Stinging Insects

What Are Stinging Insects?

You might have already come to the conclusion that bees, wasps, hornets, and yellowjackets all belong to the stinging insect family. If this is what you assumed, you would have assumed right. That being said, would be surprised to learn that the ant also belongs to this order of insects commonly referred to as Hymenoptera? That’s right! They do! And, most of these stinging insects are considered beneficial pollinators when they are not posing a threat to people or their property.

This only makes it all the more important the be able to properly identify these insects. Some of them give off a higher level of aggression while some of them give off low levels of aggression. Knowing the difference in these pests could save you a couple of stings. Here’s what you need to know about the stinging insects in Oklahoma City.

Properly Identifying Stinging Insects

In Oklahoma City, you’ll find yourself dealing with a variety of stinging insects. You add this to the fact that elimination for each of these insects will be different and it’ll just make the entire situation all that more confusing and frustrating. We are always here to help when and where we can, but it’ll do you some good by learning how to identify these insects on your own. Doing so will allow you to judge their aggression levels along with proper methods of elimination. All that being said, there are two ways you can identify these critters. You can start with the appearance and location of the nest. From there, you can move on to the appearance of the insect itself.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps in Oklahoma City are only considered mid-level aggressive. This means they won’t likely attack you for no reason. You’ll either have to physically touch them or encroach on their territory. As far as the nest goes, you’ll be able to easily identify their home because it is grayish in color, round in shape, and similar to that of the distinctive honeycomb pattern. These nests are usually located under eaves, overhangs, and fences. While their nests might look the same, it’s entirely possible that you could find yourself dealing with two different types of paper wasps in Oklahoma City. These would be the European Paper Wasp and the Northern Paper Wasp.

European Paper Wasp

This one is striped yellow and black with orange antennae. It looks someone similar to that of a yellowjacket, but much larger in size. This is how you’ll be able to distinguish between the two. This bee is so long that its hind legs will dangle while in flight.

Northern Paper Wasp

The other paper wasp you’ll encounter in Oklahoma City is the Northern Paper Wasp. This is one with a brown body coupled with dark orange areas. There are also thin yellow or white stripes on the abdominal area.

The Yellowjacket

The yellow jacket is without a doubt one of the most aggressive species you’ll encounter in Oklahoma City. This can be troubling considering how inconspicuous their nests are. Some of these critters will even build their nests into the ground. That being said, they are usually covered with gray and black paper-like material. Common sheltering places for these nests are attics, under porches, and in dense bushes. The bee itself is black and yellow in the abdominal areas with a solid back head and antennae. These guys are extremely fast flyers because of their ability to tuck their legs into their bodies during flight. It gives them aerodynamic capabilities.

Bald-Face Hornet

You’ll see these guys in abundance during the late fall and summer months. This is because these are the times when their numbers are at the greatest. And, because of this their aggression levels will be spiked even further, making them extremely dangerous. Luckily, their nests are much easier to detect, as they are large inverted tear-drops. As for the bees themselves, they are black and white with smooth bodies made up of slightly larger heads, thoraxes, and abdominal stingers. These guys usually locate their nests in trees, bushes, and occasionally the side of buildings.

The Honeybee

Being from Oklahoma City, you don’t need anyone telling you about the honeybee. You are probably more than familiar with eating all the good local honey. These guys are some of the lowest-level aggressive bees you’ll meet. Some have even specifically been bred for gentleness. Their hives are oftentimes found in tree voids and rock crevices and resemble that of the iconic honeycomb. These bees, unlike other stinging insects, can survive all year round because of their honey-making abilities. They make honey all summer, save it up, and eat it during the winter. It’s pretty ingenious when you consider it. The bees are orange/yellow with brown fuzzy hairs on their head and body. They also have thoraxes and abdominal stingers.

The Carpenter Bee

The carpenter bee is no doubt the lowest aggressive bee you’ll ever see. Most of the time, they don’t even sting when approached. This is not to say that they won’t sting because they will. It’s just to say that the chances are highly low. That being said, these creatures bore perfectly round 3/8 hoes into wood structures like wood siding, fascia, and decks. Interestingly enough, these bees don’t actually eat the wood, they just hollow out the cavity and leave the wood behind. They use the hollowed-out holes to rear their young. These large bees resemble that of bumblebees and are yellow and fuzzy black with hairless abdomens. The males also have yellow spots on their faces, which make them even easier to distinguish.

Are Stinging Insects Dangerous

It doesn’t take a pest management professional to discern that stinging insects are dangerous. They all might not be dangerous, and they might not be dangerous at all times, but there are some people who have been bitten and suffered severe allergic reactions. As was mentioned earlier, some of these species aren’t even aggressive, so you could walk right up on them without worry about repercussions. That said, a good rule of thumb to apply is: the bigger the nest or hive, the more aggressive these guys will be. The only problem is some ground nests are notoriously hard to detect. There is also the potential for structural damage when dealing with species that bore into wood structures.

Why Are Stinging Insects Around?

Stinging insects are some of the most opportunistic creatures you’ll meet. They’ll jump on any opportunity to shelter, and if they are on your property, that is more than likely what they are doing.

How Do I Get Rid Of Stinging Insects?

Unfortunately, we cannot recommend anyone trying to remove stinging insects. This is because there is always the risk for stings. You might even get stung when dealing with the non-aggressive bees. This is why this is a task better left for the pros, who are equipped to handle the situation with the utmost efficiency. And, that would be us. With this in mind, there are DIY and over-the-counter pesticides specifically made for bee and wasp elimination.

The only problem is these products aren’t as effective as the ones we use. They don’t contain all the necessary ingredients because the necessary ingredients are illegal. Anyone buying, selling, or handling these chemicals without the proper certifications is going so illegally. Just something you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing a pest management professional in Oklahoma City. You can try these DIY chemicals, and you might experience some success, but total elimination is highly unlike these methods.

Are There Safer Treatments?

While pesticides are a tried and proven method of pest management, they are extremely dangerous. Even more so dangerous in the wrong hands. This is why we are now offering eco-friendly and green solutions. While these treatments are not applicable in all situations, we offer them when and where we can. Give us a call today to find out if your property applies for these types of treatments. With that in mind, we always utilize EPA-certified techs when administering or handling such chemicals.

How Much Will Treatment Cost?

We cannot give you a direct quote over the phone, and anyone that does so is likely trying to pull one over on you. This is because there are so many factors that determine the overall cost. The type of infestation, the location of the nest, the size of the nest, the size of the property, and tons more can all factor in when pricing a stinging nest infestation removal. What we can promise you is that we’ll be upfront and honest. We’ll quote you a price and when all said and done, you’ll pat that price and that price alone. There won’t be any hidden fees or penalties.

When Will You Get Here?

We stay busy all times of the year because of our abilities and reputation in the community, but we are always more than willing to accommodate. All you have to do is give us a call and we’ll get someone out to the property within 24 to 48 hours. We do, however, have emergency services available for those in need. Whatever ails you, we can take care of it!

If you have any other pest control issues please check out other services.