Yellow jackets are found worldwide, but you may feel their presence in Arnold more than in other places. These black and yellow flying insects are known to be aggressive and leave painful stings when threatened. They are especially dangerous to those allergic to insect stings.
You’ll notice them during the summer months as they die when winter starts, except for the queen of the nest. They are never alone, always with their colonies, so if you see one on your Arnold property, you can expect hundreds – maybe even thousands – more.
If you suspect or know that you have yellow jackets on your property, your first instinct is probably to get rid of them. If they aren’t bothering you, we suggest leaving them alone. However, if it’s necessary to remove them, here are some ways to do it safely.
Identifying a Yellow Jacket
During the summer months, you’ll see many different types of insects flying around your yard. Before you start planning to get rid of an insect, it’s important to identify them first. This will help you determine the best way to exterminate them.
Yellow jackets are most often confused with bees. While both insects fly around, are known to sting, and are yellow and black, they are completely different. Bees tend to be plumper and have hair on their abdomens. Yellow jackets are thinner in the abdomen.
Another notable difference is that yellow jackets don’t intentionally pollen plants as bees do. If you notice a bee hovering over your flowers, leave it alone. They’re actually helping us grow the fruits and vegetables we need to survive!
What Attracts Yellow Jackets?
Yellow jackets don’t just show up on your property in Arnold without something attracting them to it. Oftentimes, these harmful insects are attracted to sugary foods and scents like soda and sweet drinks. They also love carbs, especially fruit. They can also be attracted to perfume or hair products.
You’ll usually see yellow jackets swarming around picnics or barbecue parties during the summer because they’re attracted to the food. They also like to frequent trash bins, especially if they’re left uncovered outside.
Finding Their Nest
If you see one yellow jacket flying around your property, you can expect to find a nest too. They usually don’t stray more than 1,000 feet from their homes. To locate a nest, discreetly follow a yellow jacket; it will surely lead you to it.
Yellow jackets usually make their nests in structural voids such as walls, ceilings, or in cement blocks. You can also find them in trees or in the corners of your house’s exterior and underground.
What to Do After Locating a Nest
Now that you’ve found the nest, what do you do?
The most important thing to remember is to wear protective clothing before approaching the nest. This means covering your skin with long pants and long-sleeved shirts. If possible, wear gloves too.
Examine the nest and identify the exit and entry points. This is crucial for when you go to exterminate the yellow jackets inside.
Yellow jackets are usually out of their nest during the day. So, the best time to exterminate them is at dusk or during the night. They will be there, off guard.
There are a couple of different methods of extermination you can do yourself, which we’ll talk about in the next section.
Using the Right Treatment Method
Your local hardware store will have plenty of options when it comes to getting rid of yellow jackets.
You can choose from an aerosol spray, foam spray, or dust if you want to fully exterminate the nest. You’ll put these treatments into the nest directly and seal the entry and exit points.
If you don’t want to touch the nest, you can hang an insect zapper above it. This will attract the yellow jackets and kill them when they come in contact with it.
Lastly, you can set bait and traps. This will lure the yellow jackets out of their nests and trap them. This helps you avoid coming in contact with the nest and simply killing the yellow jackets inside before getting rid of the nest.
Natural, Chemical-Free Methods
Some people prefer to get rid of yellow jackets without using chemicals. Fortunately, there are easy natural ways to do it.
One way is to cover the entry and exit points of the nest with bowls. This traps the yellow jackets inside and, in a few days, they’ll starve and die. Afterward, you can safely remove the nest.
You can also use dry ice to kill a swarm of yellow jackets. Simply fill the nest with dry ice and close the entry and exit points. It will exterminate the hive instantly.
Prevent Yellow Jackets on Your Property
The best way to get rid of yellow jackets is to keep them away from your Arnold property in the first place. While it may be impossible to keep them away fully, there are some things you can do to prevent them from being attracted to your property.
Make sure your trash bins have lids and are closed at all times. Since yellow jackets are attracted to sweet food, your trash is like an open invitation. If possible, keep your bins inside like in the garage.
To prevent yellow jacket stings and attacks, check the property before doing any yard work or mowing the lawn. The vibrations from lawnmowers can upset the yellow jackets and make them aggressive.
Brody Brothers Will Professionally Get Rid of Yellow Jackets
In some cases, the yellow jacket nests are difficult to reach or you may not feel comfortable getting rid of them yourself. This is when you get Brody Brothers Quality Pest Control to come in and take care of it for you!
With decades of experience, we’re a family-run business who are experts in removing unwanted pests and insects from your property. We’ll investigate your Arnold property, plan a course of action, and effectively remove those aggressive yellow jackets.
Call us today to schedule your appointment to get rid of yellow jackets!
