If you’ve stepped outdoors at some point, you’ve probably been stung by a wasp. It’s a common experience no one wishes to repeat. The friendly bumble bee’s belligerent cousin is truly a pest to watch out for, and there are many variations in the Bay Area to know.
Wasp Species in the Bay Area And What To Do About Them
While there are several stinging insects in the area to be wary of, not all of them are aggressive. It’s important to know which type you’re dealing with, so you don’t try to exterminate the aggressive ones yourself.
Paper wasps
Paper wasps are semi-social, living in small colonies. The following are characteristics of a typical paper wasp:
- Thin waist
- Triangular-looking from the side
- Long legs
- Mostly brown and yellow
- Active in the spring
- Not very aggressive or likely to sting
- Place nests in backyards, shrubs, under eaves, and hard-to-spot places
- Have umbrella-shaped, paper-like nests
Yellow Jackets
Yellow jackets are social wasps and quite aggressive. You can identify them by looking for the following:
- Very small waist
- Primarily yellow and black, but can have white or red markings
- Active in the summer and fall
- Slow to sting, but are territorial and aggressive when approached
- Make nests in bushes, trees, or the eaves of your home
- Nests are more tubular and rarely larger than a baseball
Mud Daubers
Mud daubers are not social, and they earned their name from the nests they built out of mud. The following are typical characteristics of a mud dauber:
- Thread-waisted, long and thin segment between abdomen and thorax
- Black with occasional pale blue or metallic markings
- Usually between ½ to 1 inch long
- Active in the spring
- Unlikely to sting
- Parallel tubes made of mud for their nest which may be taken over by more aggressive wasp species
- Likely to nest under eaves and porches and in sheds, garages, barns, and attics
Digger Wasps
Like mud daubers, they are solitary wasps. You can identify them by looking for the following:
- Robust bodies with hairy abdomens
- The abdomen is rust-red with two yellow spots, and the thorax is usually blue or black
- Wingtips are blue and finely wrinkled at the tips
- Active in the spring
- Extremely unlikely to sting
- Their nests are located underground targeting root-eating grubs in gardens
Tarantula hawks
Earing their name from their propensity to eat tarantulas, this wasp is surprisingly not aggressive towards humans. The following are characteristics of a tarantula hawk:
- Up to two inches in length
- Dark blue and iridescent
- Long legs and bright orange wings
- Unlikely to sting humans, but have one of the most painful stings in the world
- Nests are created in the abdomen of their tarantula prey
What Should I Do If I See A Nest?
There are many methods to avoid when you want to get rid of a nest. There are some definite “don’t-dos” such as: lighting the nest on fire, standing on a ladder to knock it down, hitting it with a baseball bat or broom handle, flooding it, or covering it with a trash bag. These are all excellent examples of how to get stung, repeatedly.
So, what’s the proper method? Ideally, call a pest control expert immediately. The sooner the better. While far-away nests and non-aggressive wasp species may not merit a call, abandoned nests still pose a danger as they can become home to more dangerous species. Knock the empty ones down at the end of each season, and be sure you can identify them so you know what you’re dealing with.
Reach Out To The Experts At Bay Pest Solution
Bay Pest Solution is your best bet for safe wasp removal. Most wasp stings are painful, but the more serious threat is an allergic reaction from a sting which can be life-threatening. Schedule your free inspection and receive a ten percent discount on select plans when you buy online. Bay Pest Solution will keep you safe year-round, and especially from the stinging insects that are plaguing your home. Call Bay Pest Solution to schedule your free inspection, and don’t wait until you’ve been stung or your house is overrun.