State Fair Time is here and so is the busiest time for stinging insect control…. So, let’s break it down.
Yellow jackets – German yellow jackets are most prevalent from late July through frost. Yellow jackets nest in wall voids, cantilever spaces, utility openings, light fixture openings or ground voids left by burrowing rodents. Most entomologists concur that a mature colony of yellow jackets during late summer to fall between 4000-6000 individuals. that can. In my 35-year career I have been stung by this stinging insect the most due to the high numbers and the fact individuals can sting multiple times.
Only the inseminated queen overwinters and starts the colony site in the spring and after the emergence of the first brood the workers take over the task of food, foraging to feed the larvae of the first generation. Yellow jacket nests size range has been found up to 3 feet by 5 feet in size in building or ground cavities.
Yellow jackets are very protective of nesting sits and one yellow jacket can inflict multiple stings, henceforth can be very dangerous to human activity.
Identification: Yellow jackets are smooth, yellow and black in color and 12-15 mm long with three small dots on the face; unlike honeybees that are fuzzy and dusty gold and black in color. Yellow jackets are more dangerous than bees particularly to those individuals that are allergic to insect stings.
They feed on other insects, or sweets so this worrisome stinger might show up at the summer picnic and be attracted to juice boxes, sodas, sweets or foods at this type of outdoor activity. We have also dealt with yellow jackets at baseball garbage bins and dumpsters by a school playground.
Yellow jackets are best handled by an experienced exterminator in a bee suit to treat and/or eliminate the nest-that is where Janssen Pest Solutions comes in! Then, let’s make recommendations for an integrated pest management plan to minimize the Yellow Jacket attraction your home or business!