Bees are an essential part of our ecosystem. But in some situations, bee control is necessary. In addition, wasps and yellow jackets can be dangerous … even life-threatening. Bee and wasp removal should be done by professionally-trained technicians with the equipment, materials, and knowledge to achieve results safely. Look at this news story of a DIY idea gone wrong…
“A construction worker found a wasp’s nest in a storage shed behind a house they were helping to renovate in Northwest Dallas. Rather than leave the nest alone or call in a professional to deal with it, the construction worker decided that a homemade flamethrower — a lighter and an aerosol can — was the best way to deal with the nest. The end result was the storage shed, the renovation home, and a neighbor’s home were all destroyed in the fire.”
This is exactly why calling a professional from the start is a good idea.
How to Keep Bees & Wasps Away
- Seal Up Your House. Even worse than having wasps or bees in your yard is discovering them inside your home! The best way to keep these bees or wasps out of your home is to prevent them from coming in in the first place. Have a professional seal tiny cracks and patch holes in your home.
- Proactively look for nests. Have regular inspections done around the home for. If you notice a nest, don’t attempt to treat it yourself. Call Conquistador Pest Control at (520) 462-2630.
- Add Plants That Repel Bees. Certain plants will repel bees. Bees hate the scent of lemongrass, eucalyptus, mint, and wormwood plants. So, if you want to keep bees away, you might want to have some of these plants near your pool area.
- Invest in a pool cover. Bees and wasps see pools the same way humans do—a refreshing body of water to cool off in on hot summer days and they will flock to your pool by the dozen. Though pool covers can be somewhat pricey, they will be a worthwhile investment if it keeps the bees away. Just make sure that your pool cover extends to the edges of the pool so that the bees won’t have a way to access the water.
How to Avoid Getting Stung by Bees and Wasps
If you know you are allergic to bees or wasps, you’ll want to take extra steps to avoid getting bitten or stung. It is a good idea to avoid places where they spend time, like blooming gardens or swimming pool.
No one likes to get stung, so here’s some advice for everyone:
- Don’t disturb hives
- If a bee or wasp flies around you, stay calm and don’t swat at it.
- Avoid perfumed sunscreens, soaps, shampoos, and deodorants.
- Wear shoes outdoors.
- Wear clothing to cover as much of the body as possible.
- Avoid bright-colored or flower-printed clothing.
- Be careful when outside with open soda cans because yellowjackets like to climb inside for a sip.
- Watch out for garbage cans because they attract bees and yellowjackets.
Guide to Yellow Striped Insects: Bees and Wasps
Is it a bee? Is it a wasp? We’re just not sure!
This Comprehensive Guide to Yellow Striped Insects identifies and describes eight different types of bees and wasps.
Honey Bees
- One of the most recognized
- Excellent pollinator
- Makes yummy honey!
- Can only sting once
- Wants to enjoy the sun and flowers
- A hive can contain 30,000 or more bees
Yellow Jacket
- After your food and sugary drinks
- Aggressive... have lance-like stingers with small barbs, and typically sting repeatedly
- Build nests in trees and inside man-made structures, tree stumps, packrat burrows.
- Colonies size may reach to 100,000 wasps.
Sweat Bee
- Are not aggressive, but when stung the venom keeps pumping until you remove the stinger
- Love the smell and taste of sweat
- Doesn’t have a hive, lives underground, and tends to live alone
Paper Wasp
- Only attacks if provoked
- Sting is painful
- Will chase you if you swat at it
- Generally non-aggressive
- Pollinator and eats garden pests
Carpenter Bee
- Acts aggressive but can’t actually hurt you (Males don’t even have a stinger)!
- Loves unfinished wood where they dig tunnels to make nests.
- Carpenter bees prefer to be by themselves
Cicada Killer
- Exclusively eats cicadas
- Can sting you but only when handled roughly.
- Male wasps don’t have stingers
- Preserve trees that cicadas feed on
Africanized Bee
- Looks like a regular honeybee, however don’t be fooled, these guys are dangerous!
- 500 stings equals one rattlesnake bite
- Can/will chase you for over a quarter of a mile if upset!
- Can only sting once, however they danger occurs because it brings it friends along!
Tarantula Hawk Wasp
- One of the most painful stings of any insect in the United States
- Not aggressive and it is rare that a person will be stung by one.
- A female tarantula hawk will hunt tarantulas to lay their eggs in.
- Live along in a burrow.
Conquistador Pest Control has a highly successful track record for managing bees and wasps. The key to pest control for your home or business starts with a property inspection to fully understand the environment as well as how the bees and wasps might be accessing the property.
We will develop an integrated plan to treat your home and yard to make your property less welcoming. Call us today.
Sources
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Bored Panada... www.boredpanda.com/comprehensive-guide-to-yellow-stripey-things-bees-wasps/Bored Panada... www.boredpanda.com/comprehensive-guide-to-yellow-stripey-things-bees-wasps/
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Kids Health... https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/bee.htmlKids Health... https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/bee.html
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ABC 15... https://www.abc15.com/news/state/7-things-to-know-about-africanized-honey-bees-in-arizonABC 15... https://www.abc15.com/news/state/7-things-to-know-about-africanized-honey-bees-in-arizon
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University of Arizona... https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/pest-identification/pest-diagnostics/arizona-bee-identification-guideUniversity of Arizona... https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/pest-identification/pest-diagnostics/arizona-bee-identification-guide
