Stinging Insects

1. Wasps (e.g. Paper Wasps, Yellowjackets)

• Appearance:
  
  

  • Slender body, narrow waist.
    
    

  • Bright yellow and black (yellowjackets) or reddish-brown (paper wasps).
    
    

  • Shiny and smooth (not fuzzy).
    
    

• Behavior:
  
  

  • Aggressive, especially yellowjackets.
    
    

  • Can sting multiple times.
    
    

• Nest:
  
  

  • Paper-like nests under eaves, in attics, or wall cavities (paper wasps).
    
    

  • Ground nests (yellowjackets), often hidden in lawns or around foundations.
    
    

2. Bees (e.g. Honey Bees, Bumblebees)

• Appearance:
  
  

  • Fuzzy with thick bodies.
    
    

  • Honey bees: golden brown and black.
    
    

  • Bumblebees: fat, fuzzy, and black/yellow.
    
    

• Behavior:
  
  

  • Generally non-aggressive unless provoked.
    
    

  • Bumblebees can sting multiple times; honey bees usually sting once.
    
    

• Nest:
  
  

  • Honey bees: cavities (walls, trees).
    
    

  • Bumblebees: ground burrows, old rodent holes, under sheds.
    
    

3. Hornets (e.g. Bald-faced Hornet)

• Appearance:
  
  

  • Black with white or cream markings.
    
    

  • Bigger and more robust than wasps.
    
    

• Behavior:
  
  

  • Very aggressive near nests.
    
    

• Nest:
  
  

  • Large, gray, football-shaped paper nests usually hanging in trees or on buildings.
    
    

4. Cicada Killers

• Appearance:
  
  

  • Very large (up to 1.5 inches).
    
    

  • Black/yellow with rusty wings.
    
    

• Behavior:
  
  

  • Solitary and non-aggressive toward humans.
    
    

• Nest:
  
  

  • Burrow into sandy or loose soil.
    
    

🕳️ WHERE THEY HIDE OR NEST

Paper Wasps

Eaves, decks, soffits, attic spaces

Yellowjackets

Ground burrows, wall voids, bushes

Honey Bees

Hollow trees, walls, chimneys

Bumblebees

Abandoned rodent holes, under sheds

Bald-faced Hornets

Tree branches, soffits, side of buildings

Cicada Killers

Sandy soil, bare patches in lawns

🛡️ PREVENTION TIPS

• ✅ Seal Entry Points: Check for gaps around windows, vents, and siding.
  
  

• ✅ Maintain Your Yard:
  
  

  • Keep bushes trimmed.
    
    

  • Remove fallen fruit, open garbage, or sugary items.
    
    

• ✅ Inspect Regularly: Especially in spring and summer when nests are being built.
  
  

• ✅ Install Screens on vents and windows.
  
  

• ✅ Paint or Varnish Wood Surfaces: Wasps like untreated wood for nesting.
  
  

• ✅ Fill Ground Holes: Especially in sandy or grassy areas.
  
  

🔥 HOW TO GET RID OF STINGING INSECTS

DIY OPTIONS (CAUTION: Use at night when they’re less active)

🐝 Wasps & Hornets

• Aerosol sprays: Use wasp/hornet spray labeled for nests.
  
  

• Knock down small paper nests: Early morning or late evening — wear protection.
  
  

• Decoy nests: Wasps avoid nesting near another colony.
  
  

🐝 Ground Nesters (Yellowjackets, Bumblebees)

• Pour soapy water or use dust insecticide (like Delta Dust) into nest entrance.
  
  

• Place upside-down glass bowls over ground holes (traps them in).
  
  

🐝 Bees

• Call a beekeeper if they are honey bees. Don’t kill them — they’re beneficial and may be relocated.
  
  

🚫 Avoid:

• Spraying water or hitting nests. It just makes them angry.
  
  

• Attempting to remove large nests yourself — call a professional.
  
  

👷 PROFESSIONAL HELP

Call a pest control company if:

• The nest is in a hard-to-reach area.
  
  

• You or someone in your household is allergic to stings.
  
  

• The infestation is large or recurring.