Stinging Insect Identification

What are stinging insects?

Stinging insects are an essential part of our California ecosystem. They are responsible for pollinating plants, trees, and crops, which helps people and animals to thrive, and without their efforts, we would be in a lot of trouble. Predatory stinging insects help to control the number of nuisance insects found in our gardens and yards.

The problem is that while stinging insects are helpful, they also are a serious threat to us. Stinging insects have a stinger extending from their abdomen used to paralyze prey and defend themselves. Therefore, the right way to handle bees and other stinging insects is with a professional.

When stinging insects decided to build a nest in a high traffic area of your yard, they eventually may view you, your family, and pets as a threat to themselves or their nest and attack. However, helpful stinging insects may be, when they build nests in our yards or on our homes, they become dangerous, and the nest needs to be removed.

Common stinging insect visitors to our Ventura County yards include Africanized bees, wasps, yellow jackets, hornets, and European bees.

Bees

Bees are small, flying insects that usually live in colonies. They can typically be found hovering around flowering plants in the spring and summer as they are known for their role in pollination.

Hornets

These insects build communal nests that are made with a papery pulp, which can be found hanging in trees, under eaves, and around outdoor buildings. Hornets are also territorial and aggressively guard their nesting sites.

Wasps

Wasps are often mistaken for yellow jackets, as they are similar in coloring. These pests build umbrella-shaped nests that can be found on the exterior of structures, and their sting can be quite painful.

Yellow Jackets

These insects can be easily identifiable by their black and yellow markings. They typically build their nests underground but can be found in other protected areas like tree stumps, shrubs, and inside man-made structures.

Are stinging insects dangerous?

Stinging insects defend themselves by delivering painful stings to any animal or person they view as a threat to themselves or their nest. While not all stinging insects are super aggressive, some are, and the slightest irritation will cause them to sting. The venom that stinging insects possess is strong enough to cause a serious reaction in those allergic. Responses vary by person and could be as little as swelling around the sting site to full-blown anaphylaxis. Another health risk associated with being stung is an infection developing at the sting site.

Why do I have a stinging insect problem?

When the queen emerges from its overwintering sites in the spring, it will look around for an appropriate nesting spot to start a colony. There tends to be no rhyme or reason why a stinging insect chose your property to nest in; however, most of our yards provide appropriate nesting sites near sources of food that stinging insects can take advantage of. At one time or another, we all deal with stinging insects claiming our yard as their home.

Where will I find stinging insects?

Where stinging insects build their nest and out of what material depends on their species. For example, carpenter bees bore holes into untreated wood, tunnel through it, and create nesting galleries. Others like yellow jackets like to nest in the ground taking advantage of ground holes or spaces under rocks, shrubs, or woodpiles. Wasps, Africanized bees, and European bees all like to nest up off the ground in protected areas, building nests in trees, on utility poles, behind roof eaves, under decks, under grills, behind shutters, and on chimneys.

Sometimes stinging insects exploit an opening they discover in a home and create a nest in a wall void. This area is problematic for a few reasons. One, this places the stinging insects in your home. Another major problem is that when they abandon the nest, the nest and honey left behind will attract other insects and cause mold and mildew issues in your house.

How do I get rid of stinging insects?

Any stinging insect can deliver painful stings when they feel threatened; this is why contacting a professional to remove them from your property is important. With over 63 years of experience treating pests throughout our Ventura County service areas, you can be sure that the professionals at Ventura Pest Control will be able to remove stinging insects from your property safely.

We understand how stressful a problem with stinging insects can be and generally offer same-day service. To learn more about our effective stinging insect control services, call Ventura Pest Control today!

How can I prevent stinging insects in the future?

In addition to our home pest control and commercial pest control services, use the following tips to prevent stinging insects from invading your property:

• Routinely inspect your home’s exterior to ensure stinging insects and other pests cannot find openings and move inside.
• Place caps on chimneys.
• Place gardens away from the outside of your home.
• Limit the amount of flowering vegetation planted near your home’s doors and windows or outbuildings like garages or sheds.
• Keep trash cans and recycling bins tightly sealed to keep stinging insects out of them.
• Don’t allow food to sit for extended periods in outdoor eating areas.
• Keep grill areas free of food debris.
• Regularly do yard work to keep the grass cut short, remove debris, and keep shrubbery and trees from overgrowing.
• Fill in ground holes in your yards and garden areas.

Helpful Stinging Insect Articles

What You Need To Know About Carpenter Bee Control In Ventura County

The Key To Effective Wasp Control For Ventura County Properties