Insects can be a nuisance, but they’re not all bad. Bees pollinate our food and the Monarch butterfly carries nutrients from one part of the country to another. Plus, bugs are really just animals like us-and we need them too! In fact, some estimates say that insects make up about 75% of all animal species on Earth.
It doesn’t matter how beautiful the day is, or what you’re doing, if you get stung by a mosquito or bee, it will ruin your day. Stinging insects are everywhere and they have caused many people to find themselves in a bad situation. Fortunately for us there are ways to deal with these pesky bugs if we know where they come from and how to prevent them from coming near us.
Stinging Insects
A stinging insect is any insect that injects venom into a victim by piercing the skin with its mouthparts. But there are many types of insects, and not all have stingers on their mouths. In fact, the majority of species don’t have stingers.
There are many different types of stinging insects so it is useful to understand what you’re up against before starting a pest control treatment plan. The most common stinging insects found in homes include:
Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees can often be mistaken for bumblebees, since they are somewhat similar in looks. But carpenter bees have black and white stripes on their abdomens while bumblebees are fuzzy and covered with yellow or orange hairs.
Carpenter bees have small stingers on the tip of their abdomen’s stinger while honey bees have a big barbed stinger that injects venom into your skin when they puncture it.
Hornets, Yellow Jackets and Wasps
Hornets, Yellow Jackets and Wasps are in the order of Hymenoptera which means they have one set of wings that is large and thick while their forelegs are short with no claws or thumbs on them.
Like all stinging insects, Hornets have a barb on the end of their stinger that injects venom into your skin when they pierce it. The venom is very painful but not deadly to humans unless you’re allergic to it. In fact, most people recover without medical treatment after being stung by these pests.
Most wasps build their homes out of paper made from chewed wood pulp mixed with saliva; some make nests out of mud. Hornets will use either one to house their young.
Honey Bees
Honey bees are the only type of bee in the order Apis mellifera which means that they have two sets of wings that are small and thin while their forelegs lack claws or thumbs on them. Honey Bees produce honey as food for their colony, it’s the substance you put into your tea! Honey is actually a sweet food made from flower nectar that hardens when exposed to air.
Unlike the wasp who relies on her stingers to defend herself, Honey Bees rely more heavily on their powerful jaws instead. They can easily tear apart an insect or spider with its mandibles since they have large cheeks filled with venomous saliva used to make their honey.
Hornets do pose an additional danger to humans since they are social insects that live in large colonies and are very protective of their brood, with the queen being capable of stinging you multiple times. On the other hand Honey Bees only sting once because they die immediately after using up all their energy injecting venom into your skin.
Where they thrive…
In order to avoid contact with a stinging insect it’s important to know where these insects live and what attracts them before prevention methods can be put into place. Yellow Jackets prefer nesting in trees but may build nests underground as well if they’re unable to find a suitable tree hollow. They like feeding on fruit and sweet foods so garbage cans, pet food or pretty much any food left out will attract them.
Wasps are found in trees and shrubbery, but you’ll also find them living in open fields or by the side of fences if you don’t keep your yard free of trash. Like Yellow Jackets they like to feed on sugary foods so it’s important to make sure any garbage cans are always kept tightly sealed.
Bumblebees prefer to build their nests underground near birdbaths outdoors or close to a water source inside the house such as a toilet tank or sink drain. They may also nest under large tree stumps during the summer months if there isn’t anywhere else available. You can expect to see bumblebees buzzing around flowers foraging for nectar while honey bees are more likely to be seen flying in and out of a home near food sources like fruit trees, flowering plants or open garbage cans.
Bees prefer high places such as overhanging branches when they look for nesting sites so it’s important to keep firewood away from the house as well as trim any branches that are hanging too low. They also love water during hot summer months, so bird baths make an excellent place for them to cool off after a long day pollinating flowers and crops!
Despite their ferocious appearance Wasps don’t normally pose any danger to people – except for those who suffer from severe allergies. There are some species of Hornets that will sting multiple times under certain circumstances but they die immediately afterwards due to the fact that they use up all of their energy to defend themselves.
How to prevent being stung
To prevent stinging insects from entering your home or yard the best thing you can do is to seal off all potential entrances and lay down traps that will lure them away from your home! Yellow Jackets love sweet foods so you can leave out a bowl of sugar water near a tree that has been infested – they’ll be attracted to it and soon enough they’ll find the way into your house sealed off with wasp trap/spray.
