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Stinging
Pests

A relaxing summer day can turn into a panic-fest in seconds when bees and wasps show up to the party. While honeybees and bumblebees play critical roles in pollinating flowers and fruit, other stinging pests like wasps seem to serve no other purpose than ruining a nice day by the pool or night on the back porch. 

What Attracts Stinging Pests? 

It’s hard to create a stinging-pest-free environment. Bees are drawn to many types of flowers, like zinnias, snapdragons, and lilacs, which isn’t bad. Bumblebees are generally good-natured and often only sting if they, or their nest, are threatened. Similarly, honey bees can only sting once before they die, which means they’re not looking to pick a fight.

Getting Rid of Bees 

Because they’re docile, you won’t need to utilize a stinging pest removal service for bumble or honey bees unless you suspect there is a nest near your house. Instead, read up on what plants attract bees, and what plants deter them (mint is on the list!). This information can help you create an outdoor environment that encourages bee pollination or reduces bee visits in your yard. 

Getting Rid of Wasps 

Lots of wasps love to build their homes under things like porch roofs and even outdoor furniture. Raw meat going on the grill is certain to draw an unwanted crowd. Pools provide wasps and bees with a way to get a quick drink. While some wasps are mild-tempered, others can be aggressive without provocation. If you see a wasps’ nests popping around your home, bring a pest expert to the site to eliminate it before you or a loved one gets stung.

honeybees on a honey comb

Common Stinging Pests 

Yellow Jacket

1/2″ yellow and black. Often nest in the ground but will nest in walls and other voids. Very aggressive when disturbed.

Paper Wasp

3/4″ to 1″ and has a narrow waist. Will often find nests in eves or under a protected surface.

Bald Face Hornet

Roughly 3/4″. They have white stripes and a white face. Their nest is protected with a paper like skin. Very aggressive when disturbed.

Mud Dauber

Long skinny bodies with yellow and black markings. Non aggressive but can sting if caught. Makes mud tubes for young.

Cicada Killer

Large 1 & 1/2″ bodies with yellow and black markings. Non aggressive but can sting. Digs holes in mostly dry sandy soil.

Bumble Bee

1/2″ to 1″ often confused with the carpenter bee. Abdomen will be striped and fuzzy. Nests mostly at ground level.

Honey Bee

Similar looking to the yellow jacket the thorax will have some fuzz. The best solution if possible is for a beekeeper to come and remove the live nest.

Tips for Dealing with Bees and Wasps 

You can do several things to take care of small amounts of stinging pests around your home. 

Purchased Traps and DIY Wasp Traps

You can purchase traps for yellow jackets and other kinds of aggressive wasps. You can even build your own! 

Many herald the sugar-water trap as an effective way to get rid of a few unwanted wasps. Of course, DIY and purchased traps still put you in the wasp’s way. That means there’s still a risk of getting stung while you’re trying to eliminate these pests. 

Bad Smells

Ok. These plants might smell fine – or great – to us. But to wasps? Not so much. Lemongrass, spearmint, and eucalyptus are known to deter some kinds of wasps. Whether you put the plants in your yard or lather yourself up with essential oils, this method may help keep you from being an attraction to wasps. 

Pest Control 

The safest way to get rid of wasps is to call a pest control service, especially if you’ve seen a bee or wasp nest around your house. Wasps and bees can build their homes in high-traffic areas that pose real risks to you, kids, and pets. Especially if allergies are involved. 

Pest control can involve a single elimination of pests, or a monthly or bi-monthly service that keeps the stinging pests away for the long haul.