Bees and Wasps: What to Know
When most people think of bees and wasps, only a handful come to mind like bumblebees, honey bees, and yellowjackets. But all these bees and wasps are actually part of a much bigger order of insects collectively known as Hymenoptera. Believe it or not, the Hymenoptera order contains over 150000 living species! The ones that you should be concerned about as a Seattle area homeowner are within the groups parasitica and aculeata.
Even within those groups, there is a lot of diversity. Although you don’t see many of them, over 4000 species of wasps live in the United States. Having said that, only a small number of eusocial wasps—which is to say, hive-builders—are bothersome pests. The same is true of bees. Or if you would like to speak to the professionals at Eastside Exterminators about a possible infestation, call 425-482-2101 now. We offer proven, affordable pest control that can help you get rid of bees and wasps, and other pests.
Nest Removal for Bees and Wasps
If a nest of stinging insects has your family worried, our pest management professionals can work to treat it quickly. Our technicians train to take care of this process with methods that are safe for your family and the environment. This can include low impact green pest control if necessary. For bees and wasps, as well as hornets, activity in the nest will typically subside within 24 hours. However, we ask that you allow 3-5 days for complete control. After 5 days have passed, the nest can be removed if desired. With that said, removing the physical nest is not necessary, as wasps and hornets will not recolonize it later. This is important to know since some nests, such as those found in wall voids, cannot be retrieved.
Read on below to find out about common bees and wasps you may encounter on your property in our area. Our pest control services will have you covered.
Often confused with yellow-jacket wasps, Paper wasps (Polistes spp.) are also yellow and black, but they are a little longer, a little narrower, and the legs are much longer. They can be easily distinguished by their legs hanging beneath them as they fly. The nests are relatively small and are composed of a single open layer of honeycombed paper mache and are most often found under soffits and eaves and other protected areas.
Aggressive, venomous, and easily agitated describe Yellow-jackets, especially in Fall when their nests are at their largest. Yellow-jackets may build their nests virtually anywhere – in a hollow space in the ground, hanging in a tree, hanging beneath eaves, in an attic or crawlspace, or in a wall void are common locations. Yellow-jackets are predators whose presence is usually not seen until the colony is large enough to be in the way of human activities like mowing the lawn, painting or when they make their way into the living space.
Although technically not a true hornet, the Baldfaced hornet is commonly found in the Seattle / Puget Sound. This species of wasp is most closely related to yellow-jackets and has similar behaviors. Baldfaced hornets can become extremely aggressive and dangerous when their nest threatened. They can be identified by their black bodies and white markings and their distinctive teardrop-shaped nest.
Bees are beneficial insects but can possibly be dangerous when they nest near your home. Bee stings are painful and life threatening when the victim is allergic. Because treatment strategies differ for bee and wasp infestations, proper identification is critical to success.
Note: Eastside Exterminators does not treat for honey bees. Instead, we contact a local beekeeper to remove the queen and as much of the colony as possible.