Stinging Insects

Stinging Insects can be a Danger in Your Yard

Wasps, Hornets, Yellowjackets and Bees can all cause issues, especially if you are allergic to their stings. It is good to note that we do not destroy honeybees. If there is an unwanted colony, we will call in a professional honeybee keeper to remove and relocate the bees.

We treat all types of stinging insects but there are three types that cause the biggest problem in Central PA.

Eastern Yellowjacket

This is a ground nesting species that can be very aggressive. They are common in woodlands, pastures, parks and lawns, which make them especially problematic to both people and pets. If they are in an area that will get mowed over or in an area where kids play, you’ll definitely want to have them removed.

Yellowjackets will also occasionally nest in walls and have been known to chewing through interior sheetrock and entering the home if their outside escape becomes blocked. The professionals at Gilbert’s are experienced and have the proper equipment to remove these situations.

Eastern Yellowjackets can also be beneficial because they do reduce populations of unwanted insects such as earwigs and caterpillars.

Baldfaced Hornet

The Baldfaced Hornet is actually an “Aerial Yellowjacket”. They build their nests in bushes and trees and sometimes on the outside of buildings, and produce the characteristic football shaped, gray papery nests.

The Baldfaced Hornet gets its name from the ivory-white markings on the face. The thorax, legs and abdomen also have white markings. The queen and her offspring range in size from 13 mm to 20 mm – the queen is usually the largest yellowjacket in the colony.

Gilbert’s will treat Balfaced Hornets by removing the nests and exterminating the stinging insects, especially when they are close to entrances and areas where children and pets play. They can pose a risk to those who are sensitive to bee stings.

European Paper Wasp

European paper wasps easily notice potential threats to their nests. They can detect movement at 12 to 20 feet from the nest but fortunately do not typically attack unless people are very close (inches away). But, since they prefer to tuck their nest away, sometimes they can come as a surprise to people. An unsuspecting homeowner may be stung while working on the outside of their home, particularly around shutters or light fixtures or cracks in brick or siding. These European paper wasps are also very common in populated areas.

How to Deter Stinging Insects from Your Home

• Repair holes in walls, cracks in soffits and eaves and screen vents and louvers.
• Take care that you don’t trap wasps and hornets within your walls, which can create a bigger problem
• Remove nests as soon as you see them being created, early in the season. This is best done by a professional pest control company like Gilbert’s.