You may classify all black and yellow insects in the same group. When one of these flying insects comes your way, the one thing you’re sure about is that you don’t want to get stung. In reality, there are several different kinds of stinging insects, though many of them look similar. Some of the most common are honey bees, bumble bees, carpenter bees, wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets. These stinging insects all have different habits, nests, and food preferences. The signature black and yellow stripes may trick you into thinking they’re all the same, but in reality, they’re each unique insects. However, some prevention tips can address multiple species of flying insects at once.
Let’s look at some ways you can keep flying insects away from your New Jersey house, yard, and porch.
Prevention Tips
Don’t leave food or drinks unattended. Most stinging insects are attracted to food. You may have noticed that bees often appear when you’ve opened a can of soda or when you’re halfway through eating your ice cream cone. This is because they like the sugars. If you’re eating outside this summer, make sure to cover any food that you aren’t eating and avoid spills that will attract insects. In the same vein, don’t leave water sitting out. Stinging insects don’t need to drink a lot of water to survive, but if you leave water out you’re inviting them to stop by.
Keep your yard trimmed and clean. Stinging insects can hide in areas of tall grass or in thick foliage. You’ll be less likely to run into stinging insects if your yard is well-kept and free of stinging insect nests. Keep in mind while you clean, though, that some species of stinging insects build nests underground. While you’re mowing and moving around the yard it’s important to be aware and to keep an eye out for nests.
Avoid exposed skin. When you’re outside you can lessen your likelihood of getting stung by wearing long pants and sleeves. This makes it harder for an angry wasp to find any exposed skin to sting. Using a bug repellent will also help keep away stinging insects. Avoid wearing any strong-smelling lotions, perfumes, or other body products that might attract stinging insects to yourself.
What to do When it’s Too Late
These prevention tips are a good way to start, but they’re only preventative. Nothing can guarantee that a wasp colony won’t build a nest on the side of your house, or that honey bees will not move into your yard. Stinging insects begin their active period in late spring. This is when they emerge to begin mating and nesting. By July they’re in full force. You may already have a nest built on the eaves of your house or in your attic.
Don’t try to remove these nests by yourself. Many stinging insects, such as yellow jackets and hornets, can be aggressive. They will sting repeatedly, sometimes for no reason. Trying to remove a nest will anger the colony and could put you and your family in severe danger of multiple stings and possible allergic reactions.
Instead, call Heritage Pest Control for assistance. Here at Heritage Pest Control, we know how to identify the exact species of stinging insect. We can tailor our treatment to that species and create a plan that works for your family’s specific situation. Stinging insects can be scary and dangerous, but we at Heritage Pest Control know how to eliminate the threat quickly and efficiently.