FAQ’s on Bees, Hornets & Wasps
Bees, Hornets, Wasps, & Yellowjackets all have a pretty bad wrap as being aggressive – and while many of them do possess stinging abilities, there are more than 30,00 different species and many of them don’t actually sting. Still, having a nest of them near or around your home can be scary – especially because a sting can be painful at best and potentially deadly at worst. If you notice a hive that is a little too close for comfort – consult these FAQ’s and pursue a professional pest control service that can help deal with the problem safely and permanently.
Q: What is the difference between Bees, Wasps, Hornets, and Yellow Jackets?
A: Actually, hornets and yellow jackets are both species of wasps, which differ greatly from bees. Their similarities lie in their coloring, stinging abilities, hive building, and colony hierarchies, but bees and wasps provide different ecological services. Bees are known as pollinators, and as such have hairy bodies and legs that will trap and collect pollen from flower to flower. Both bumble bees and honey bees have distinctive bristly bodies that identify them. They are also the only species that make honey. While wasps will steal honey in large amounts if they find any, they cannot actually make it themselves. The combs of their hives are actually used to store larvae and food for future consumption. Wasps of all kinds are also generally slimmer and have a shiny, more insect-like appearance. They feed on other insects and larvae and provide a similar predatory service that spiders do. They aren’t the most pleasant of creatures, but they are critical to a healthy ecosystem.
Q: Are they more likely to build a hive in certain places?
A: Hives tend to be built somewhere that is a good distance off the ground, is somewhat sheltered, and is nearby to a water source. Unfortunately, this doesn’t necessarily narrow it down too much. Hives can be found anywhere from roofs and attics to fences and decks. However, where there has been a hive before is very likely a place that will host a hive again. Any remaining hive structures will attract a new colony that can build off of what was left behind. This is why it is important to have an expert do a proper removal if you find a hive in your vicinity.
Q: What happens if I just leave the hive alone or try to get rid of them myself?
A: Unfortunately, a hive is not something that will go away on its own. The longer it left, the larger and more productive it will become. If it’s not in a place that poses an actual danger to you, your children, or your pets – then it might be better to not interfere. Killing the animals themselves is a very difficult feat for anyone who isn’t an expert, and even if you do manage it – leaving the empty and exposed hive is like leaving an abandoned home in a homeless neighborhood. It will attract all manner of other pests, including rats – to come and move in. In general, it’s a bad idea to go about removing a hive without the help of a professional. The job is either not done properly, or you hurt yourself in the process.
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