WASPS



Click on a species of wasps below to learn further information.



Introduction

Wasps differ from bees in two definable ways: (1) Bees usually have broader bodies covered by more hairs than wasps; and (2) Bees feed their young pollen and honey while wasps feed their young meat (mostly captured insects and spiders).

Wasp stings are quite painful to most people, but without serious consequences. However, to some individuals a wasp sting can produce a severe allergic reaction, and sometimes almost immediate death. Many highway accidents are believed to be caused by wasp or bee stings.

Some wasps are "social wasps". (Man individuals work together in building the nest and caring for the young.) And some are "solitary wasps". (A single female constructs and maintains a nest for her young only and does so without help from other wasps.). There are more complex biological definitions for this. But this paragraph tells all that we need to know for our purposes.

The Social Wasps Are
(The umbrella wasp, the yellow jacket, and the hornet)

The Solitary Wasps Are
(The mud daubers and some lesser important species)

Notes on Control of Wasps

  • Control of social wasps is not difficult. The trick is to do it without getting stung. lf possible it is best to do this at dusk or night to avoid the possibility of getting stung, but also to be certain that most of the wasps have returned to the nest. Wear gloves, a hat, and bee veil, if the situation necessitates it.
  • A flashlight at night can excite the wasps to sting. If a consumer reports seeing la large number of flying, stinging insects emerging from a hole in the soil of the backyard - they are most likely describing a yellow jacket.
  • Mud daubers typically build their nest in the underside of a roof overhang that looks like clusters of dirt.
  • After a wall void has been treated for an infestation of honeybees, the wax and honey should be removed from the wall because honey can not only stain the wall, but attract other insects.
  • The most practical time to treat yellow jackets is in the late afternoon (dusk).
  • Baited traps suspended near an area of activity should be used to attract paper wasps.


Click on a species of pest below to learn further information.