinging Insect Dangerous?
When you consider the attributes of stinging insects, you’ll naturally believe that they’re incredibly dangerous. Well, some are but some are not. Ultimately, it depends on which species of stinging insect you’re facing and it may depend on the gender as well. As you’ll learn, male stinging insects cannot sting. Some species are aggressive while others aren’t. Also, you’ll need to evaluate the insect’s aggression level by looking at its nest.
If the nest has reached its peak size, the insect will be more aggressive. Ground nests are problematic because you’ll walk to them without realizing it. Therefore, ground nests tend to be worse.
What Causes Stinging Insects?
There are numerous reasons stinging insects have picked your property. However, it likely has to do with nesting conditions. These insects see your property has a good home so they’re going to move in.
Getting Rid Of Stinging Insects
Since stinging insects can be dangerous, getting rid of them will be risky. You cannot ignore this fact. Still, you might be able to remove them from your property by using DIY sprays. These products can help reduce the stinging insect’s activity, but it’ll anger them too. As a result, they’ll try to come after you. If you’re going to deal with the problem on your own, it is essential to do so at night. Treating it at night is safer because the stinging insects will be subdued at night.
Is Your Treatment Safe?
Our company offers highly reliable solutions to take care of your stinging insect quickly. Our experts are trained to guarantee that they’ll provide safe results so you can sleep soundly. We use EPA-registered products that do not pose risks to you, your loved ones, or your pets. When you pick us as your primary pest control expert, you’ll know that you’re going to be taken care of from start to finish.
The Cost Of Our Stinging Insect Removal Services
The cost of our services will depend on the following factors.
- The stinging insect species you have
- The property and house size
- The size and location of the nest
When Can You Begin?
Our company is here to help and we won’t delay providing relief. Contact us to schedule an appointment so we can visit your home in 24 to 48 hours.
Preventing Future Stinging Insect Infestations
It is difficult, if not impossible, to prevent stinging insects from entering your property. We offer a cost-effective home service program to help you deal with such issues. Play a low annual fee and we’ll visit your home three times each year. If we find signs of a pest infestation, we’ll do what we can to remove the pests from your property. The services will be covered by the annual fee so you won’t need to pay for anything else. Contact us today to learn more about this service.
If you have any other pest control issues please check out other services.
