There are many different insects that can sting you and pose a threat to your health. The most common stinging insects are wasps, yellow jackets, hornets, and honey bees. It is important to know how to identify each one and to understand how concerned you should be regarding their behavior.
Identification
• Wasps are a little over half an inch long and dangle their legs when they fly.
• Yellow Jackets are about half an inch long and usually yellow and black. You can’t see their legs when they are flying.
• Hornets are half an inch to three-quarters of an inch long. They are dark with white marks on their face and sometimes their rear end.
• Honey Bees are about half an inch long and very hairy looking.
Behavior
• Wasps: Not aggressive, but do attack when they feel threatened. A wasp sting is very painful and can cause extreme allergic reactions that can even lead to death.
• Yellow Jackets: Very aggressive and attracted to colorful clothing and perfumes. They attack easily, and their sting is powerful and painful.
• Hornets: Are extremely aggressive and sting multiple times. They are easily provoked, and their stings can cause allergic reactions.
• Honey Bees: Are passive and usually avoid humans. Honey Bees are peaceful and should be protected unless they are causing problems.
Nests
• Waps: Nest in tree branches shrubs, under eaves, and underground.
• Yellow Jackets: Nest in the ground, on tree branches, in shrubs, and under eaves.
• Hornets: Nest in vegetation, including ground level shrubbery and high tree branches. Nests are large ovals.
• Honey Bees: Most often are in hives with beekeepers. If they are found in the wild, they nest in walls or hollow trees.
Prevention and Bee Removal in Dallas, TX
You can set out traps for yellow jackets in the early spring. This is their nesting time, so you are likely to capture a queen and prevent her from nesting. In the summer you can capture the yellow jacket workers with traps along your fence line.
You should keep your trash cans closed and pick up any vegetable and fruit pieces that fall to the ground. Hummingbird feeders should be hung away from your home.
Be sure that you seal any cracks and openings around your porch and home. You do not want stinging insects to get into your house. Keep your landscaping clean and plant insect-repelling plants. Wormwood, mint, eucalyptus, geraniums, basil, citronella, pennyroyals, marigolds, and lemongrass are all good choices to repel stinging insects.
When you find nests near or even inside your home, call for professional bee removal in Dallas, TX so you do not put yourself in harm’s way. The professionals at Wildlife X Team are experienced at removing bees and know just what to do to minimize risk.
