Common Wasps Found In Washington

Greater Spokane has its share of wasps. Yellow jackets, paper wasps and hornets are common. These pests are most active in late summer and early fall. Wasps pose a threat to homeowners, business owners and just about everyone else because they’re highly aggressive and will attack without provocation.

Why Wasps Are Dangerous

Bees generally leave humans alone unless they perceive you to be a direct and immediate threat. If a bee does sting you, it can only sting you once before it dies.

Wasps are aggressive by nature. They can sting you even if you’re nowhere near a nest. Because their stingers won’t lodge in your skin, wasps can sting you as often as they wish. Hornet stings are the most painful, and if you kill a hornet, it can release pheromones that tell other hornets in the colony to attack you.

It’s Easy to Disturb the Nest

Nests are made of chewed wood fiber and saliva. Most wasps build large football-shaped or shell-shaped nests under overhangs and beams or inside of building cavities. Nests can also be found in trees and bushes, inside of porch furniture and inside children’s playground equipment.

Yellow jackets build nests below the ground. For those who maintain or use the property, it can be hard to spot underground yellow jacket nests and to refrain from disturbing the insects. Passing near or over a nest, especially while pushing or riding a power mower, can cause ground vibrations that the insects perceive as threatening. For that reason, they may attack both the mower and the driver.

Bullying Scavengers

Most wasps eat other bugs, but yellow jackets like sweet human food and meat. They’ve become regular unwelcome guests at Spokane backyard cookouts and family picnics. If you’d rather not share your food, there’s no easy way to get these bugs to leave without a fight.

How to Identify Wasps

Unlike round and furry bees, wasps are slim, shiny and smooth. They can measure up to two inches long and usually sport black and gold stripes. Wasps have a head, six legs, a torso, a tiny waistline and a trunk.

If you see wasps regularly on your property, there is probably a nest nearby. Wasps can chase people aggressively. When in flight, a wasp can hover like a helicopter and then zoom in to deliver a painful sting. If you encounter one, always give it a wide berth and stay out of harm’s way.

Treating a Sting

Allergic individuals can experience fatal anaphylactic shock after a sting. The symptoms include difficulty breathing, vomiting, nausea and skin rashes. Emergency treatment should be administered immediately. Typical reactions to a wasp sting include welts and a burning sensation at the site of the injury. Swab the area with apple cider vinegar or lemon juice after cleaning with soap and warm water. An antihistamine will reduce swelling.

How to Prevent Wasp Stings

If wasps are residing on your property, you stand a good chance of being stung. To these bad-tempered bugs, your property is now their property. If wasps penetrate your home, they will pose an even greater threat. Trying to remove a hornet’s nest yourself can lead to serious injury and unsuccessful extermination.

The best way to prevent stings is to banish wasps from your property. Wasp removal services by Eden Advanced Pest Technologies employ high-tech tools that neutralize wasps and prevent their return. Call us today to learn more and to receive a free quote.