Bensalem residents are not always concerned when they see yellow jacket wasps. This is because these insects can be beneficial, at least when they live far away from homes and businesses.
However, problems arise when yellow jacket wasps establish nests close to or within man-made structures. Known for their unprovoked aggression, each wasp is capable of delivering multiple stings. Almost anything can spark an attack. The vibration of a lawn mower or an unfortunate choice of foot path may be enough to incite one or more yellow jacket wasps to begin stinging. People who receive numerous stings may be subject to potentially life-threatening reactions.
Nonetheless, yellow jacket wasps can be helpful members of the ecosystem as they pollinate plants and eat troublesome insects. Unfortunately, the threats that they present far outweigh any good they do when wasps build nests that are too close to people.
With their tendency toward aggression, it is never a good idea to just “wait and see” when yellow jacket wasps invade. Not only could structural damage result from the infestation but also people are at risk for coming under a violent attack. Such attacks are particularly dangerous to individuals with allergies to stings and small children.
Because yellow jacket wasp control is risky, it is always advisable for people to seek the services of a pest management professional when an infestation begins. Handling the infestation in its earliest stages is wise as this is when it is easiest and most efficient to control the wasp population. However, licensed exterminators also are capable of dealing with full-blown infestations that may involve multiple nests. Regardless of the size of the infestation, professional intervention protects the people on the property and ensures that no structural damage can occur.
WHAT DO YELLOW JACKET WASPS LOOK LIKE?
Bumblebees, honey bees and yellow jacket wasps frequently are mistaken for each other. However, certain characteristics can help to distinguish one species from the others. Members of all of these species feature black and yellow stripes on their bodies, but yellow jacket wasps have much thinner bodies than either of the other two species. While bumblebees are covered in hair, almost no hair is found on the yellow jacket wasp. Additionally, full-grown yellow jacket wasps are approximately one-half inch long and have incredibly slender waists. When not in flight, the wasp’s wings rest in a lateral direction along its body.
WHERE DO YELLOW JACKET WASPS LIVE?
During the spring and summer it is virtually impossible to avoid yellow jacket wasps in Bensalem or anywhere on the globe. They may be found on almost all seven continents, and they can adapt to survive in almost any environment. Colonies can be large, sometimes having more than 15,000 wasps. It is the impressive size of mature colonies that makes control of this species so difficult. The methods for control that are available to the public simply are not powerful or effective enough to destroy such large colonies.
These pests thrive in relatively mild conditions such as those that are found locally. Workers in the colony construct a new nest each spring by using minuscule pieces of wood that are collected from nearby trees. Man-made structures with weathered wood also may supply the necessary materials. The wood fragments are dampened in saliva in the wasps’ mouths and chewed until a soft, malleable substance is formed. This substance is the basic building block for the wasp colony’s nest, which may be placed in an underground burrow, the hollow of a tree or a tree stump.
Of course, it is possible that these nests will be constructed within or next to a building. Common locations include recycling bins, trash cans, eaves, wall voids and attics.
Most colonies of these pests enjoy tremendous growth throughout the spring and summer, but most members of the colony begin dying off when cold weather arrives. More yellow jacket wasps will survive an especially mild winter, and this may give rise to single colonies having multiple queens to establish even greater growth the following spring. Fertilized queens can establish a new colony each spring after wintering beneath tree bark or in a stump or hollow log.
WHAT DO YELLOW JACKET WASPS EAT?
Yellow jacket wasps require a steady diet that includes protein and sugar. Plenty of protein may be obtained by eating an assortment of insects, which can include common pests such as mosquitoes, gnats and flies. Another option for getting the protein they require is to eat from animal carcasses.
In the spring and summer, yellow jacket wasps occasionally supplement their diet with nectar and plant juice, but these sweet items become of paramount importance in the fall as they are critical to surviving the dropping temperatures.
Their dietary emphasis on protein and sugar makes human food enormously attractive to yellow jacket wasps. The pests congregate around picnic tables and barbecue grills throughout the warmer months. Indoors, the yellow jacket wasps target desserts, baked goods, honey, syrup, jam, peanut butter, meat, barbecue sauce and any other edible items that may contain protein or sugar.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY YELLOW JACKET WASPS
People frequently are shocked to learn just how destructive yellow jacket wasps can be. Much of the damage is caused in the spring as worker yellow jackets forage for material out of which to construct a nest. Appropriate places to gather this material include trees and stumps, but the insects will rely on wooden fences, decking, siding, window frames, doors frames, support posts and all sorts of other construction items that are not painted, stained or otherwise treated.
Although each yellow jacket removes just a tiny amount of wood at a time, a sizable colony can do quite a bit of damage. This worsening damage can be exacerbated by other wood destroying insects as well as the elements.
When yellow jacket wasp colonies build nests in soffits and wall voids, it further is possible that the pests will gnaw their way through drywall. This allows them to get directly into the parts of buildings that are inhabited by people and pets. Stinging attacks are virtually guaranteed when these aggressive insects come indoors.
ARE YELLOW JACKET WASPS AGGRESSIVE?
Recognized as one of the most aggressive flying insects, yellow jacket wasps may attack at even the slightest provocation. In fact, it frequently seems that stinging attacks begin without any reason at all.
Yellow jacket wasps are extremely territorial and most likely to attack while in the vicinity of their nest. However, they will sting elsewhere if they are alarmed.
DO YELLOW JACKET WASPS CARRY DISEASE?
These insects do not transmit illnesses with their stings. Nonetheless, some people do get sick after being stung multiple times or because they are allergic to the stings. It additionally is worth noting that yellow jacket wasps forage for food in trash cans and animal carcasses, which means that they can pass along infections and blood poisoning with their stings.
People who are stung many times or are allergic may experience breathing problems, hives, itching and extreme swelling. Further symptoms of an adverse reaction may include heart arrhythmia and low blood pressure as well as vomiting and diarrhea.
HOW TO DETECT YELLOW JACKET WASPS
Signs of a yellow jacket wasp infestation include:
• Yellow and black stinging insects frequently are seen • People hear rustling sounds behind walls • People are dive bombed by insects while on the premises • Unusual staining is seen on walls and ceilings
HOW TO PREVENT YELLOW JACKET WASPS
To help prevent yellow jacket wasp issues the following steps should be taken:
• All wood on the property is painted, stained or treated • Regularly clean trash and recycling bins • Make sure that trash and recycling bins have tight lids • Routinely inspect buildings and landscaping for signs of new wasp nests • Possible pest entrances to buildings are blocked or sealed
HOW WE TREAT FOR YELLOW JACKET WASPS
At Newtown Termite & Pest Control, we use a multi-faceted approach for treating hornets and wasps that have become problematic for area homes and businesses. Our methodology involves making use of the most appropriate detection, prevention, and treatments methods available. By combining these measures, we ensure that your home or business remains free of wasps and hornets.
