Stinging Insects In Orange County Can Put A Damper On Your Summer

If you want to host the best summer spot this year, you need to know how to prevent stinging insects, with effective pest control in Orange County.Do you think all wasps, bees, and hornets build their nests high? They do not; yellow jackets and mud daubers both build their nests in the ground. One wasp stings with a fierce ruthlessness while the other has been called a gardener’s friend. Don’t know how to tell which is which? Let’s look at bees, hornets, and wasps.

The Types Of Stinging Insects You Can Encounter In Orange County

The types of stinging insects you’ll find here in Orange County can be fascinating, intimidating, and downright scary if you get too close. 

Some common local stinging insects include:

• Docile bees: Honeybees, carpenter bees, and bumble bees are relatively docile pollinators that have a foraging range of three to six miles. They are yellow and black and come in a variety of sizes. Honeybees tend to be smaller in size, and they have fur. Carpenter bees have heavy, low-hanging bodies and often a single black dot between their wings. Bumblebees are sized in the middle of the two and they are known for their classic striped markings, hourglass shape, and full-bodied fur.
• Pollinator wasps: Hornets, mud daubers, and paper wasps all share similar body structures and for the most part, they aren’t super aggressive. Hornets are nocturnal and fly in a four-mile radius often at night. They are a passive bunch and their hives won’t build their nest within 100 yards of a neighboring vespiary. Hornets look frightening but if one is inside, it is searching for the nearest window, not you. Mud daubers are excellent pollinators and have razor-thin bodies that hover like helicopters. Paper wasps are smaller than hornets, but the two resemble in colors and behavior they only sting when they must.
• Yellow jackets: Yellow jackets belong in a category all to themselves. They have been known to drive out and take over neighboring hives. The hives they do build are well hidden often in the ground. Yellow jackets are similar to other wasps in size, but their aggressive nature and bright colors are what define them. If threatened, the yellow jacket will sting multiple times and chase its threat until it is no longer a danger. The yellow jacket tends to stay close to home within 1000 feet of its nest.

No matter how docile and passive these insects are or how well you do at avoiding them, they still have the potential to sting. Small stinging insects can sting just as bad as large ones and an insect that stings has the potential to cause a problem for you, your family, and your guests. 

Helpful Wasp Prevention Tips

Think about ways to prevent bees, wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets from entering your yard. Perhaps it is impossible to deter them all together, but you can make it, so they don’t want to stay.

Some tips include:

1. Dispose of trash and seal the garbage containers.
2. Cover any holes you find in the ground. Sometimes these small holes are created by gophers, but yellow jackets can take over.
3. Inspect your property for signs of damage or decay like rotting wood, as they build their nests in these areas.
4. Remove plants from your yard that will attract these unwanted pests, like sweet fennel, yarrow, and Queen Anne’s lace.
5. Inspect your home for places they can come inside. Weatherstripping that is damaged should be replaced and cracked windows and mesh screens should be repaired.

Now that you’ve established some boundaries with these insects, let's look at some simple ways to deter the ones who still manage to make it to your property.

Ways To Deter Hornets And Yellow Jackets 

Here are a few things you can do to deter passing hornets and yellow jackets from staying too long around your home. 

1. Use a hive decoy in your yard. You can hang something that looks like a wasp nest in a tree and many of these insects will avoid the area.
2. Plant flowers that repel stinging insects like marigolds, lavender, and rosemary.
3. Spray areas you think they might like to nest with a soapy water mixture.
4. Burn sage, lavender, cloves, or citronella to deter them. 

If you are short on time or just need an extra hand to help get your place perfect for a great summer party, give the professionals a call at Pacific Shore Pest Control. Our customer service is unmatched and no matter what your pest problem is, we’ve got a solution!

Professional Stinging Insect Control And Removal

During the summer, all you want to do is have fun. Don’t let stinging insects ruin a great afternoon or a warm night under the stars. Get out in your yard this summer and let us take care of pest control. We hold ourselves to a high standard and center our solutions on Integrated Pest Management (IPM). That means we will eliminate your current problem and take steps to protect against future pests and infestations with our effective home pest control and commercial pest control services.