What are stinging insects?
Stinging insects are helpful creatures when living outside in nature away from people, but when they find a way into our yards, they become a problem that requires fast action.
The very name of these pests tells us why they are such an issue to have in our yards. Stinging insects have a stinger that extend off their abdomen. They use these venom-filled stingers to paralyze prey and to defend themselves from danger. Unfortunately, the venom that they possess is strong enough to cause serious health problems in people, making stinging insects and their nests unwanted in our yards.
Many different types of stinging insects live throughout South Carolina and often end up in our yards, including:
- Wasps
- Yellow jackets
- Hornets
- Mud daubers
- Carpenter bees
Are stinging insects dangerous?
Having stinging insects nesting in your yard is dangerous and makes it so you can’t enjoy our property. Keeping your pets and kids out of certain areas of your yard where stinging insects are nesting or foraging for food is stressful. Being stung by a stinging insect is painful and typically leaves behind an uncomfortable swelling around the sting site for hours or days. Additionally, anytime your skin is broken, a secondary infection can occur.
When a person is allergic to stinging insect venom, having these pests in your yard is especially dangerous. Those allergic to stinging insect venom can develop a life-threatening reaction after being stung, requiring immediate medical attention.
Why do I have a stinging insect problem?
The unfortunate truth is most of our South Carolina properties provide stinging insects with suitable places to create their nests and forage for food. Stinging insects are a problem because these opportunistic pests can build a nest on our homes or in our yards anytime they see fit, making the simple act of spending time outdoors on our property unpleasant and dangerous.
Where will I find stinging insects?
The summer season is when you are going to see the most stinging insect activity. The warm summer weather provides these pests with all the food they can gather to feed themselves and the colony members back at the nest. You will see stinging insects buzzing around things like flowerbeds, gardens, flowering trees and shrubbery, trash cans, recycling bins, and outdoor eating areas.
Listed below are the most common nesting spots for stinging insects in our area:
- Carpenter bees are solitary, so each female creates its own nest, usually in older or weathered pieces of wood. Fences, decks, roof eaves, and wooden play structures or furniture often become nesting sites for carpenter bees.
- Yellow jackets and hornets will place their nests up off the ground but prefer to build nests on or under the ground. The abandoned nests of small animals, naturally occurring ground holes, and spaces under woodpiles or fallen trees are favorite nesting spots.
- Wasps and mud daubers prefer to nest up off the ground in secluded areas like under roof eaves or porch ceilings, behind shutters, on chimneys, in trees, or on utility poles.
How do I get rid of stinging insects?
It is always best to reach out to a professional to help you eliminate dangerous stinging insects from your South Carolina yard. At Greenville Pest Control, you can count on our professionals to come to your property, accurately identify the stinging insects, and safely from their nest from your yard or home. We will always go above and beyond for our customers, solving pest problems while having your family’s safety at the forefront of everything we do.
To learn more about our stinging insect control services, reach out to Greenville Pest Control today!
How can I prevent stinging insects in the future?
In addition to our home pest control and commercial pest control services, protect your property from stinging insects with the following prevention tips:
- Cut back tree branches and shrubs from your home’s exterior where stinging insects could build a nest.
- Remove unused play structures, older wooden fences, and things like woodpiles and brush piles from your yard that stinging insects could build a nest in.
- Fill in ground holes that develop in the yard and garden areas.
- Place caps on chimneys, covers over vents, and repair defects in your home’s siding to help prevent stinging insects from finding a way into your home.
- Avoid being accidentally stung by stinging insects by wearing shoes when outside and doing your best to avoid areas where stinging insects are swarming and nesting.
