Stinging Insect Identification & Prevention

What are stinging insects?

Stinging insects are well-known for inflicting painful stings whenever they are disturbed or feel threatened. Though their ability to sting makes them pests that we don’t want to have in our yards, they are an essential part of the ecosystem.

Predatory species like yellow jackets, hornets, and mud daubers help control populations of nuisance insects, while honey bees and others help pollinate the plants and crops we need to survive. Honey bees are also an important economic pest; honey is a major food product that these bees produce for our consumption.

Stinging insects that invade yards and outdoor spaces throughout the Las Vegas area include:

• Carpenter bees
• Yellow jackets
• Hornets
• Mud daubers
• Africanized killer bees
• Honey bees

Are stinging insects dangerous?

Some stinging insects are quicker to anger than others, but all can deliver painful, venom-filled stings that can trigger allergic reactions. Yellow jackets and Africanized killer bees are two particularly aggressive species of stinging insects; simply walking too close to one of their nests could elicit an attack.

An allergic reaction to a sting depends on what species did the stinging, how many times you were stung, and how allergic you are to the venom. Those that are very allergic could end up with anaphylaxis with just one sting, while a severe reaction may only happen to others in the case of a group attack. Mild reactions to stinging insects usually include swelling and pain at the sting site that can last for hours or days.

Why do I have a stinging insect problem?

Because they are outdoor pests, keeping these flying insects off of your property is difficult. They have no concept of boundaries and will fly in and out of our yards as they please. You don’t even have to have a stinging insect nest on your property to experience problems with these pests.

If your yard is providing them with food and water sources, stinging insects can become regular visitors, making it so you can’t utilize your yard to its fullest potential. Who can enjoy outdoor dining, gardening, or spending time outside when you continually need to dodge stinging insects? The answer is, no one!

Where will I find stinging insects?

Some stinging insects prefer to build their nests in the ground, others above the ground, and others aren’t picky and will nest either above or in the ground. Identifying stinging insects and their nests is a tricky job and one best left to a professional.

Ground nests are usually placed in naturally occurring ground holes like the abandoned nests of small animals, or under brush piles, shrubbery, or fallen trees.

Stinging insects place their aerial nests on tree branches, utility poles, chimneys, under roof eaves, in doorways and windows, and around light fixtures. Stinging insects also place their nests under decks, porch steps, and grills.

How do I get rid of stinging insects?

At Anderson Pest Control, we understand how dangerous stinging insects can be and how quickly they can take over outdoor spaces. We want to help you protect your family from these potentially dangerous pests through effective, ethical pest control solutions. Our professionals know how to find and accurately identify the stinging insects living on your Nevada property. Our professionals will then eliminate them or relocate honey bee nests safely!

If you are ready to learn more about our family-owned company and the effective stinging insect control services we offer, reach out to Anderson Pest Control today!

How can I prevent stinging insects in the future?

In addition to our home pest control and commercial pest control services, protect your property from stinging insects with the following prevention tips:

• Keep stinging insects from finding their way into your home by repairing openings in exterior walls and along the roofline and sealing gaps around windows and doors.
• When eating outside, keep food and drinks covered as much as possible. The proteins and sweets that we consume attract stinging pests like yellow jackets and hornets.
• Limit the amount of flowering vegetation that you have planted near your home. If there is a particular plant in your yard that seems to attract a large number of stinging insects, it may be best to remove it.
• Cut back shrubs, bushes, and tree limbs from your roof, deck, or porch.
• Maintain your yard by keeping the grass cut short and eliminating flowering weeds.
• Fill in any ground holes in your yard.