Yellow Jackets: How To Control These Picnic Pests
Yellow jackets are named for their yellow and black coloring and are common pests at picnics and other outdoor parties and gatherings. They are a type of wasp and can sting and bite.
Before you can rid your outdoor party of these pests, you must understand a bit about these pests and their habits.
What Attracts Yellow Jackets?
These wasps usually enjoy a diet of insects that includes grubs and caterpillars. However, they also feast on sweet fruit sap, old fruit, nectar, and other sweet substances.
Yellow jackets invade outdoor gatherings because the food attracts them. This includes sweet foods, meats, and other human foods. Any thrown out uneaten food or empty soda cans also attract these pests.
Are Yellow Jackets Aggressive?
Unlike other stinging pests, these wasps can bite as well as sting. They are more aggressive than other outdoor pests like hornets, bees, and wasps. They can sting more than once and are most aggressive when they feel their nest is threatened.
Their sting is dangerous to anyone who may be allergic. If you're not allergic, local irritation and swelling are common, but can usually clear up in a few days. They also bite because this allows them to get a better grip on their prey and jab in the stinger.
Should You Kill Yellow Jackets?
Yellow Jackets do have a purpose: they help control the population of other pests, like grubs, and they are pollinators. However, when a nest is near your home, and you don't want to get stung, it's good to get rid of the nest.
Yellow jackets can also be a big problem for those who are allergic. If you can't safely enjoy your outdoor space, it's okay to kill these wasps for your safety.
How Do You Get Rid Of Yellow Jackets?
One effective way to control the number of yellow jackets around your home is to practice good sanitation. Since they forage for food, covering or getting rid of trash and scraps can help. Also picking up fruit on the ground from trees. Fermented fruits, like apples and pears, also attract yellow jackets.
If you see a nest and want to get rid of it, you can call a professional pest control company. They can help with yellow jacket removal, so you won't get stung trying to do the job yourself. The professionals are trained to do the job safely.
Contact a pest control service, such as All Seasons Pest Control Co, for more information.