What are stinging insects?

Stinging insects like bees, wasps, and hornets are outdoor pests that often find their way onto our properties, to either nest or search for food. These insects pose a danger to people due to the venom-filled stingers they have extending from their abdomens.

As important as it is to avoid contact with stinging insects, it is also important to remember that they are eco-important pests. Stinging insects feed on nuisance insects helping to control their populations. Bees and other species help to pollinate crops, flowers, and plants. Some of the most common species of stinging insects living in our area of North Carolina include carpenter bees, bumblebees, paper wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets.

Are stinging insects dangerous?

All stinging insects have the potential to be dangerous. Many species, including hornets and wasps, can deliver repeated stings, injecting more venom each time. The venom stinging insects posses is strong enough to trigger reactions in those allergic. Also, some species of stinging insects are very aggressive, and the simple act of walking by their nest could elicit an attack.

Other species like the carpenter bee are docile and rarely sting, but are dangerous because of the structural damage they cause to wooden items like fencing, decks, play structures, and outdoor furniture. Carpenter bees prefer to nest in softwoods and wood that has not been painted, stained, or otherwise treated.

Why do I have a stinging insect problem?

Stinging insects can become problematic on any property, especially after creating a nest in a less than suitable area — in a doorway, along a walkway, or in a high-traffic area of your yard. Preventing problems with stinging insects is difficult because they will build their nest on any property that suits them, whether invited or not!

Things that stinging insects find attractive include the following:

A lot of flowering plants and trees

  • Dense shrubbery
  • Gardens
  • Woodpiles
  • Rock piles
  • Open trash cans
  • Outdoor eating areas
  • Standing water

Where will I find stinging insects?

Stinging insects place their nests in a variety of locations that can provide them with a protective shelter. Depending on their species, stinging insects will nest on, in, or above the ground. Aerial nesting locations include tree branches, tree cavities, utility poles, chimneys, roof eaves, and doorways. Ground nesting stinging insects place their nests in or under woodpiles, under shrubs or fallen trees, between rocks, inside ground holes, or in the abandoned nests of small animals. The carpenter bee differs in the fact that they tunnel through and build nests in pieces of wood or wooden structures.

How do I get rid of stinging insects?

For a long-term solution to ridding your North Carolina property of stinging insects, it is best to partner with a professional. At Ray’s Pest Control & Wildlife Removal, we work closely with our customers to learn about the specific pest problems they have been experiencing. Our pest experts provide our customers with the highest quality service to solve their current pest problem and keep them from returning. Since 1972 our family has been helping the families in the Winston-Salem, and surrounding areas maintain pest-free properties.

If you are experiencing problems with stinging insects, reach out to Ray’s Pest Control and learn about our effective pest control solutions. For more information about our residential or commercial pest control programs, call us today!

How can I prevent stinging insects in the future?

Don’t leave whether or not stinging insects invade your property up to chance; partner with Ray’s Pest Control and implement the following stinging insect prevention tips:

  • Reduce nesting spots. One of the best things you can do is to cut tree branches, shrubs, and bushes away from your home to limit the chance of them building a nest close to your home. It is also a good idea to plant gardens away from the outside of your house.
  • Reduce access to food and water. Limit the amount of flowing vegetation planted on your property. Keep lids on trash cans and recycling bins. Clean up food and drink containers from outdoor eating areas after you finish eating. Get rid of water sources by eliminating standing water from gutters and containers on your property. Don’t overwater gardens or potted plants.
  • Keep stinging insects out of your home. Seal any openings in the exterior walls or foundations. Replace damaged siding and roof shingles and place a cover on the chimney. Replace torn or loose window or door screens and remember to place mesh covers over vents. Also, keep doors and windows closed as much as possible.