Preventing and Reducing Damage
Yellow jackets:
Yellow jacket colonies are frequently established within the fabric of a building (such as a wall or
a ceiling cavity) and they can and will chew through dry wall, entering a home in substantial
numbers without warning. Their nests can contain 1000 - 2000 insects and the insects can sting multiple times.
For additional information about this insect, refer to:
Ohio State University: Yellowjacket (information also relevant to Pennsylvania)
BugInfo.com: The Bug World From A to Z - Yellowjackets
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Carpenter Bees:
Carpenter bees are the culprits that drill into softwood timber such as cedar, causing unsightly holes leading to
egg chambers which can extend for as much as four feet. Timber inhabited by these bees can deteriorate over time.
Secondary damage occurs courtesy of wood peckers, mold, and fungi. These insects are territorial and the male in
particular will 'dive bomb' when it feels the nest is threatened. It does not have the ability to sting, though
the female does.
Both sexes are approximately 1" in length and are similar in appearance to bumble bees.
For specific information about carpenter bees, refer to:
Ohio State University: Carpenter Bees (information also relevant to Pennsylvania)
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Allergies
Many cook-outs, gardening chores and other outside activities are disrupted every year courtesy of the presence of stinging insects.
Unfortunately, we have done a very good job of providing these insects with a very attractive habitat...
a variety of plant life providing
pollen and nectar; decks, wood siding, mulch beds, etc, providing material for paper used in nest construction; watered lawns and flower beds, fountains, ponds,
and swimming pools for moisture which provide suitable micro-environments for multitudes of other insects which provide food for wasp, hornet, and yellow jacket grubs.
These insects can construct nests anywhere from underground in lawns and mulch beds, to bushes and trees, to overhangs, deck underbellies and railings,
to wall, ceiling and attic cavities. Ideal nesting areas often coincide with areas of human and domestic animal activity, which is of particular concern given that these
insects, with little exception, can prove vindictive and aggressive if disturbed.
And, as summer progresses, just as we are spending more time outdoors, nest sizes grow
and the insects become more aggressive as their attention shifts to the production and protection of new queens. The large number of insects that can exist in a single
nest as well as their penchant for building in close proximity to homes and gardens and seeking out food in places such as our drinks and food is of particular concern
as even a single sting can cause an allergic reaction.
For more information about allergies refer to:
Merck Manual: Bees, Wasps, Yellow Jackets, Hornets, Ants
Ohio State University: Bee and Wasp Stings (information also relevant to Pennsylvania)
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Fear and Aggravation
Bald Faced Hornet:
Bald faced hornets generally build globular nests in trees or on the exterior of buildings. These insects are approximately 1" in length,
black in color with vivid white markings on the face and abdomen. They can be aggressive and, like the yellow jacket, will attack in numbers when threatened directly
or when discerning vibration or movement from as far as 20 feet. On average, colonies number 300 - 500 insects.
For more information about bald faced hornets, refer to:
Iowa State University: Bald Faced Hornets
(information also relevant to Pennsylvania)
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Paper Wasps:
Paper wasps, the long skinny wasps that build upside down umbrella nests, are the plague of decks, gazebos and play areas. Though they number far fewer per nest than yellow
jackets or hornets, it is not uncommon to find upwards of a dozen nests on one property. Paper wasps are prone to stinging when an individual is in the vicinity of their nest.
Their nests are built from wood pulp and paper materials and the building process continues through the early and mid summer months. Once a queen or worker has found a reliable
source of building material, it will return to it repeatedly, grasping the fibers and peeling off thin strips.
For more information about paper wasps, refer to:
Paper Wasps and Hornets: Ohio State University
(information also relevant to Pennsylvania)
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Bumble Bees:
Bumble bees are large (approximately 1" in length), bulbous and hairy, with distinctive yellow markings on the abdomen, build disheveled nests underground, very often in abandoned
chipmunk burrows or in ceilings/walls of basements. Nest populations can exceed 100 fairly often and while not as aggressive as yellow jackets, wasps or hornets, will defend their
nest and can deliver a painful sting.
For more information about Bumble Bees, refer to:
Ground Nesting Bees and Wasps: Ohio State University
(information also relevant to Pennsylvania)
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Honey bees:
Honey bees, much maligned because of other stinging insects, are by far the most placid. Providing that they are not abused, they will go about their very important business.
Honey bees are a protected species and are dealt with in conjunction with local bee-keeping associations. The aim, wherever possible, is to preserve these beneficial insects.
For more information about honey bees, refer to:
Honeybees: Dealing With A Friend
(from buginfo.com)
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We are available at all times to respond to situations involving stinging insect problems.
Our involvement ranges from fully comprehensive prevention applications to emergency response.
