Yellow Jacket
Pest Status:
Name:
Vespula spp
Size:
10-16mm in length
Colours:
black and yellow color
Body:
thin waist and elongated wings.
Yellow jackets are small wasps that are common during summer and fall. Read on to find out more about their behavior, appearance, and habitat.
Facts, Identification, and Control
Here are some yellow jacket facts.
Facts about Yellow Jacket
Where Do They Live?
These small wasps live in colonies. They will create nests anywhere, including the ground. The pest can crawl in through holes or cracks.
What Do They Eat?
Yellow jackets are both scavengers and pollinators. They can eat sugary items, fish, and meat, but they can be helpful as they eat flies and other harmful pests.
How Did I Get Yellow Jacket?
Yellow Jackets love food, and any presence of organic matter, sweets, or meats near your house will attract them. Spacious dining areas, outdoor picnics, and waste cans also invite these wasps to your home.Some species have a white and black coloration
How Serious are Yellow Jacket Problems?
Although these wasps do not cause structural damage, they can cause other problems like:
Building Nests in the House
Yellow jackets are defensive; they build their nests in walls or attics. They can chew through drywall to access your home, which can lead to holes and gaps on your walls.
Stings
Although these wasps are aggressive, they are not quick to sting. A yellow jacket sting can be painful. If you’re hypersensitive, you may have a severe allergic reaction.
What Can I Do About Yellow Jacket?
You can keep your home and surrounding areas free of anything that may attract yellow jackets. Remove any clutter, clean any leftovers, and tightly seal your garbage cans.
Signs of a Yellow Jacket Infestation
You may detect an infestation when you spot workers outside. Finding an aerial nest may also indicate signs of a yellow jacket infestation.
Yellow Jacket Prevention and Control Tips
Some prevention and control tips include:
Remove Desirable Nesting Materials and Foods
Yellow jackets love trash bins and debris as they can use these as nesting materials. Throwing away sugary items may attract these wasps. Get rid of anything that may attract them to create an unfavorable environment.
Seal Walls and Gaps
Keep walls sealed and look out for borders and eaves in your yard as yellow jackets may use these areas for nesting.
Call in the Experts
Handling these wasps can be dangerous as you could expose yourself to multiple stings. A professional can recommend yellow jacket pest control products to prevent an infestation.
Yellow Jacket Professional Pest Control
It’s dangerous and difficult to get rid of yellow jackets by yourself. You need to work with a yellow jacket termite and pest control company that has the training and experience to deal with these wasps. The team will advise you on different methods to prevent yellow jackets from nesting on your property. Consulting a yellow jacket pest control expert will give you an idea of what process they take to eliminate the annoying wasps.
FAQs
Common questions on yellow jacket include:
How Do I Treat a Yellow Jacket Sting?
You can treat the sting by taking an antihistamine. Reduce the itching by using vinegar or a mix of baking soda and water.
How Do I Get Rid of a Yellow Jacket Nest?
The best way to get rid of a yellow jacket nest is to call in a pest control company to handle it. They have the expertise and tools to remove the nest to prevent re-infestation.