Stinging Insect Identification & Prevention

What are stinging insects?

Whether you have a residential or commercial property, various attractants around your property are conducive to stinging insect activity. Your yard is the most common place where stinging insects will congregate, meaning a stinging insect infestation is a year-round threat that all property owners should be knowledgeable about. Some of the most common stinging insects we deal with include wasps, yellow jackets, mud daubers, bees, and fire ants. 

Are stinging insects dangerous?

Since stinging insects are a common area problem, you need to understand the potential dangers of these pests. The first thing to think about is that stinging insects are known for killing their prey with their stingers and injecting them with venom. However, humans aren’t prey for stinging insects, so we only get stung if we get in the way.

When stinging insects feel threatened, they react instinctively by stinging. Some species can even sting their victims more than once, intensifying the reaction and danger at hand. There’s also the consideration that everyone will react differently to stinging insects depending on their sensitivity and allergies.

When someone has an allergic reaction to stings, it can become serious and even lead to anaphylactic shock. However, even if you don’t have allergies, the sting site can develop into an infected wound that can worsen if not treated properly.

Something else to think about is that, aside from being a painful and unpleasant experience, getting stung is something that happens suddenly, meaning it can easily lead to distraction. If you’re distracted while driving or doing something else that requires your undivided attention, it can be very dangerous. The distraction caused by stinging insects can lead to serious accidents and injuries.

Why do I have a stinging insect problem?

Things that make a property attractive to stinging insects include:

• Easy access to water
• Sheltered areas to build their nests
• Food for them to forage or hunt 

Unfortunately for us, most of our yards make the perfect place for stinging insects to call home. Stinging insects live and breed outside, so keeping them out of our yards is difficult. 

The best way to avoid problems with stinging insects is to remove things from your yard that may attract them.

• Food: Open trash cans and compost, outdoor eating areas, large amounts of flowering vegetation 
• Water: Clogged gutters, leaky pipes, and bird baths
• Nesting sites: Overgrown vegetation, woodpiles, overgrown shrubs, areas of tall grass, and older or untreated pieces of wood.

Where will I find stinging insects?

Stinging insects build their nests in a variety of places. When they make them in areas that are away from the high traffic areas of our yards and away from our homes, there's usually no concern. It's only when stinging insects place their nests in areas that make it dangerous for us to move around our yard or go in and out of our home that they become a problem. 

Less than ideal places where stinging insects build their nests include under shrubs, next to walkways, behind siding or shingles, under decks, in a doorway, in-ground holes, or behind wall voids or chimneys.

How do I get rid of stinging insects?

If you are ready to get rid of stinging insects from your property, reach out to the local Jacksonville pest control experts at Mission Pest Solutions. Our customized services performed by our knowledgeable and friendly experts eliminate pests and stop them from coming back.

At Mission Pest Solutions, we won’t hesitate to go the extra mile to ensure that our customers are happy and their properties are free of pests. For exceptional home pest control or commercial pest management services in the Jacksonville area of Florida, contact Mission Pest Solutions today!

How can I prevent stinging insects in the future?

It can be overwhelming to tackle a stinging insect problem once it’s occurred; that’s why we recommend getting ahead of the problem. To keep stinging insects away from your property, the best thing to do is take proactive measures against infestations. Here are some useful prevention tips to deter stinging insects from nesting on your property.

• Clean up spills, crumbs, and sugar residue promptly. 
• Cover up any holes in the ground using cement or grass. 
• Cover up piles of compost and keep your garbage cans tightly sealed. 
• Eliminate food sources (human and pet food) and don’t leave them outside.
• Fill your backyard with paper lanterns or brown paper bags to scare off stinging insects. 
• Keep an eye out for stinging insect nests in sheds, garages, and wall cavities, and remove old nests.
• Keep garbage cans tightly sealed and cover any piles of compost.
• Keep windows and doors closed when possible.
• Keep wood around your home finished and in good condition, using paint, sealants, or stains. 
• Pick up your trash and clean up any messes right when they happen.
• Plant cucumber, rosemary, thyme, and lavender, which all contain natural repellents. 
• Use caulking to seal up cracks and crevices around the porch. 
• While spending time outside, keep your food covered as well as your trash.

For comprehensive stinging insect control solutions you can trust, call in the pros at Mission Pest Solutions today. We will remove all stinging insect activity and nests and bring you lasting protection throughout the year. Call today to learn more.