Bees, Wasps, Hornets, Yellowjackets
We all know this group of insects very well and most of us have experienced the painful sting to which some people are deathly allergic. What is not common knowledge is that they are great pollinators of flowers and also predators of other damaging insects. Just like their not-so-distant cousins called ants, when left alone in the woods these species can provide plenty of beneficial services to the natural world and we reap the benefits every time we stop to smell the flowers. But when they are intruding on our children's play area or nesting in the walls of our house and chewing through the drywall into our living room that is when they need to be shown the door. They can be extremely dangerous and aggressive toward humans when they feel threatened. At Rambo Total Pest Control we have all the tools and experience necessary to eliminate an active nest quickly and efficiently! Many times we can accomplish this within hours of your call. Most frequently encountered around here are Yellowjackets, Bald Faced Hornets, Paper Wasps and Mud Dauber Wasps.
Yellowjackets are the most likely to find nesting in your walls or intruding on a backyard picnic. There are many different scenarios that would describe a Yellowjacket colony because they are versatile nest builders. Sometimes they build a nest in a tree 15 feet up, other times they hollow out a large hole in the ground and form an underground nest. Still other times they will set up shop in your attic insulation and chew their way through the drywall and into your house.
Bald Faced Hornets are known for their exceedingly large nest size. Their nests can grow to be basketball size and even much larger. Usually located hanging under the eaves of a house or up in a tree branch. It can be very interesting to observe how they incorporate the surrounding branches and twigs into their nest structure. These, as well as Yellowjackets, can be very aggressive to intruders so extreme caution should be undertaken when approaching these stinging insects for the purpose of observation or to implement control measures.
Paper Wasps are generally just a nuisance pest due to their many small golf ball-sized nests that they build under the eaves of houses or in roof structures. Wasps are excellent pollinators and predators of other undesirable insects. Rarely do they show aggressive behavior toward humans. The dozens of small nests built on a house can be a major eyesore though, so early and consistent control is recommended when these nests are first noticed.
Mud Dauber Wasps are unique in their nest building. Just like their name would indicate they build their nests out of mud. Actually the inseminated queen captures a spider and stings it so it is paralyzed, then she inserts the spider, as a food source, into a hollow cell made of dried mud and lays an egg on top. Topping it off with a mud cap to seal the cell until the growing wasp completes metamorphosis and emerges as an adult. These are generally considered beneficial insects as they prey on undesirable spiders and other household pests but their mud nests can be very unsightly on a nice house. Removal of the nest is recommended, usually without chemical treatment.
Bees of all types can be very disruptive to your quality of life so don't hesitate to call Rambo Total Pest Control today for a free quote!