The yellow jacket wasp is a dangerous pest in the Doylestown area that can cause quite a few problems for property owners. Yellow jacket wasps are known for defending a nest whenever necessary, putting humans (and pets) at risk of being stung. This behavior can increase in intensity as a colony increases in size or there is a shortage of food for all of the wasps. Not only will yellow jacket wasps become more defensive of the nest during this period of time, but stings are more common as this pest looks for food and comes into contact with people. With the potential of there being approximately 5,000 yellow jacket workers in a nest at any given time, this is a pest problem that warrants professional attention to protect humans, pets and other animals that are nearby.
Yellow jacket wasp activity tends to begin in the early months of spring, when the temperatures outside become much warmer. The queen will begin feeding once the weather permits, beginning the cycle of starting a new nest. The queen has usually mated the previous summer, allowing this process to get started much faster than other insects may experience. As spring and summer progress, worker wasps will come and go from the nest to source food for the larvae that are inside. The queen also requires more food later in the season in preparation of a long winter ahead. The worker yellow jacket wasp life cycle will typically end each season in Doylestown. As soon as the temperature drops below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, the colony perishes. Though, warmer areas allow for a nest to survive a number of years at a time.
WHAT DO YELLOW JACKET WASPS LOOK LIKE?
Yellow jacket wasp workers are about 12 mm long, with bands of yellow and black on their abdomen. A queen yellow jacket wasp is generally much larger, spanning as much as 19 mm in length. The body of a yellow jacket is distinct because of the segmented waist that is created by the thorax and abdomen. There is a strong and straight stinger on the yellow jacket wasp.
Yellow jackets are often mistaken for honeybees. However, honeybees are usually a little larger in size and have hair on the legs and body. Honeybees also have a sack on the rear of the body that holds pollen.
WHERE DO YELLOW JACKET WASPS LIVE?
Yellow jacket wasps in the Doylestown area are often found in some sort of abandoned rodent hole or crevice within a tree or structure. However, this pest is very resourceful and can build a nest just about anywhere, including underneath an eave on a building, inside a shed or in an attic.
The nest is created using particles of wood mixed with wasp saliva. By creating this pulp, individual cells can be formed. However, the outside of the nest just looks like one large structure, as there is an outer shell created to protect the entire nest. If a nest is built in the ground, yellow jacket wasps can dig through the soil to expand the size of the nest as needed. Cells are formed within this open area in the ground.
WHAT DO YELLOW JACKET WASPS EAT?
The adult yellow jacket wasp prefers to consume foods that have a very high content of sugar and carbohydrates. This includes items in nature, such as fruit and nectar from plants. Queen yellow jacket wasps and larvae require more protein, which can come from other insects. Food must be chewed up before being fed to the larvae. In return, larvae will secrete a sweet material that adults consume.
As a yellow jacket colony increases in size and food becomes scarcer, this insect will usually look for sources of food that aren’t part of a typical diet in spring. This is when yellow jacket wasps become more prevalent around outdoor events. Because of yellow jacket wasps’ desire for sweet food sources, things like soda, juice, baked goods and ice cream are targeted. This species of wasp has even been known to attack a honeybee colony in search of food.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY YELLOW JACKET WASPS
Because yellow jacket wasps create their nests as standalone structures, there is not a lot of damage that will occur to a home or business. Occasionally, yellow jackets will create a nest inside a wall. When this happens, the wall is sometimes chewed up a bit to expand and form the nest. This can cause structural issues that are often spotted because of the moist area on the exterior of the wall.
ARE YELLOW JACKET WASPS AGGRESSIVE?
There is the potential for yellow jacket wasps to become very aggressive when a nest is disturbed or threatened. However, this species of wasp can also become aggressive when in search of food. Outdoor parties and picnics can be disturbed by a group of yellow jacket wasps that are interested in something sweet. There are usually a number of open food and beverage containers at these events, making it the perfect scenario for yellow jacket wasps to obtain food.
DO YELLOW JACKET WASPS CARRY DISEASE?
Yellow jacket wasps spend quite a bit of time looking for food, especially in the late summer months. Because of this, the stinger of the yellow jacket may have bacteria on it. If a human is stung, bacteria can be transferred. Depending on what bacteria is present, the body may or may not be able to quickly address the invader. Infections or blood poisoning are a legitimate risk when stung by a yellow jacket wasp.
HOW TO DETECT YELLOW JACKET WASPS
Signs of a yellow jacket wasp infestation include:
• Aggressive behavior around sweet food sources • A visible nest is present, made from a paper-like structure • Moist spots on interior walls or the walls of a shed, house, etc. • A large presence of yellow jackets returning to a specific area in the evening Still, the pest control company should do a thorough inspection of the premise to determine whether nests are located within the living space or in trees or other natural elements nearby.
HOW TO PREVENT YELLOW JACKET WASPS
To help prevent yellow jacket wasp issues, the following steps should be taken:
• Keep food containers and beverages covered • Peppermint and spearmint are natural scents that can repel yellow jacket wasps • Seal any cracks and gaps around structures that could allow yellow jackets inside • Keep trash cans covered and put away
HOW WE TREAT FOR YELLOW JACKET WASPS
Here 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.
