INSECT KNOWLEDGE

Bees, Wasps and Hornets – The Flying Stingers We Fear

These are pests that we have a love-hate relationship with. Yes, we love to see all the pollinators doing what they do best and that’s keeping flowers and plants, well, pollinated. They fly from flower to flower buzzing happily doing what they’re meant to do and doing it very well. We remain quietly at a safe distance, taking time to smell the flowers and watching nature hard at work, when suddenly, much to our dismay, we are noticed, and now we get attacked and stung. You may ask, “What did I do? ” Sorry, you’re not the first, nor will you be the last person stung without provocation. It could be a color we wore or a cologne/perfume we have on or maybe a sudden movement. Who knows? All we know is, we are now a victim of some little insects right for protection. Then we turn and notice a large wasp nest in the eave of our home.

What now?

Bees are probably the nicest of the stingers. They are a social little bunch and tolerate a lot before attacking. One good reason is they can only sting once, yes it’s a kamikaze attack for them and their not in too much of a hurry to end it. I think their view is “so many flowers and too little time to pollinate them all” so they don’t want to give it all up on a whim. You have to be threatening the hive or
them before the sting comes.

Many mistakes a Yellow Jacket for a Bee. Bees are smaller and are fuzzy with orange and black features. Yellow Jackets are not fuzzy and are yellow and black. Bees orange, and Yellows Jackets, yellow. (For emphasis) Yellow Jackets are by far the meanest of the group. They most definitely attack without provocation and unlike bees, they can sting multiple times. Wasps also can sting multiple times and there is a wide variety of them around. Also, there is a large variety of hornets but don’t forget the feisty bumblebee. He’s an ill-tempered little bully too.

The question asked earlier was what to do once these stinging pests have invaded your home. Do not attempt the extermination yourself. You may find yourself getting more than you bargained for and you or a family member could even end up in a hospital. Call a professional exterminator for the Yellow Jackets, Wasps, Hornets or Bees. You may even consider an experienced Bee Keeper for the Bees. We, as exterminators don’t really like to kill Bees but if they are a danger to you and your family, you come first.

So think safety first, not always money. There are enough Pest Control professionals around to get a good price.