Watch Out for those Yellow Jackets!

The cooler weather has us all wanting to spend time outdoors before the winter months sneak their way in. After all, the crisp cool breeze and changing colors of the leaves are best enjoyed outside. But we're not the only ones taking advantage of the cooler temps. In fact, there are several species scrimmaging to prepare for the winter months. But one that proves to be a major nuisance to humans every fall is the yellow jacket!

Yellow Jacket Habits
Yellow jackets are most active in the late summer and early fall. They can become increasingly aggressive in gathering food and are more likely to sting during this time. Since food is such a primary concern for the majority of yellow jackets, the workers can get territorial and become agitated as cooler weather approaches in autumn. Instinct tells them that scavenging for food and a safe place to wait out the winter is literally a matter of life and death.

Most yellow jackets have a short life cycle simply because most nests are primarily built exposed to the elements and they can’t survive winter. However, if yellow jackets have discovered an area inhabited by humans, their nests can last for years if undisturbed since they can be built in the cracks of our businesses, houses, sheds, and foundations. If the yellow jackets find a place to stay warm and protected from the elements, their nest can grow quite enormously and can house multiple queens!

Avoid Getting Stung
If you happen to come across a nest of yellow jackets, cover your face and walk away from the nest slowly. Fast movements can attract more yellow jackets, resulting in more stings. You should also avoid squashing a yellow jacket outdoors. When crushed, yellow jackets emit a type of hormone that causes them to alert other nearby yellow jackets to attack. Killing one yellow jacket could lead to further stings.

Treating a Sting
If you do get stung, and you have only a mild reaction to the sting, you can treat it with an over-the-counter cream such as hydrocortisone or put a cold compress on it to reduce swelling. If someone who is allergic gets stung, the sting could cause severe allergic reactions that require the use of an EpiPen. Some have life threatening reactions that require immediate medical attention. This is known as an anaphylactic reaction. It's important to keep an eye on the sting. If a sting reaction gets worse over time instead of better, a person should seek medical treatment. Infection usually sets in about 24 to 48 hours after a person has been stung.

Get Rid of Your Yellow Jacket Infestation
If you've found a colony of yellow jackets invading your home, it's best to steer clear and contact a professional Lake of the Ozarks pest control company. Ignoring the nests could cause potentially damage to your property as well as risking the health of you, your family and your pets. Multiple stings can be deadly, especially if one is allergic. Contact a professional team that understands how to safely dispose of your yellow jacket problem. Call A B Pest Control & Insulation and rest easy knowing that your Yellow Jacket infestation will be taken care of!

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The Hidden Dangers of Stinging Insects

Stinging insects are a major problem during the summer months. Yellow jackets, hornets, wasps and bees can all ruin your time spent outdoors this summer. However, some of these insects pose more of a threat than others. It is important to know how to spot the differences between them in order to protect yourself and your home. Your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company is here to tell you how to identify and spot these stinging insects and what you can do to get rid of them:

Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets are very aggressive and territorial insects. In the late spring and early summer, yellow jackets feed off other insects like caterpillars to provide protein to their developing larvae that reside in their colony. As the summer season progress, their population grows and their diet changes to contain more sugar. However, as natural resources for food become scarce, they turn to hunting, which is when you'll find them lurking around your home and yard. A few yellow jackets can be a nuisance, but a nest in your yard can be a real hazard. They often nest underground, so if you see a lot of flying insects emerging from the ground, you may have a nest in your yard. By the late summer, one colony can contain thousands of yellow jackets that will aggressively defend their nest. They are easily provoked and will attack and chase a person for large distances. Unlike a bee, yellow jackets can sting multiple times. 

Is it a yellow jacket, hornet, wasp or bee?

Hornets: Like yellow jackets, hornets are social insects (i.e. form colonies.) However, unlike yellow jackets, they nest above ground. They can be aggressive and sting, but they do not scavenge, so you are less likely to see them around your home. 

Honeybees: They nest in cavities, such as hollowed out tree trunks. They are not typically aggressive. Bees forage among flowers for nectar and pollen, so they typically sting if they are stepped on or swatted. If you do approach their nest, they will defend it, but only within the immediate area. A honeybee can only sting once, as its barbed stinger detaches killing the bee once it stings someone. 

Bumblebee: Bumblebees nest underground like yellow jackets. However, bumblebees are rather large, so they are easy to distinguish from other bees and yellow jackets. Their colony is small, typically containing under 100 bees. They will chase invaders farther than honeybees, but do not come out in large groups, as their colony is small. Like yellow jackets, bumblebees can sting multiple times. 

How To Spot Yellow Jacket Nests

A yellow jacket nest is typically underground. You may spot them during the day entering and exiting their nests. These insects are very aggressive and territorial and require a professional pest control company to get rid of safely. It is important to not swat at them, as they will gang up and attack if they are threatened. The best and safest way to get rid of these insects is to hire a professional pest control company at the Lake of the Ozarks. A trained technician will know how to properly treat the nest and protect your home from a further infestation. 

Protect Your Yard From Yellow Jackets With A B Pest Control & Insulation

Enjoy the last few weeks of summer knowing your yard is protected by a Lake of the Ozarks pest control company. A B Pest Control & Insulation can get rid of annoying pests like yellow jackets quickly, safely and effectively. If you have an infestation, make sure you call A B Pest Control & Insulation today at 573-964-1100!

Lake of the Ozarks
Pest Control Company

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www.abpest.net

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