Tips For Avoiding Stinging Insects In Utah This Summer

Utah's warm summers can be the perfect environment for stinging insects. From April to October, insects such as bees and wasps are active around Utah. They are attracted to food and are on the lookout for places to build their nests. Here is the information you need to know about stinging insects and how to keep them off your property.

Types of Stinging Insects

There are many different types of stinging insects. You might have honey bees, bumblebees, carpenter bees, paper wasps, mud daubers, yellow jackets, or hornets. Many of these insects look similar or have yellow and black stripes. Some are more aggressive than others. For example, yellow jackets are incredibly aggressive and will sting even if not provoked. Many bees, however, won't sting except in self-defense and only if they feel it's essential since stinging will kill them. The male carpenter bee does not sting, but can still be aggressive when defending his nest.

What Attracts Stinging Insects

Different species of stinging insects have different nesting habits. Yellow jackets can build nests underground; wasps build their nests in sheltered areas with easy access to the outdoors. You'll often find wasps under the eaves of your house or in sheds or other protected areas. Carpenter bees build nests in soft woods where they can create tunnels and cavities for their young. It's important to be on the lookout for any of these nests. The sooner you catch them; the sooner you can remove them from your property.

Some stinging insects, like wasps, eat other pests. Mud daubers and paper wasps eat spiders and sometimes other insects. If you have wasps near your home, it might mean you also have a spider problem, and the easy access to food is attracting the wasps. Other stinging insects like bees and yellow jackets are attracted to sugars and protein; if you leave food outside uncovered, it might attract them. Most stinging insects are also pollinators, so a garden could be inviting them to your property.

Mistakes to Avoid

When dealing with stinging insects, it’s important to remember that some of these insects can sting repeatedly. While you can find plenty of tips on how to eliminate them, most of these are not safe and could cause harm to you or your family. Trying to remove a wasp nest by yourself will likely result in multiple stings and may even require medical attention.   Another problem with using DIY methods to get rid of stinging insects is that you might not be sure what you're dealing with. Many stinging insects look similar. Carpenter bees can damage your property, but bumblebees are necessary and mostly harmless pollinators. It can be harmful to the environment if you kill insects such as honey bees simply because you want them off your property.

Removing Stinging Insects

If you have stinging insects causing a problem on your property, call a professional home pest control company such as Pickett Pest Control. We can identify the exact species of stinging insect and create a solution to eliminate them or relocate the nest. Here at Pickett Pest Control, we have the expertise necessary to deal with stinging insects safely and efficiently. We create customized plans to address your unique situation and to remove stinging insects from your property so that you can have a summer free of painful stings.