Why Stinging Insect Infestations Are Best Left To The Professionals

Cicada Killer Wasps

These insects look similar to the European hornet, but the yellow on a cicada is paler than its European cousin. Cicada killer wasps measure around 2 inches in length; they have red eyes, 2 prominent antennae, reddish-brown wings, and contrasting yellow and black stripes.

Cicada killer wasps, almost exclusively, kill cicada bugs. They do not swarm to protect their nests, and they pretty much keep to themselves. However, a female cicada killer wasp can sting humans and sometimes will when brought into accidental contact with the skin. And since these wasps prefer to build their homes in the ground and have a particular fondness for sandboxes, they can be a concern if you have children who tend to play outside.

Wasps

Although bees can only sting one time before losing their stinger, wasps don't have that problem. These stinging insects don't have barbs on their stingers, so they have the ability to sting over and over, especially if provoked or they feel their nest is being threatened. These social insects will release an attack pheromone when they sense a threat, so other wasps will soon join in the fight to protect "their" property. But even if you move away from them, they will likely pursue you, but not usually very far.

Yellow Jackets

These insects are the worst when it comes to stinging. They are bad-tempered, aggressive little stingers that will pursue relatively long distances. And they will actually swarm around objects that get in their way to continue their pursuit. Yellow jackets, like wasps, can also sting multiple times since they do not lose their stingers. While other social wasps will protect their nests, yellow jackets go a step further in that even vibration of the ground (such as a lawnmower nearby) can provoke them into swarming and stinging.

Carpenter Bees

While these bees are not interested in stinging humans, the females can sting, but usually only when brought into accidental contact with the skin. These bees are more interested in carving tunnels through the untreated wood of your home. So, while you may be relatively safe from stings with these bees around, you are at risk of having the structure of your home be compromised. This sometimes can result in stairs or decks being weakened enough to give way.

Bumble Bees

Like carpenter bees, only the female bumble bee can sting, and also, like carpenter bees, they don't prefer to sting humans. However, it is important to note that these bees, like wasps and yellow jackets, do not have barbs on their stingers so, if they do sting, they can do so multiple times. If you need assistance in telling bumble bees from carpenter bees, bumble bees are striped all over, whereas carpenter bees are black from the waste back.