While typically mistaken for honey bees, yellow jackets aren’t even bees at all. They may have similar sizing and coloring when compared to honey bees, but yellow jackets are actually members of the wasp family, and there are numerous varieties of them to be found throughout the United States in the summer time. While they do play the role of pollinator and predator to plant damaging insects in many gardens, they also enjoy protein and sugar rich foods, which makes them a common cookout invader.
Another similarity they share with honey bees is they are both social insects, meaning their colonies are centered around a queen. Male wasps fertilize the queen while female workers gather food, and defend the colony. As summer progresses, the queen works to produce new queens, and each year they emerge from winter to produce new colonies. Throughout the summer, one can often spot yellow jackets flying about parks, trash cans, picnic tables, or any place where food is exposed. To help keep wasps at bay, be sure to keep trashcans clean and cover dishes when eating outside. To note, yellow jackets are also drawn to brightly colored clothing and floral scents.
When you encounter a yellow jacket, it is important to remain calm. One of the most important things to remember about yellow jackets is that, unlike honey bees, they are able to sting repeatedly. Also, if you manage to squish a yellow jacket, remember that a pheromone is released that signals other yellow jackets in the vicinity to attack. So, it is always best to stay collected, move slowly, and simply try to brush off any yellow jacket that might land on you. If things get a bit crazy, and you end up getting stung, wash the sting right away. Apply ice to the site of the sting, and take an antihistamine to help reduce any swelling you might experience. Unfortunately, if you sustain multiple stings or a sting to the throat, you might require more extensive medical attention.
Yellow jackets construct paper nests in attics or walls of structures, inside hollow logs, and underground. For the most part, time is your ally when it comes to ridding yourself of yellow jackets. The entire colony dies off when winter rolls in, and they often do not build nests in the same place when summer returns. If you’re having a problem with yellow jackets building their nests within your home or other areas you inhabit daily, however, chemical treatment might have to be considered.
Are you suffering from a yellow jacket infestation that has gotten a bit out of control? Let Absolut Pest Control help! Call us at 978-388-4589, or fill out our online contact form!