Yellow jackets are one of spring and summer’s most worrisome pests. As a social wasp, yellowjackets live in seasonal colonies that are active in spring and summer. The colony dies off as the weather turns cold. Only the queen hibernates in winter, living to start a new colony the following spring. How to get rid of yellow jackets around homes is something every homeowner should learn.
Pest Control of Yellow Jackets
Yellow jackets are dangerous and control should be left to the professionals. At Critter Control, we will keep you and your family safe from yellow jacket stings by removing the problem.
Yellow Jacket Control Process:
- Get an Inspection and Quote on Yellow Jacket Extermination.
- Remove the yellow jacket colony and the yellow jacket nest. Removing the nest helps prevent future pest problems.
- After yellow jacket nest removal, we install long-term pest control. Seal cracks and gaps in walls, eaves, and vents to prevent hornets from being able to enter your home.
Are Yellow Jackets Dangerous?
Yellow jackets are considered the most dangerous stinging insect. Territorial and aggressive with the ability to sting multiple times, they are especially dangerous to those who are allergic. Yellow jackets also give off pheromones, which call in other yellow jackets to help with their attack.
What Are the Signs of a Yellow Jacket Infestation?
Spring and summer are perfect for spending more time outside in the yard. It’s natural to see flying pests from time to time, especially if you enjoy eating outside. Yellow jackets love to join BBQs and other outdoor gatherings. However, signs that you have a yellow jacket nest nearby—and not just a few stopping by for a sip of cola— include stings, nest sightings, and swarming.
Stings
Since they are territorial and sting when they feel their nest is threatened, if you experience multiple yellow jacket stings (or close calls), it means a nest is nearby. This is something that cannot be ignored as yellow jacket stings not only hurt, but they can also be life-threatening if you or a guest are allergic.
You need a professional to ensure complete yellow jacket removal. Their nests are often in hard-to-reach locations, including within walls or underground, and the risk of multiple stings by what could be hundreds of yellow jackets is not worth the risk.
Nests
It’s easy to spot a yellow jacket nest out in the open. They are brownish-gray and look like paper. Sometimes, they are large volleyball-sized shapes hanging from a tree branch, or they can be small honeycomb-shaped objects hanging from the ceiling of a porch. However, when you have an underground yellow jacket nest or one between a wall void, you need to be observant to see from where these pests are flying in and out. Underground yellow jacket nests are too easy to step on, setting these angry pests off.
Swarming
Yellow jackets will swarm for several reasons:
- When their nest has reached peak size in late summer
- When food is scarce
- When they feel they must defend the nest
Yellow jacket stings hurt more than many other insects that sting. If you see a swarm of yellow jackets, leave the area slowly and call Critter Control.
Buzzing
Yellow jacket nests can grow to contain hundreds to thousands of these nasty pests. If you hear buzzing or humming coming from an area of your yard or inside your walls, you could have a yellow jacket infestation.
Call Critter Control for Yellow Jacket Control and Nest Removal
Due to the health and safety risks involved, homeowners inexperienced with removing nests should not attempt to handle them alone. While effective pesticides are available, using them incorrectly on hives will only provoke the yellow jacket colony inside.
Critter Control specializes in yellow jacket removal, yellow jacket control, and how to get rid of yellow jackets. Our pest control services removes the stinging insects from your property keeping you and your family safe. It doesn’t pay to set up yellow jacket traps on your own. Critter Control has the expertise, training, and tools to safely deal with these insects and repair any damage they may have inflicted on your home. There’s always a Critter Control office near you. Call 1-800-CRITTER today.
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Common stinging pests, yellow jackets are black with yellow markings and are sometimes mistaken for bees. Female yellow jackets are about half an inch long, though queens are slightly bigger. The workers grow between 3/8 and 5/8 of an inch long. Yellow jackets have long antennae and anchor- shaped markings on their abdomens.
Avoid wearing scented lotions, perfumes, and hair products when spending time outside because they attract yellow jackets. If picnicking, never leave sugary drinks unattended and bring lids for all food containers. Finally, seek medical aid if stung in the mouth or throat, stung more than ten times, or if allergic to yellow jackets.
Yellow jackets are considered the most dangerous stinging insect. Territorial and aggressive with the ability to sting multiple times, they are especially dangerous to those who are allergic. Yellow jackets also give off pheromones, which call in other yellow jackets to help with their attack.. Since their nests are often built into the ground, people tend to step on them by accident. Yellow jackets will then sting. Unlike bees, they are able to do so repeatedly.
Yellow jackets prefer enclosed, protected locations. They often choose underground locations in abandoned rodent burrows, tree stumps, wall voids, inside sheds, and even in attics. Often, the only way to identify a hole in the ground as a yellow jacket nest is to watch them flying in and out.
Yellow jackets are found throughout North America. They are ground-nesting insects, so they often live in rodent burrows. Parks, yards, wooded areas, and fields are some of their favorite habitats.
- Remove food sources by keeping pet food inside, harvesting overripe fruit and vegetables, securing garbage can lids, covering drinks (especially sugary or alcoholic ones), and cleaning up any outdoor eating area.
- Reduce water sources like leaky faucets and do not overwater the lawn.
- Maintain landscape by trimming bushes and hedges and mowing regularly.