The trick to dealing with stinging insects is being able to quickly identify their nests. For example:
- Paper wasps (Polistes spp.) are troublesome fliers that tend to hang their nests from trees and porches or underneath decks. The nests are often umbrella-shaped, but they can be spherical or just plain oddly shaped.
- Bald-faced hornets also build their nests in trees, on shrubs, under overhangs and in sheds. The nests can measure as much as 2 feet long and more than 12 inches in diameter. Take great care dealing with these visitors, because their stings are very painful.
- Mud dauber nests are easy to spot, as they commonly occur underneath porches, building overhangs, eaves, and other sheltered places. Laid side-by-side, these nests are essentially tubes made of wood, which vary in length depending on the species.
- Cicada killer wasps (Sphecius speciosus) are solitary insects that tend to burrow into soft, well-drained soil. You’ll find them in flower beds, under bushes, along pathways, or dug in under porches.
Regardless of the species, always wear the appropriate PPE when you deal with these creatures.