Wasps Hornets and Bee Control Problems

Wasp and Bee Control

Yellow Jackets and Paper Wasps
Yellowjackets are yellow and black or white and black, where as paper wasps are more of a red and yellow or mostly yellow with small areas of black. Although yellowjackets and paper wasps can cause serious health problems by stinging, over all they are beneficial insects. Yellowjackets like to scavenger for meats and liquid sweets, making them a real pest at summer picnics. The inseminated queen will overwinter in protected areas, such as in stumps, hollow logs, or in attics. The yellowjackets emerge during the first warm days of spring, usually around May. This is when they will select a nest site, build their nest, and start laying eggs. If you like help with anyone of these feel free to contact us.

German Wasps
The German wasp is about 1/2in. long, and has typical wasp colors of black and yellow. It is very similar to the common wasp, but seen head on its face has three tiny black dots. They also have black dots on their abdomen. The German wasp is sometimes mistaken with the paper wasp, because they build paper nests. Their nests are generally found close to the ground rather than higher up. German wasps have a tendency to be more aggressive. If you think you may have a German wasp problem contact us and we can help.

Mud Daubers
There are two species of mud daubers in Washington. The most common is the Sceliphron caementarium, the yellow and black mud dauber. It’s followed closely in abundance by the Chalybion californicum, the blue mud dauber. The blue mud dauber frequently reuses the nest of the yellow and black mud dauber. The mud dauber’s nests are found high on walls or in the eaves. They look like clumps or “balls” of mud. These balls of mud are the brood cell of a solitary mud dauber.

Once the female mud dauber constructs her nest, she then captures several spiders to provision the nest. As she captures them she strings them up and paralyzes them so they will be readily available to the developing brood. The female will lay an egg on one of the spiders, and then cap of the nest. A larva soon hatches from the egg and begins to consume the provisions. The female mud dauber will usually add more cells to the cluster until a single “mud ball” contains up to 20 cells. She then departs and does not return.

Mud daubers are considered beneficial due to the fact they keep the spider population down. They also pose no threat to humans. Mud daubers rarely sting even when thoroughly aroused. If the mud dauber nest causes anxiety to the resident, simple mechanical removal and disposal is all that is necessary to give control. If you need any assistance or have further questions please contact us.

Honey Bees
Honey bees are known as a beneficial insect. Due to this fact we typically do not spray for them. If you have honey bees you will need to contact your local bee keeper for help or we can hopefully recommend a beekeeper in your area.