Wasps 




WASP CONTROL BUCKS COUNTY PA



Wasps are unwelcome guests in most places across Bucks County. Known for their aggressive behavior, female wasps are able to sting multiple times. Even male wasps, which typically do not have stingers, fly about in an aggressive manner, making people uneasy.

Species such as the bald-faced hornet, cicada killer wasp and yellow jacket wasp emerge each spring. This new generation of pests is brought about by a queen that successfully chose a safe, secluded spot to spend the winter. As soon as it is warm enough in the spring, she comes out of hiding to establish a new nest. Her first generation of workers soon is brought forth. Their responsibilities include constructing the nest and providing food and other care for subsequent broods.

Successful colonies of wasps can grow with incredible speed. When nests are placed close to residential or commercial buildings, then stinging attacks are all-but guaranteed. This is because wasp behavior tends to be especially aggressive in the vicinity of the nest.

While bald-faced hornets and yellow jacket wasps are notoriously aggressive, the cicada killer wasp tends to be less so. She will sting, but only if strongly provoked. By contrast, other wasp species seem to attack with little reason at all.

Because of their ability to sting many times and with great pain, removing wasp nests is no easy task. In fact, it is dangerous for people to try to remove wasp nests without professional assistance. Local pest management companies are adept at this and other pest control tasks, making indoor and outdoor spaces safer for people to occupy.

WHAT DO WASPS LOOK LIKE?



People tend to think of wasps as exhibiting the yellow and black stripes that are seen on bees, but this is not always the case. For example, the bald-faced hornet is almost entirely black. Her face is distinctively white, with this characteristic being responsible for her name. The abdomen also may display a few white markings. Most workers of the species measure about three-quarters of an inch long.

The yellow jacket wasp more closely conforms to most peoples' ideas of what a wasp looks like. This is because she displays the familiar black and yellow stripes. Although this color scheme is similar to that of a honey bee, the yellow jacket has a more slender body and is virtually hairless. Most females grow to a maximum of between three-eighths and five-eighths of an inch long.

At about one-and-a-half inches, the cicada killer wasp easily is the largest in the region. Although her size makes her appear fearsome, this is the gentlest local wasp species. Adults have black abdomens that are marked with three yellow stripes. The wings tend to be red while the thorax and head are red or brown.

WHERE DO WASPS LIVE?



Building nests from a mixture of saliva and wood fibers, the bald-faced hornet typically suspends their creation from a tree, large shrub, utility pole or the overhang of a building. The nest looks like it is made from paper, and some of them may reach a diameter of more than two feet.

Yellow jacket wasps also make a paper-like substance using saliva and wood fibers to construct their nests. Although many of these are suspended like the nest of the bald-faced hornets, some sub-species of yellow jackets actually prefer underground nests. They may take over an abandoned animal burrow to serve this purpose.

Cicada killer wasps are solitary rather than social. Accordingly, they do not build large communal nests. Lone cicada killer wasp females dig 10-inch burrows into soil, often alongside patios, driveways or sidewalks. If conditions are ideal in a single location, it is possible that several females will settle in a central area, causing an unsightly mess.

WHAT DO WASPS EAT?


Bald-faced hornets eat a relatively wide variety of food that includes insects, nectar from flowers and plants and the juice from various fruits. The colony's adults sometimes also eat a sweet substance that is excreted by the larvae in the nest.

Yellow jacket wasps mainly are carnivorous, usually eating dead insects as well as obtaining meat from animal carcasses. Sweet foods are consumed as well, generally flower nectar or fruit.

Adult cicada killer wasps eat fermented tree sap and plant nectar. It is only the larvae of the species that actually eat cicadas.

From their reliance on protein and sugar in their daily diet, it is obvious why all wasps are attracted to the foods that people eat. From an outdoor barbecue to sandwiches served indoors for lunch, wasps are bound to gather. Sodas, juice, baked goods, pet food and condiments are just a few examples of the foods that wasps like.

DAMAGE CAUSED BY WASPS



Bald-faced hornets and yellow jacket wasps both require wood fibers to construct their nest. These fibers may be gathered from trees or woodpiles, but the pests are just as likely to use unprotected wood from man-made structures. This means that fences, decks, outdoor furnishings, stair railings and even the wooden construction components on buildings are subject to damage from foraging wasps in Bucks County. If there is any damaged, unfinished wood on the property, it will be further harmed.

Even the gentle cicada killer wasp causes property damage as she industriously burrows into garden soil and lawns. She leaves piles of dirt wherever she goes, and subsequent generations will burrow in the same general area, making the problem even more widespread.

ARE WASPS AGGRESSIVE?



Cicada killer wasps typically ignore people, stinging only when they are bothered. The same cannot be said for other wasp species, which seem to attack for any reason or no reason at all.

This behavior generally is most pronounced in the vicinity of the wasp nest. These pests are highly territorial, and simply sharing space with them can be enough to provoke an attack. A wasp nest that is located within the structure of a building or adjacent to a heavily used walkway will lead to numerous stinging attacks.

DO WASPS CARRY DISEASE?



When someone is stung by a wasp, the most common reaction includes swelling, redness and pain. These symptoms typically subside within a few hours or days.

However, people who are allergic to stings or who receive a large volume of stings may be subject to a much more severe reaction characterized by excessive swelling, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and hives. Difficulty with breathing is a common symptom as well. Altogether, this reaction may prove to be life-threatening and requires immediate medical care.

HOW TO DETECT WASPS



Signs of a wasp problem include:

• Several stinging incidents
• New nests hanging from elevated places
• Swarms of flying insects congregating around a hole in the ground
• Heaps of dirt found next to patios, sidewalks and driveways

HOW TO PREVENT WASPS



To help prevent wasp issues, the following steps should be taken:

• Replace damaged wood
• Stain or paint untreated wood
• Ensure that yard debris piles and woodpiles are placed 20 feet away from structures
• In orchards, do not allow fallen fruit to remain on the ground
• Inspect building exteriors for signs of new nests
• Keep garbage cans clean
• Refrain from eating outdoors as much as possible

HOW TO TREAT FOR 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.

Schedule a FREE inspection today.

GET THE FACTS



●  WASPS, HORNETS, AND YELLOWJACKETS

Courtesy: National Pest Management Association
Bald-Faced Hornets
Cicada Killers
Yellow Jackets
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