Having a yard can bring many joys and many problems. You can enjoy a barbecue, spend a lazy afternoon on your porch looking out into your yard, and hold get togethers and birthday parties. However, the yard can also be home to numerous pests and nuisances, including bees, wasps and hornets. In this article, we’re going to cover the differences between these insects and help you figure out when it’s time to call over a pest control specialist.

Bees

Bees, hornets, and wasps are hard to distinguish because they mostly have the same coloration. However, you can tell them apart once you know what to look for. There are three common species of bees across the US: the carpenter, honey and bumble bee. When compared to hornets and wasps, bees have a very robust, round body, with black and yellow stro[es. They are also fuzzy, and their hairs are used to collect pollen. Bees are very useful for the environment, but they can and will sting in self-defence. Their stings are quite painful, and they can be dangerous to people who are allergic to bee venom.

Hornets

Hornets look very similar to bees, but they are less fuzzy. The most common hornet species in the US is the European, or giant hornet. You also have the bald-faced hornet, which is actually a wasp, and it is called a hornet because it is larger than most species of wasps. Hornets will nest in hollow trees and other wooden cavities, and they are much more trigger-happy with their stings, when compared to bees. Their stings can cause considerable pain and they can also be life-threatening for people who are allergic.

Wasps

Wasps are the skinniest and least hairy of the stinging insects. Wasps are smaller than hornets and they have less robust bodies. Hornets are also always social insects, while wasps can be both solitary and social, depending on the species. Wasps can be recognized by their pronounced waists, which are very obvious right away. They are also a species that is fond of meat, oftentimes being drawn to hot dogs and other meat scraps. They enjoy sugar as well along with sugary drinks. When it comes to stinging, a wasp is able to attack multiple times, because it will not lose its stinger. These insects will attack when threatened, especially when you are near a wasp nest, or if you try to swat a wasp way that is near you. Wasp venom can also cause allergic reactions.

Do you have problems with stinging insects on your property?

Having a stinging insect infestation is never fun. These insects can ruin an entire summer with their constant buzzing, invasive behavior and stinging. If you have a wasp, hornet, or bee infestation, contact us right away, and we will help you remove the nest.