In order for this method to work properly you must be able to remove any existing nests then return every day until there are no more yellow jackets flying around. If you see one headed in the direction of the trap/spray, quickly spray it with water or place a barrier in its way to prevent it from reaching its destination.
If you prefer a more hands-on approach you can seal off the entrance to the tree or ground then dispose of the yellow jackets by hand. Make sure to wear protective clothing and gloves so that you don’t get stung! Try using a shop vac if possible as it will make clean up easier – just be careful not to let any live yellow jackets escape before disposing of them in garbage.
Bumblebees are solitary insects, so unless they’re defending their young there’s no need for them to sting someone since they only have one purpose in life once they become adults: To find food for themselves and raise offspring. This means that unlike Yellow Jackets which are very aggressive when protecting their nests, Bumblebees won’t attack unless you decide to physically disturb them. To keep them at bay you need to make sure that no nests are located inside your home or under the eaves.
To remove existing nests, remove any branches from around your house that hang low and trim back any ivy, woodbine or lantana growing nearby. Once you’ve done this, spray a mixture of water and dish soap on clothing then sprinkle dry insecticide powder over each nest opening once it’s been identified using a flashlight. Then all you have to do is wait for each bumblebee nest entrance to be sealed off after which they will simply move on looking for a new place to live when their homes are destroyed!
Bees can be found in hollow spaces inside or underneath your home, in walls, attics and chimneys. These colonies of insects consist of a queen bee, many female worker bees and some male drones who act as sperm donors until they die after mating with the queen.
Bees are naturally attracted to places that have a large quantity of pollen and nectar such as flowers, bushes and trees so if you want to keep them away from your property then it’s best to avoid planting flowering plants like petunias or marigolds. If this isn’t an option for you then try trimming any branches hanging close to your windows/doors then installing screening on accessible areas like vents, eaves and attic hatches. It’s just important that you do this before there is an established colony of bees inside your home as once that happens it’s very difficult to deal with and you’ll either need a professional exterminator or beekeeper.
As for yellow jacket colonies, the same steps apply – keep their nests away from your property and seal off all openings using caulk. Then inspect thoroughly every month during the spring/summer months since this is when they tend to build nests in new locations…
Ways you can get rid of them
Physical Barriers
As annoying as it is, the best way to keep insects from getting into your home is with physical barriers. Screens on windows and doors are a must in all but the most tropical climates, while a wire cover over your chimney will do the same for any fireplaces or wood stoves you may have. But even if you close up all the holes where bugs might get into your house, they can still try to sneak in through any cracks or openings-the tiniest of which they can fit through! And that’s why it’s important to pay attention to and seal off every tiny little crack or gap with caulk, putty, silicone sealant, or other sealants designed specifically for this purpose.
Alternative Treatments
Even though the best way to keep insects out is by covering a physical barrier around windows and doors, some people prefer an alternative approach-namely using chemical sprays instead. These work very much like bug repellent designed for us humans-except they’re typically designed not just to repel but to kill any insects that come into contact with them. However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind before treating your house for stinging insects with chemicals: * Not all chemical sprays work equally well against every form of bug (some may be designed to only repel mosquitos, while others target roaches or fleas)
* Be wary if you have pets-if you use chemicals in the home, they could easily get into it and require immediate veterinary attention
* You should still try to cover physical barriers around windows and doors (beyond general maintenance like replacing cracked or broken screens) because your spray will only last so long By using both approaches together, you can create an effective barrier between yourself and those bugs. And if you keep your home in good shape and free of clutter, it should be easier for you to notice when insects have gotten inside and find the best ways to get rid of them.
Bees and wasps are another form of stinging bug that can get into your home, and they can be difficult to eradicate. To remove bees or wasps from your home, you should locate the point of entry and seal it off. The insects tend to nest in high places like the attic or ceiling, so you’ll need to go up and examine them.
If you’re experiencing a problem with stinging insects, there are many ways to get rid of them for good. You can take the steps necessary to prevent their entrance into your property in the first place by trimming nearby bushes or removing any exposed pet food or water. If these measures don’t work, then it may be time to install physical barriers like screens and netting around windows and doors-or even use bug sprays that will kill on contact without harming pets-and keep insects away for up to 6 months. Whatever method you choose, make sure they’re safe for both people and animals because safety should always come first!
Contacting a pest control expert is recommended. They will be able to inspect your property and provide the best solution possible based on their knowledge of local pests in your area. They can take care of any type of insect problem from removing nests outside and inside to treating them chemically if necessary. So don’t wait until you get stung-call the experts at Majestic Pest today!