Knowing The Enemy

Before you attempt to take on yellow jackets, you should know some background information. Yellow jackets are usually easy to identify by their black and yellow stripes, although the coloration can vary, and some wasps are easy to confuse for yellow jackets. These flying insects have very slender waists, which is how you can tell them apart from bees.

Across the United States, there are about 16 species of yellow jackets. The behavior of the insect varies by species, but all local yellow jackets are social creatures. Every year, they build new colonies with one queen. Some yellow jacket colonies are underground, while others are aerial.

Yellow jackets are content to stay away from people, but they sometimes find reasons to build nests on houses or bushes near houses. If you have food nearby, yellow jackets might decide to invade your yard. You may see them buzzing around or notice a paper-like nest hanging from your eaves.

These stinging insects eat fruit and other sweet items. However, the adults often collect protein for the larvae. In the larval stage, yellow jackets eat meat and other forms of protein.

Why You Should Worry About Yellow Jackets

If you’re considering cohabitating with yellow jackets, there’s something you should know. These Raleigh pests have the potential to cause serious medical complications. Some individuals develop allergies to yellow jacket stings, and this could lead to anaphylactic shock.

Out of all the local wasps and hornets, yellow jackets are one of the most aggressive. They sting multiple times and pose a health risk to anyone who approaches a nest. For this reason, it’s essential to keep yellow jackets away from your home.

What To Do About Yellow Jackets

Because these pests are so aggressive, there’s not much you can do to safely remove a nest. If you buy a wasp killer, you risk angering the survivors and experiencing multiple stings. After you spray, it’s not safe to remove the nest because there could be lingering yellow jackets nearby.

So what can you do when you find a yellow jacket nest? The safest way to handle the situation is to call in a pest control professional. Innovative Pest Solutions has the right training and tools, they know how to safely find and remove nests from your property.

There are a few things you can do on your own to make your property less appealing to yellow jackets. For instance, you can store your garbage in a can with a lid. The food and insects in your garbage attract yellow jackets, which means they’ll build a nest close by.

Another effective way to keep yellow jackets from trespassing is to keep your flowering plants away from your home. Instead of having a garden outside your back door, keep your garden further away. The yellow jackets will have fewer reasons to approach your home or outdoor living area.

Work With Our Professionals

If you want to be safe in your yard, you need the guidance of an experienced professional. Here at Innovative Pest Solutions, we’ve seen how dangerous yellow jackets can be. Our team is highly skilled at nest removal as well as yellow jacket prevention and treatment plans. You can count on us to keep your family safe, so give us a call today for a free inspection and estimate.