You may have seen more than one stinging insect around your property now that spring has sprung. In order to avoid being stung, learn as much as you can about these insects and how to handle an infestation or a nesting population. According to statistics, approximately a half million people go to the emergency room each year due to the stings that they receive and the after effects of the event.
Continue reading to learn more about the most common flying stinging insects that you are likely to encounter in the State of Indiana.
Bees
Bees are flying insects that have a close relation to both wasps and – surprisingly – ants.
These insects play a highly critical role in pollination.
One of the best-known species is the western honey bee, as they are known to produce both beeswax and honey.
If you observe bees on your property and they are not a direct threat to you, your loved ones, and your pets, it is best to simply allow them to continue in their natural environment as they are highly beneficial in numerous ways.
However, they do have the capability to stinging due to an internal poison gland and the chemicals that are part of the abdominal exocrine glands.
Bees are only capable of stinging once.
If they build their nests close to your home, you will need to enlist the help of a professional pest control technician for removal.
Wasps
To date, approximately 30,000 different species of wasps have been identified.
Despite the fact that we associate these insects with painful stings, most species do not sting and actually help control far more dangerous pest populations.
Wasps that do sting are considered to be “social” and may sting repeatedly.
Additionally, they will release a pheromone that alerts other wasps in the colony of their distress.
This means you may not only get stung more than once by one wasp, but you may get stung from other wasps in the colony, too.
While highly beneficial to the agricultural industry and our environment – as a whole – if these insects nest too close to your home, it is imperative that you get pest control involved as quickly as possible.
Yellow Jackets
In the United States, there are about 16 different species of yellow jackets. These are social insects that live in a colony that includes a queen.
The nest of these flying insects may be constructed underneath the ground or they may be built in an aerial location – such as in the eave of a home.
While highly territorial, these insects do not usually sting right away. The only exception to this is if the nest is approached and they feel threatened. They then may sting multiple times and the sting is considered to be one of the most painful.
The venom is so strong it can either cause an allergic reaction or it can cause a hypersensitivity to future stings.
To remove these insects, you will need a pest professional.
The removal will require certain safety precautions to be put into place and special equipment.
Hornets
Hornets are closely related to yellow jackets and look like these insects; however, they are considered to be the largest species of the eusocial wasps currently in existence.
These insects use their ability to sting in order to defend their hives and kill their prey. These stings are highly painful to humans due to the fact that there is a large amount of acetylcholine in their venom. They also have the ability to sting multiple times.
Allergic reactions could result in the development of anaphylactic shock and even death. If these are in close proximity to your home, it is time for pest control.
We Can Help
Now that you know a little bit about the most common flying stinging insects in and around our area, you should evaluate those that are on or around your property. If they are at a distance, it is best to leave them be as they contribute to our environment in a very helpful way. If they are close to where you, your loved ones, and your pets frequent, we can help remove the threat of spring’s most common stinging insects so that you do not get stung. We here at All Pest know how to safely eliminate these pests without posing any danger to you, your family, the animals you own, and your home. Simply contact us today.