Wasps & Hornets Pest Control Services

Color: Varies by species, but generally dark brown to black with some yellow or light colored markings.

Characteristics: Most stinging insects are social insects, living in large colonies. Mud daubers are an exception as they are a solitary insect.

Size: Varies by species, but generally most stinging insects range in size from 3/4 of an inch to 1 inch in length.

Potentially Dangerous: Yes

Paper Wasps

They are ¾ of an inch to 1 inch in length. Paper wasps have a distinguishable narrow or “pinched” waist, their wings fold lengthwise at a 45 degree angle when at rest. They are brown in color with yellow markings on their head, thorax and abdomen.

Yellow Jackets

There are many different species of this insect, but most range in length from 3/8 to 5/8 in length with the queens being slightly longer; they are black with yellow markings on their abdomens. Yellow jackets are a ground nesting species.

Mud Daubers

They are a solitary wasp species that range in length from ¾ to 1 inch in length. Mud daubers have a long narrow waist and range in color from brown to black and have bright yellow to iridescent blue markings.

European Hornets

They are a large, aggressive species; they range in length from 1 inch to 1 3/8 inch. European hornets are yellow and brown in color and the only “true” hornet living in North America. They nest in hollow spaces of trees or walls.

Baldfaced Hornets

They have very distinct ivory-white markings on their heads, thorax, legs and abdomen and their wings are a smoky gray color. They can grow up to ¾ of an inch in length. Baldfaced hornets are a social wasp that make their nests in trees and shrubbery.

Description: The queen will emerge after the winter months and look for areas to nest in; depending on the species they will eat pollen, nectar and other insects. The queen will also look for an area with a water source such as a pond, bird bath or pools.

Dangers

The carpenter bee can cause damage to wood on a home, and many of the stinging insects species are aggressive and have powerful stings. These stings can cause strong allergic reactions that can lead to death in some.