Yellow Jacket Pest Control Services
At Independent Pest Control, we offer a variety of pest control services. One of the services that we offer is wasp pest control. Autumn officially begins on September 22nd, and we are already beginning to see the leaves change color and the weather get colder. When late summer and fall come around, yellow jackets and wasps are more aggressive.
Yellow jackets are one of the most common types of stinging insects in Washington state, and often cause trouble for humans. They are a type of wasp, and have striking black and yellow stripes. They are relatively small, about 10 to 16 millimeters long. Unlike a bee, yellow jackets and other types of wasps have thin waists. They are also different from bees in that they aren’t as fuzzy, don’t have as round bodies, and they don’t have specialized back legs designed to carry pollen. Yellow jackets have long wings that fold laterally when they are resting. They are often misidentified as hornets, but there aren’t really hornet species common in Washington.
Like bees, yellow jackets are actually a type of pollinator insect. Pollination is important for helping in food production and helping plants reproduce. Without pollination, the agricultural industry would be in trouble. Yellow jackets also eat harmful pests such as grubs and flies. If you can tolerate yellow jackets on your property, there may be some benefits to having them there. Generally, if you try to avoid them then you will be safe. However, during the fall these pests may pose more of a risk to you and your family. This is especially true if someone in your family is allergic to stings. Reactions to wasp stings can range from pain and itchiness to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
If you feel like you are seeing more of these stinging insects, it’s not just your imagination. This has to do with the lifecycle of yellow jackets and wasps. Every year in spring, the wasp queens come out from where they hid for the winter. They establish new nests, lay eggs, and then grow their hives throughout the spring and summer. By the time summer is ending, the nest is full of insects. The abundance of individuals in the wasp population is noticeable to people that may have a nest on their property.
There are a variety of reasons why yellow jackets become more aggressive in the fall. First of all, during the fall, this problem is exacerbated by the fact that the nest’s population is at its limit, and the yellow jackets have to compete with each other for food. Adults especially seek out sweet foods for energy. This means that they may harass picnic goers or people having outside get-togethers. When their food sources are scarce, they are more likely to engage in reckless behavior while scavenging and harass humans.
Another reason that yellow jackets become more aggressive in the fall is that that is when the colonies are at their largest. The population becomes crowded, and when they are crowded they get aggressive. Because the colonies are large, the yellow jackets also are more protective of their nests. They have to protect the queen because she’s the only member of the colony that lives through the winter. They have nothing to lose because they will all die soon, so they will fight to the death to protect the queen. As yellow jackets near death, they can become confused and disoriented. If they perceive someone as a threat, then they will be aggressive towards them and may sting.
Pest Control Services in Puyallup, Wa.
During late summer and fall, yellow jackets will try to gain access to homes and buildings through windows, doors, and cracks. They don’t want to be out in the cold and exposed to the elements. They are cold-blooded organisms, and seek out heat. It’s important not to leave your windows open without a screen so that pests can’t get in. You should also check your screens to make sure they don’t have tears that yellow jackets could climb in through. Because they’re so small, they could crawl into your home through a hole the size of a pea.
If you have sliding doors, you should also inspect the weather stripping. If it’s damaged, bugs could easily crawl into your home. Check to see if the weather stripping is making solid contact from bottom to top, without any holes. Another potential entry point is door sweeps, which many homeowners may overlook. If the door sweep is damaged, yellow jackets could enter your garage or home. Fixing your door sweep will also keep out cold air as autumn begins in earnest.
You can take other steps to stay safe around stinging insects in the fall. You should keep food and drinks, especially sugary ones, covered while you are outside so they don’t attract yellow jackets. You should also make sure that garbage cans in your home and garage have proper lids and are regularly taken out. To prevent yellow jackets from returning next year, it’s important to get pest control services to get rid of colonies before the queen leaves to hibernate for the winter. If left alone, she will just come back next year and establish a new colony.
It’s smart to have a professional pest control company handle your yellow jacket problem. As stated before, these insects can become aggressive if their nest is threatened. This is why pest control must occur at night-time and use the proper methods and chemicals. If someone doesn’t know what they’re doing, things can quickly get out of hand. At Independent Pest Solutions, we have extensive experience in dealing with various pest problems, including yellow jackets. Our pest control professionals know how to safely neutralize and remove nests so that you don’t have to worry about it.
If you live in or around Puyallup, Independent Pest Solutions is your best option for yellow jacket pest control. We have highly-trained Puyallup pest control experts that are equipped to handle even the toughest pest problems. Our methods are intended to not pose any danger to you, your family, or your pets. For whatever pest problem you may be facing, you can reach out to us. Not only do we get rid of pest infestations, but we do crawlspace and attic restorations afterwards if needed.
