Stinging Insect Identification & Prevention

Stinging insects are pests whose presence can affect how enjoyable it is to spend our time in outdoor spaces.

We all want to enjoy our yards and gardens whenever we want. However, if your yard has become home to stinging insects, spending time outside in your yard can quickly become a nightmare. Stinging insect infestations come with the added worry that you will receive a painful sting every time you or your kids step outside.

Atlanta is home to many different types of stinging insects. Some, like bees, are helpful pollinators, and others, like hornets and wasps, are fierce predators and help control populations of nuisance insects and garden pests.

Though stinging insects are vital to the ecosystem, and we need to support their populations, we shouldn't share our properties with them. Stinging insects are not problematic when living outside, away from people, but they quickly become dangerous, unwanted pests when they nest in high-traffic areas of our yards and homes.

All stinging insects have stingers extending from their hind ends. Predatory species like wasps and hornets use their stingers to paralyze insect prey.

Stinging insects also use their stingers to defend themselves and their nest from harm. Many stinging insects are social and live together in large groups. Any person or animal that threatens an individual member of a nest or gets too close to the nest itself is viewed as a threat and will end up on the receiving end of their painful stings.

A common question most people have is, "Why do insect stings hurt?" They are so painful because the venom that stinging insects inject immediately triggers pain receptors in your body, causing an intense burning sensation.

In addition to the pain associated with these pests, their venom is powerful enough to trigger allergic reactions in people. People can have very mild reactions to life-threatening responses depending on the severity of the allergy and the number of times they were stung.

Stinging insects are outdoor pests and live anyplace, offering them their basic needs. When you look around your backyard, you'll see many sheltered places where stinging insects can safely build their nest. They are most problematic when they make a nest in a high-traffic area of your yard, putting you and your family in constant contact with them.

Even if stinging insects aren't nesting directly on your property, they could still become a problem. If your property offers stinging insects food sources, they won't hesitate to swarm your property in large numbers. Having swarms of hungry stinging insects buzzing around your yard every day is a big problem.

Many stinging insects feed on nectar, fruits, and other sweet liquids. Others eat meats and insects. Gardens, trash cans, fruit trees, and outdoor eating areas are common foraging sites for these pests.

We may find stinging insect nests in many locations, either in the ground, at ground level, or aerially depending on the species present. Though these pests primarily nest outside, sometimes they find a way into our homes and build a nest. Roof eaves, chimneys, attics, walls voids, and crawl spaces are common nesting spots for stinging insects.

Stinging insect identification is best made with the help of a professional. Partnering with a professional to accurately identify the stinging insects on your property is key to finding their nests and ensuring the correct treatment.

To remove stinging insect nests from your property without being on the receiving end of a painful sting, partner with Solstys Environmental. We offer personalized pest control services in Atlanta that meet our customers' unique needs.

If stinging insects have taken over and made it impossible to enjoy your backyard safely, we are here to help. Our number one priority is to help people feel comfortable in their indoor and outdoor spaces. Let's work together to remove stinging insects and implement the quarterly services necessary to keep them and other pests from returning. For more information about residential or commercial pest control in Atlanta, GA, please call today!

Use the following five prevention tips to help prevent stinging insects from taking over your property.

1. Limit the amount of flowering vegetation planted in your yard.
2. Remove areas of standing water that offer stinging insects a water source.
3. Keep lids on trash cans, recycling bins, and grills to keep away foraging wasps and hornets.
4. Fill in ground holes, cut back tree branches, and maintain landscaping to limit sheltered nesting spots. 
5. Make sure screens are intact, avoid propping open windows and doors, and repair damage to its exterior to help keep stinging insects out of your home.

The most successful way to prevent problems with stinging insects is to be proactive and partner with a home pest control professional.