If you're a property owner in Bensalem and are bothered by black and yellow insects exhibiting "dive bombing" behavior, you might be dealing with a yellow jacket infestation.
Known for their aggression and their ability to sting multiple times, yellow jacket wasps are among the most feared pests in the region. People are frequently surprised to learn that these insects serve useful purposes. That is, yellow jacket wasps are industrious pollinators, and they have hearty appetites for other insects, which means that they help to control pest populations.
It is easiest to appreciate the helpful work of a yellow jacket wasp colony when their nests are situated well away from the places where people are found. Forests and meadows are ideal situations for yellow jacket wasps, but when these insects establish their nests either close to or even within man-made structures, wasps and people are bound to conflict.
Unlike less aggressive bees, yellow jacket wasps are equipped with smooth stingers that can be repeatedly used. Anyone who works or lives in close proximity with a yellow jacket wasp colony is liable to be attacked. This may occur with seemingly little or no provocation, and the outcomes can be dangerous for the victim. Accordingly, it is sensible to obtain professional yellow jacket wasp control as soon as possible.
When people see a flying insect with yellow and black stripes, they are frequently confused as to its identity. Some will think they are honey bees while others may say that they are bumble bees. Still others identify the pests as yellow jacket wasps.
It is correct that all of these insects have yellow and black stripes. However, yellow jacket wasps are much more slender than bumble bees or honey bees. Yellow jacket wasps also have virtually no hair on their bodies, which stands in stark contrast to the fuzzy bumble bee. At a length of one-half inch, yellow jackets are quite large. They have minuscule waists, and their bodies are distinctively segmented. When not in flight, the wings rest laterally against the insect's body.
Yellow jacket wasps are highly adaptable and found on nearly every continent, inhabiting a wide range of environments. These social insects form large colonies, sometimes with up to 15,000 individuals. DIY control is ineffective for such numbers; professional assistance is crucial for safe nest removal and destruction.
Bensalem's conditions are ideal for yellow jackets, contributing to their prevalence. Workers build nests each spring, gathering wood from trees, logs, or structures. They mix this with saliva to create a paper-like material. Nests are often found in tree stumps and hollow logs, or even underground.
Yellow jackets frequently nest in man-made structures, including attics, wall voids, eaves, garbage cans, and recycling bins.
Colonies thrive in spring and summer, but most die off in cold weather. Mild winters allow greater colony survival, potentially with multiple egg-laying queens. New nests are started each spring by a single fertilized queen, who typically overwinters in hollow logs, stumps, or tree bark.
Yellow jackets require both sugar and protein. They obtain protein from various insects, including pests like mosquitoes and flies, and may also feed on animal carcasses and food scraps in garbage cans.
While they consume sugary substances throughout spring and summer, their preference for sweets increases in the fall. They seek nectar and plant juices.
Yellow jackets are problematic in kitchens and around food, seeking meat, condiments, baked goods, soda, juice, and other food items, and can ruin meals.
Yellow jacket workers can cause property damage when building nests. They seek untreated or damaged wood, which they chew and transform into the paper-like nest material.
Large colonies can inflict significant damage to window and door frames, siding, railings, outdoor stairways, decks, fences, and other structures. They target wood that is not painted or stained, or that is damaged by water or weathering.
Yellow jackets may even chew through drywall, accessing building interiors where food, water, and people are abundant, putting people and pets at risk of stings.
Yellow jackets are highly aggressive near their nests. People may be stung simply for being in the vicinity, even without provoking them.
These wasps also sting away from the nest when foraging for food, if they perceive interference.
Yellow jacket stings can cause illness even without disease transmission. Their stingers can carry bacteria from animal carcasses, garbage cans, and other unsanitary sources, potentially causing infections and blood poisoning.
Stings can also cause allergic reactions in some people, including swelling, itching, hives, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, low blood pressure, and arrhythmia.
Signs of a yellow jacket problem include:
To help prevent yellow jacket problems, take the following steps:
Newtown Termite & Pest Control uses a comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy to address hornet and wasp problems for area homes and businesses. We utilize the most effective detection, prevention, and treatment methods available, ensuring your home or business is protected from these stinging insects.
Call 267-762-2641 to schedule a FREE inspection today.
Courtesy: Newtown Termite & Pest Control, Inc.
