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Wasps
and bees can cause problems around structures.
Most are social insects that live in colonies. They aggressively defend
their nests by stinging. The sting usually involves the injection of
a venom that is a nerve poison. The sting may cause death in cases of
allergy or when many wasps sting.
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Bumble
bee, Bombus spp. It nests underground in colonies of several hundred individuals. The nests are usually in abandoned rodent burrows, in mulch, or under logs or debris. The abdomen of the bumble bee is covered with hairs. |
Cicada killer, Specius speciosus. It is 40mm long and black in color with pale yellow markings on the last three abdominal segments. It is a solitary wasp, but colonies of wasps nest in the same location. Each female digs its own hole up to 10 inches deep. It stings and paralyzes cicadas, placing one in the hole with an egg. Closely related species attack and kill flies.
Honey bee, Apis mellifera. Honey bee colonies have 20,000 to
80,000 individuals. They are raised for honey and beeswax, and are essential
for pollination of crops. The stinger has barbs, so that the stinger
and the poison sac remain in the skin. Unlike wasps, honey bees can
only sting once.
Honey bee swarm. Most honey bee colonies are in hives
that are managed by beekeepers. However, some colonies swarm in large
numbers and can be found outside. They may become established in walls
or eaves of houses. The nests in walls can contain a lot of honey. If
the bees are controlled or removed, the nest and honey should also be
removed to prevent problems to the house.
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Mud
dauber wasp, Sphecidae. It is a black wasp with a long, thin waist, and is not a social wasp. It is not very aggressive and does not sting people often. However, its mud nests are often built close to human activity. |
Mud dauber brood chamber. The mud dauber constructs brood chambers from mud on the sides of buildings and under eaves. The wasp stings and paralyzes spiders, lays an egg on them, and seals them inside the chambers. The wasp larva hatches and feeds on the spiders. An emergence hole in the mud means that the wasp has emerged from the chamber.
Paper
wasp, Polistes spp. It is usually yellow with brown markings or
black with red or yellow markings. The wasps are aggressive and readily
sting. People are usually stung while trimming shrubbery or cleaning
nests from eaves of houses.
Paper wasp nest. Paper wasp nests are made of a papery
material that is shaped like an inverted umbrella. It usually has a
single comb with up to 250 wasps. Nests are often built under eaves
or on branches of shrubs. The eggs are laid in a cell; the larvae hatch
and are fed by the wasps. They forage for caterpillars and other small
insects to feed the larvae.
Yellowjacket,
Vespula spp. It is about 12mm long and has alternating yellow and
black markings on the abdomen. The wasp is very aggressive in defending
itself or the nest. The stinger is not barbed so the wasp can sting
repeatedly.
Yellowjacket nest. The nest can be quite large for some colonies
of yellow jackets. It is made of a papery material. Inside, the new
nest has layers of combs to raise the brood. Some nests are aerial,
but most often, the nests are subterranean or both aerial and subterranean.
People are usually stung when they step into or disturb a nest.
Contact Suburban Pest Control for Professional Pest Control Services
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