Summer Stingers to Watch for This Season
Before you learn how to get rid of wasps and keep them away, here’s a quick guide on which stinging insects to watch out for this season. We love honeybees, so it’s important to know exactly what species we’re dealing with before we can properly address a pest problem.
Bald Faced Hornets
Bald-faced hornets are not true hornets. They are a type of bee that builds basketball-sized nests in trees. They are black and white, very aggressive and can bite repeatedly, so do not go near one of these nests or throw anything, because you will regret every second of their revenge.
Yellow jackets
Yellow jackets love outdoor drinking during the summer months. But when you’re trying to grill in the backyard, they’ll be after your raw meat, too. These guys are smooth, unlike our lovable honey bee friends who are fuzzy and sweet. Yellow jackets like to nest in attic spaces, garages, and you’ll find them zooming in and out of small holes and crevices, hunting for insect prey as they come and go. These stinging insects sting repeatedly and are not pleasant. Be careful.
Paper bees
Paper wasps are famous for their ability to quickly build paper mache nests under eaves, soffits, shutters and high roofs. They are usually a darker brownish-yellow in color and are not as conspicuous as yellow jackets. They prey on other insects and their stings are pretty bad.
Bees are very aggressive and can sting repeatedly, which is in stark contrast to our beloved honey bees who can only sting once before dying. If you have children, pets, or allergic adults who like to spend time in your yard, you should make efforts to prevent insect infestations.
Quick tips to avoid attracting bees
- No open drinks! Bees love beer, sugary drinks (including wine) and will smell them from afar.
- Cover your raw meats while grilling. Bees love raw meat and will feast on fresh dead animals or your delicious steaks.
- Cover food such as fruit or salad when eating pak or hosting a party.
- Cover the garbage cans with tight lids.
- Consider a professional biting bug prevention service.
One-time Nest Removal
Bees can nest so quickly that they can appear overnight in your hair, in your attic, or in trees on your property. If you see a nest, do not approach it, throw anything at it, or disturb the bees. It can backfire faster than you know. A professional can safely treat and remove said nest for you with our one-time nest removal service.
Prevention of annual bees
Stinging bugs are attracted to certain common structures such as louvered window shutters and eaves, attic tops, and tall uprights. Some homes are prone to paper beehive activity every year because of these features. If you’ve dealt with persistent stinging insect problems over the years, you’re the perfect candidate for our most popular residential service. As a client of the Healthy Home Care Program, we will constantly monitor the exterior of your home and treat specific areas prone to activity to prevent infestation before it occurs. No matter what, we promise peace of mind with our annual protection!
How we help protect our pollinators
For us, pest control is about the balance of nature and our human influence. We spend a lot of time educating all walks of life about the importance of honey bees, butterflies and dozens of other native pollinators in the communities we serve. The Bug Girls have been busy this year visiting daycares, schools and summer camps to educate children about all kinds of insects that are important to our ecosystem.
Munster Parks and Recreation Summer Camp
Tiny Tots Academy Inc. 2
Highland’s Best After School Summer Camp
Contact us to request a Bug Girl visit for your summer camp, daycare or school!