Stinging insects play an important role in the ecosystem, but when they build nests too close to home, they can quickly become a threat. Depending on where they’re built, a beehive or stinging insect nest can either go unnoticed or become a serious problem.
Bees, paper wasps, and hornets often nest in attics, walls, soffits, under eaves and porches, or in tree branches. Others — like yellowjackets and some bee species — prefer to build their nests in the ground.
When these nests are located near entrances, windows, decks, or inside your home, they can pose a real risk. In these cases, removal should always be handled by a professional. We specialize in safely removing all types of stinging insect nests, including those made by wasps, bees, yellow jackets, hornets, and paper wasps.
What Are the Most Common Stinging Insects?
Residential areas are home to several species that sting, each with its own risks and behaviors:
- Bees: Fuzzy, round-bodied, and often striped yellow and black, bees are usually docile unless provoked.
- Yellow jackets: Sleek with vivid yellow and black stripes, yellow jackets are highly aggressive and easily provoked. They often nest underground or in wall voids, making yellow jacket nest removal complex and hazardous.
- Wasps: Slim with narrow waists and smooth bodies, wasps can be surprisingly aggressive, especially in late summer. They’re known to build nests in hard-to-see spots and are capable of stinging multiple times.
- Hornets: Larger than most wasps, hornets are more territorial and will defend their nests vigorously. Hornet removal should always be left to the professionals due to their painful stings and unpredictable behavior.
Why Are Stinging Insects Dangerous?
Stinging insects can pose more than just a physical threat, potentially jeopardizing your family’s health and your home’s safety. Issues may include:
- Health risks: If anyone in your family has serious allergies, even a single sting could trigger a severe, potentially life-threatening reaction. In cases of an infestation, the chances of being stung multiple times increase significantly.
- Structural damage: Some species, like bees and wasps, build nests inside walls, roofs, and ceilings. Over time, these nests can weaken wood, trap moisture, and lead to mold or rot.
- Secondary infestations: Leftover honey or abandoned nests can attract ants, rodents, and other pests looking for food or shelter, compounding the issue.
Once they’ve settled in, these insects can be hard to evict. Because of that, quick identification and action are a must.
Where Do Stinging Insects Nest?
Insects that sting choose nest locations that offer protection and proximity to food sources. These spots are often hidden in plain sight on your home or in your yard.
Structures
Soffits, those tucked-away areas under your roof’s overhang, are a popular nesting spot on your home since they provide shelter and elevation. Ceilings and roofs, including attics, roof eaves, and crawl spaces, are attractive for the same reasons but also offer warmth, which is especially appealing to bees and wasps.
They may also take up residence under your feet, building their nests under floorboards and porches. These shaded and low-traffic zones are the perfect environment for them to build their nests and grow their colonies unnoticed.
Trees and Shrubs
Tree branches and dense shrubbery offer ideal conditions for hornet and hanging wasp nests. These locations provide camouflage and easy escape routes, making removal particularly tricky.
What Are the Signs of Infestation?
Seeing a stinging insect fly by every now and again isn’t an issue, but when they keep appearing, or you start noticing specific signs, it might point to a growing infestation. Common signs include:
Stings
Frequent stings are the most obvious red flag. If you or your family members are constantly falling victim to stinging insects, it’s time to investigate. This is especially important if anyone in your family is allergic.
Nests
Nests vary based on the species: Bees build waxy hives, while hornets and wasps create papery, football-shaped nests. They might be tucked under eaves, hidden in shrubs, or even inside wall voids.
Eggs
In most cases, you won’t spot the eggs because they are hidden within the nest. Professionals who are trained to recognize early egg-laying activity can help determine whether the colony is growing rapidly.
Swarming
If you see large numbers of flying insects in one area, especially hovering around entry points or trees, there’s a good chance you have a nest nearby. Swarming behavior is particularly common during nesting season.
Pest Control Services for Stinging Insects
Wondering how to handle stinging insects and evict them from your home? The answer is simple: don’t go it alone.
Most pest control companies avoid dealing with stinging insects due to the risk involved. At Critter Control, we offer hornet nest removal, wasp removal, and bee removal near you. We have the training and tools to remove the stinging insects safely, and we go a step further by repairing any damage they’ve caused to your home.
Whether you need help with bee hive removal, are wondering how to remove a yellow jacket nest, or need full wasp removal near you, you can trust us to get the job done right. Contact us today to evict stinging insects from your home.
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The physical characteristics of biting and stinging insects vary greatly depending on the species. Bed bugs and fleas, for instance, are notable for being tiny and difficult to see, while certain wasp and hornet species can grow as long as 0.5 inches (13 mm) or more. Likewise, the coloration of these pests varies considerably, from the distinctive black and yellow stripes of bees and yellow jackets, to the reddish hue of the fire ant.
Despite their differences, all biting and stinging insects have six legs, a pair of antennae, and a segmented body divided into the head, thorax, and abdomen. Stinging insects also have a stinger, which they use to inject venom.
Many types of biting and stinging insects live in large colonies, including fire ants and eusocial species of bees, hornets, and wasps. Fire ants nest in the ground and often produce a visible mound that marks the entrance to their colony. Certain species of wasps and hornets also live underground, while others reside in aerial nests or hives.
While biting insects like bed bugs, fleas, and mosquitoes frequently infest areas in large numbers, their nesting habits are far less structured than those of bees or fire ants. Bed bugs live in cracks, crevices, and mattresses in rooms where humans or pets sleep at night, while fleas typically spend the majority of their adult lives on a host animal. Mosquitoes live outdoors, where they breed in stagnant water.
Are biting and stinging insects known to enter homes or yards?
Biting and stinging insects regularly enter homes in a variety of ways. Cracks and crevices, torn window screens, and other small gaps or openings provide easy access to the indoors for these relatively tiny pests. The tiniest of them all, however, gain entry into homes by hitching rides. Bed bugs attach themselves to items like clothing, luggage, and secondhand furniture, while fleas are often carried into the home on infested pets.
Do biting and stinging insects harm people or property?
The primary causes for concern over biting and stinging insects are the bites and stings these pests inflict on humans and other animals. Bites from mosquitoes, bed bugs, and fleas produce reddish welts on the skin that itch and irritate, while beestings can be painful and may also cause localized swelling and irritation. In especially severe cases, the venom that bees, hornets, and wasps inject when they sting can trigger the onset of anaphylactic shock. Similarly, mosquito bites have the potential to escalate in severity, as the pests can spread diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, and West Nile Virus. They also carry and transfer the larvae that causes heartworm in dogs.
Controlling biting and stinging insects can be challenging due to the safety hazards they present. Certain species of wasps and hornets will defend their nests aggressively, while fire ants swarm in large numbers when they detect a threat. Even when biting and stinging insects are safe to handle, they can still be hard to control. Bed bugs, for instance, are relatively harmless but notorious for being difficult to eradicate because of their small size and elusive nature.
If you experience an infestation of biting or stinging insects, contact your local branch of Critter Control for professional assistance. We understand the need for safety in pest management, and we use the safest and most effective control methods possible.
Getting rid of biting and stinging insects is often tricky since they can enter structures in a variety of ways and build their nests in unique places. Our knowledgeable technicians at Critter Control will assess the insect problem and any insect damage before using environmentally friendly pest control methods. We can then help you establish an effective and long-lasting pest control plan for peace of mind when it comes to preventing future infestations. Critter Control pest technicians can remove a variety of bees, wasps, and hornets. We also specialize in bed bug extermination, fire ant extermination, flea removal, and mosquito extermination.