You become familiar with the sounds of your house after living in it for a few months. So, when an unfamiliar hum or clicking sound develops, you notice. Once you hear the out-of-place noise, you begin to investigate to find the source because the sound indicates that something is not normal. If you cannot quickly pinpoint the audio's origin, it becomes a source of irritation and frustration because it is not supposed to be there.
Many sounds surround us. Some soothe our souls, but others irritate and trigger anxiety. One noise that causes the latter is the sound of buzzing insects. When we hear one of these creatures buzz by our head, we physically respond by ducking, running, or swatting. Even if you do not have a physical response, you probably feel anxiety as the six-legged insects fly past your head.
If buzzing insects hamper outdoor activities, you need pest control in West Chester from Master Touch Pest Solutions. Our family-owned and operated company has been relieving homeowners from anxiety caused by stinging insects since 1991. When you contact us, a call center in another state does not answer your call; instead, our local office staff receives it and will listen to your concern. We will send a highly-trained and experienced pest management professional to your home who will stop the insects from destroying your outdoor fun.
You probably found this article because you have one or more nests of stinging insects around your home, and you want to know what steps you need to take. So, please keep reading to get the information you need to end the infestation surrounding your house.
Understanding The Threat: Identifying Common Stinging Insects
There are thousands of stinging insect species worldwide, but the following are common stinging insects in West Chester:
- Bald-faced hornets
- Bumble bees
- Eastern cicada-killer wasps
- European hornets
- Mud daubers
- Paper wasps
- Yellow jackets
It is beneficial to identify the stinging insects flying around your home so you can take the appropriate action, so we will briefly describe each one.
Although called a hornet, the bald-faced hornet is a yellow jacket wasp, but instead of the usually yellow and black markings, its body has three white stripes on the tail end and a white head. Furthermore, its 3/4-inch body makes it larger than other yellow jackets. Bald-faced hornets live in groups of 100 to 700 inside paper nests constructed in stumps, logs, and underneath loose bark.
One insect that has a yellow and black body is the bumble bee. These 1-inch-long insects have fuzzy bodies with yellow and black stripes. Typically, they construct their nests in the ground.
Eastern cicada-killer wasps also have black and yellow markings, but their large 1 1/2-inch body and rusty-colored wings provide the information you need for proper identification. Like bumble bees, these stinging insects also dig nests in the ground.
The only real hornet found in our part of the country is the European hornet. These insects make nests in similar locations as the bald-faced hornet, and by the peak of the season, 200 to 400 members live inside the paper-like structure. You can distinguish European hornets by the broad yellow bands on their dark abdomens, hairs on the middle section (thorax), and their 3/4 to 1 1/2-inch body. Unlike many stinging insects active during the day, European hornets fly around at night.
A mud dauber is a stinging insect without the usually yellow and black markings. This 1/2 to 1-inch-long wasp has a black body characterized by a thread-like waist. Unlike many wasps and bees, mud daubers do not live in large groups but are solitary wasps that create individual mud nests, often underneath eaves and in exterior porches.
You can identify paper wasps by their umbrella-shaped upside-down paper nests that hang underneath eaves and other exterior areas around the house. These stinging insects have 5/8 to 3/4-inch brown bodies characterized by yellow or reddish markings, a thin waist, and long legs.
As the name suggests, yellow jackets have a yellow and black 3/8 to 5/8-inch noticeably segmented body. These social wasps build paper-like aerial nests and nests in the ground with hundreds of members.
Masters Touch Pest Solutions eliminates all types of stinging insects in the West Chester area. We have the tools, knowledge, and experience to relieve your family from the stress these insects generate.
The Impact Of Stinging Insects On Health: The Risks Of Infestations
As previously mentioned, stinging insects on your West Chester property cause anxiety in children and adults alike. Their erratic, quick flying behavior causes tension in your body when you attempt to work in the garden, flower bed, or take a stroll in the yard. If these insects did not sting, we would not feel stress from their presence. However, they may sting, and we don't want them around our family members. Let's briefly revisit our lists because some are more aggressive and damaging than others.
Remember, bald-faced hornets are not true hornets, so a sting from one of these black-and-white wasps is equivalent to that of a social bee or another wasp. Stings from social bees and wasps cause a burning sensation, pain, and swelling, which may spread out from the wound site. One unique quality of bald-faced hornets is they can squirt venom. If you disturb their nest, they will attempt to spray toxins into your eyes, which can result in temporary blindness.
European hornets are aggressive defenders of their nests. Because they have smooth stingers, these pests will repeatedly sting and inject their victim with venom. Thus, wounds from European hornets are often painful, and the excess toxins may trigger allergic reactions in some people.
Bumble bees are another aggressive stinging insect. Unlike some insects that do not chase, these insects will pursue perpetrators for several yards. Furthermore, a bumble bee can sting its victim multiple times, unlike a honey bee which can sting only once. A bumble bee sting produces one of the most painful stings of all stinging insects.
Although their name, European cicada-killer wasps, makes these stinging insects sound deadly, they rarely sting people. The main problem with these insects is they can harm lawn aesthetics because they tunnel into the dirt to create nests. Mud daubers do not hurt the lawn, but like European cicada-killer waps, they rarely sting. Paper wasps and yellow jackets will freely sting and may trigger allergic reactions.
If you are stung by one of these insects, wash the wound with soapy water and remove the stinger if present to prevent it from pumping additional venom into your body. To ease the pain, take an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication. Also, applying an antihistamine and hydrocortisone ointment will help reduce swelling at the wound site. If you experience shortness of breath, weakness, nausea, and other symptoms of anaphylaxis, seek medical attention immediately.
Masters Touch Pest Solutions provides stinging insect control so that families in West Chester can have peace of mind when enjoying the outdoors around their homes.
Safety First: The Importance Of Professional Stinging Insect Control
Removing a nest from the property may appear to be an exciting adventure, but the result may be a trip to the hospital. Every year, stinging insects send over 500,000 people to the Emergency Room. To avoid pain, swelling, and discomfort from multiple stings or a trip to the hospital, partner with Masters Touch Pest Solutions.
We will dispatch a qualified pest management professional to identify the pest causing the infestation. We have the experience, products, and equipment necessary to effectively eliminate the offending species without anyone in the house risking harm from flying insects that sting.
Although we offer one-time visits to remove stinging pests, three decades of pest removal have taught us that bi-monthly or quarterly service plans are the best way to ensure these insects do not gain a foothold again on your property. Instead of risking your health and safety, use a company with experience and get guaranteed results.
Stay Ahead Of The Buzz: Tips To Prevent Stinging Insect Infestations
Bees and wasps will always fly around us because they are part of the ecosystem. In addition to securing Masters Touch Pest Solutions for stinging insect control, here are steps you can take to deter a future infestation:
- Pick up rotting fruit in the yard
- Remove foods left over from picnics, cookouts, etc.
- Keep foods covered when outside
- Cover outdoor garbage containers
- Avoid wearing scented products
- Use yellow bulbs in exterior lights
- Repair holes in window and door screens
- Seal cracks in the foundation and roofline to prevent entry into the house
- Keep doors closed as much as possible
These tips will eliminate wasp, bee, and hornet attractants from your West Chester property and keep these pests from entering your home.
Contact Masters Touch Pest Solutions for stinging pest control in West Chester. We have over three decades of pest control experience, so you can rest assured we can handle any situation. Call us today to learn about our stinging pest control programs and request your free estimate.
