Printable Brochures:

Wasps Yellow Jackets Mud daubers

WASPS

order of Hymenoptera

Wasps have narrow waist with slender bodies, cylindrical legs, and appear shiny with smooth skin.  The most common wasps encountered by people are: Yellowjackets, baldfaced hornets, and paper wasps.

Wasps only sting to defend their colony &/ themselves. This involves an injection of a protein venom causing pain and sometimes other reactions. Wasps have the ability to sting multiple times because they are able to pull out their stinger with out injury to them self. If stung by a wasp the stinger will not be left behind. Wasp venom differs from bee venom so having a severe reaction to one species does not mean you’ll have a severe reaction to the other. Most individuals will have a mild reaction to wasp stings. 

Mild reactions symptoms include: itching, burning, redness that may last up to a week.  

Local mild reactions can be treated with ice or commercial ointments that help relive itching & pain.  Allergic reactions include: swelling away from initial site, hives, rash, head-aches,& stomach upset. This type of reaction can be treated with an antihistamine.  

Paper wasp nestSevere allergic reactions consists of: fainting, difficulty in breathing, swelling, blockage of the throat causing anaphylactic shock within minutes of the incident. These symptoms call for immediate medical attention.  Individuals who known they have severe allergic should carry an epi-pen at all times.

Almost every pest insect has at least one wasp species that preys upon it making wasps critical to natural control.  Wasp are generally categorized as one group to the untrained eye and are often mistakenly calledpapper wasp “bees”. Although social wasps, like bees, live in colonies maintained by workers, and ruled by queens, they behave & look differently. It is important to distinguish between the two because different methods may be necessary to control them if & when they become a nuisance.  Wasps are considered to be a pest due to their ability to sting and their disrupting behavior at outdoor activities (usually in autumn).

Characteristics 

• Usally two pairs of wings except in some species
• A stinger or ovipositor, this dervives from the ovipostor (a female sex organ) making is present only in females.
• Few or no hairs (unlike the common honey bees).
• Tyipically terrestrial; only a few specialized parasitic groups are aquatic.
• Mostly predators on other terrestrial insects;

Control

The first step in wasp or bee control is to correctly identify the insect and locate its nesting site.  An experienced pest control service may provide wasp or bee control service or you can use the following information to attempt to control them yourself.

It is unnecessary to control wasps & their nest's in late fall due to upcoming freezing temperatures that will eradicate the wasp anyway.  It is also unnecessary to eradicate wasp nest's that are not located near homes or areas of human activity do not need to be treated. Wasp nests that are near homes/human activity can pose potential problems and should be managed safely.  Dusk (early evening) is the best time to control wasp's nests. This is when wasps are less active.  Apply ready-to-use “hornet and wasp” spray according to the directions on the label.  If no activity is observed the next day the extermination was a success.  If you observe live wasps the following day then repeat the treatment in three-day intervals or according to directions on the label until wasp are dead.  For yellowjackets (wasps that nest in the ground) try pouring a soapy water solution in the entrance of the nest.  Various different soaps should work (ie: laundry, dish, or hand soap).  If soap doesn’t work pour insecticides, which are acceptable for soil & lawn use, into the entrance of the nest. If the problem still persists or if the nest is concealed it is recommended, that you, call a professional.

Yellowjackets

Dolichovespula and Vespula Yellowjacket

Dolichovespula tend to create exposed aerial nests (a feature that is also shared with true Hornets)

Vespula build concealed nests that are usually underground. 

Introduction

All females are capable of stinging and due to their “lance-like” stinger are capable of stinging repeatedly.  Occasionally the yellowjacket's stinger can get lodged and pull free from their body. The venom from yellow jackets is dangerous to those who either have been stung repeatedly or those who are allergic. Yellowjacket nests’ usually last for one season that dies off in the winter except for in mild winter climates where nesting activities can continue throughout the year.  These nests are made from wood chewed into a paper(ish) pulp and are normally located in shrubs, trees, homemade structures, and even soil cavities such as unoccupied rodent burrows.  Although yellowjackets are considered a pest due to their aggressive behavior and ability to sting they are considered to be important predators on other pest insects

 Identification

Yellowjackets can be distinguished with many different characteristics.  The first being that yellowjackets unlike bees are not covered with dense tan-brownish hair particles and they lack hairy hind legs used for pollination. Most yellow jackets appear bright yellow & black while some have a reddish background coloring instead of black and they usally have yellow faces.  Yellow jackets have an identifiable rapid side-to-side, darting action while in flight. The queen is approximetly19mm (0.75in) in length while the typical workers are 12 mm (0.5 in) long. Their markings are distinct with sharp bright color contrast and they occur only in colonies. Their mouthparts are also well developed (strong mandibles) for catching and chewing insects. 

 Behavior inside of Yellowjacket nest

When the nest reaches its full potential Reproductive cells are built with new males so the queen can produce. After mating the males die off while the fertilized queen finds shelter to survive the winter.  In extreme winter climate the colony workers dwindle normally leaving the nest to rapidly decompose.  Abounded nest will usually disintegrate during winter months but typically are not used again.  Springtime is essential to colony establishment.  Adults will feed on fruits, nectar, flowers, &tree sap.  Whereas larvae, feed on proteins such as: meats, insects, & fish.  The adults chew the proteins to feed to their larvae.  In return, the larvae secrete a sugar that is relished by the adults. 

In the late summer months, larvae fall short in sugar requirements needed, by the adult workers, so the adult’s food preferences change from meats (that they normally fed to the larvae) to decaying &/or ripe fruits, sodas, human garbage, as well as picnic foods, for their source of carbohydrates. This change in food preference is why yellowjackets are often an unwelcome pest at outdoor events.   

Mud Daubers   Sphecidae or Crabronidae  Mud Dauber

Mud Daubers are long, slender wasps, usually with black or dark colored wings.  Mud Daubers construct nests out of mud, typically on porches, decks, sheds, eves, attics, ceilings, walls or under roof overhangs around homes and other structures.

They are considered  a nuisance vector. Their nests are not defended and the chances of getting stung by a Mud Dauber wasp are fairly rare.  Mud Daubers are solitary wasps, they doMud dauber nest not live in colonies.  Females construct the nest, while the males forage but never venture far from the nests.  Wasps feed their young with spiders. They find jumping spiders amongst plants, sting and paralyze them and put them inside the mud cell with their larva.  

Control 

Mud dauber treatment is usually applied with a liquid or dust  insecticide.  It is placed into cracks and crevices where a wasp might enter to build its nests. For the liquid  insecticide,  you will need a pressure sprayer.  

Printable Brochures:

Wasps  Yellow Jackets   Mud daubers