It’s Wasp Season: Three Wasps to Lookout For

Summertime is just around the corner here in the Las Vegas area, and the season of wasps is about to begin! For many, summertime means backyard barbecues, picnics, swimming pools, and more. Unfortunately, it also means more stinging insects on the loose. As you begin to spend more time outdoors in the coming months, it’s important to learn what wasps you need to be on the lookout for: paper wasps, mud daubers, and, of course, yellow jackets! The team at Western Exterminator of Las Vegas is here to keep you informed about these three summertime wasps–keep reading to learn more.

 

Common summertime wasps in Henderson NV - Western Exterminator of Las Vegas

Three Summertime Wasps

Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets are likely the most commonly known wasp. They are infamous for their aggressive behavior, particularly in the late summer months. As very social insects, yellow jackets congregate in colonies of up to or more than 1,000 workers. For the most part, yellow jackets will not bother you…unless you disrupt their nest. Disturbing a yellow jacket hive is something you want to avoid at all costs. They can repeatedly sting and can be very dangerous.

Mud Daubers

Just as their name suggests, mud daubers construct their nests out of mud. Mud daubers are usually black with light-colored markings or a metallic sheen. Their body is long and slender with a thread-like waist that makes it easy to tell them apart. A mud dauber nest is usually located in covered areas such as porch ceilings, sheds, and attics. These wasps are less aggressive than yellow jackets and tend to be solitary, making them less of a threat.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps construct umbrella-shaped nests in a paper-like material. These nests often hang from tree branches and twigs, as well as porch ceilings and door railings. A mature nest can have between 20-30 adult wasps living inside. While social in nature, paper wasps are not as aggressive as yellow jackets. However, they may sting to defend their nests; a paper wasp sting is especially potent and could trigger an allergic reaction, making it important to avoid them when you do see them.

How to Prevent Summertime Wasps in Las Vegas

During the summer, it’s important to keep an eye out for summertime wasp activity. This includes inspecting your property for nests on a regular basis. Some of our top wasp prevention tips include:

  1. When outdoors, wear shoes, especially in grassy areas.
  2. Do not leave drinks or food in accessible areas.
  3. Keep windows and doors properly screened.
  4. Keep garbage in sealed receptacles.
  5. Do not swat at wasps as it increases the likelihood of an aggressive reaction.
  6. If stung, seek immediate medical attention, as reactions can be severe.

Need Wasp Control?

It can be difficult to identify summertime wasps, which is why it’s best to leave it up to the professionals. If you suspect wasp activity or spot a nest on your property, contact the wasp removal team at Western Exterminator. Our exterminators can safely and quickly cure you of your wasp problem this summer.

What Pests Trigger Springtime Allergies?

Cockroaches can cause allergies in Henderson and Las Vegas NV - Western Exterminator of Las VegasAllergies are a fact of life in the springtime. Chances are, you or someone you know is dealing with an onslaught of allergy symptoms, from a runny nose to itchy eyes. But what if it’s more than just the weather and trees blooming that is triggering your allergies? With May being National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, the team at Rentokil is here to shine light on the dangers of allergies exacerbated by pests. Pest allergens are a result of certain types of pests in your home, making it important to know how to prevent them! Keep reading to learn how to avoid pest and springtime allergies.

Allergies Caused by Pests

Pest infestations can be dangerous for many reasons, including allergies! Cockroaches are one of the biggest contributors to allergies, especially in children. droppings, saliva, shed skins, and other parts contain allergen proteins that cause allergic reactions and can exacerbate asthma as well. Other pests that are known to cause allergic reactions include stinging insects–yellow jackets, fire ants, wasps, and more. Their sting can cause a wide range of reactions in people, from itching and hives to shortness of breath in a more severe allergic reaction*.

**If you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction such as swelling, wheezing, dizziness, or trouble breathing, call 911 or get medical attention immediately!

How to Prevent Pest-Triggered Allergies

To avoid making your allergies even worse this season, it’s important to reduce allergens in your home as much as possible. Basic pest prevention goes a long way to eliminate these allergens:

  • Store food in sealed containers and clean kitchens on a daily basis.
  • Dispose of garbage regularly and use a tight-fitting lid.
  • Seal cracks and holes in homes, including entry points for utilities and pipes, screen doors, and windows.
  • Keep your basements and crawl spaces well-ventilated and dry!
  • Wash blankets, rugs, and bedding in hot water or get them dry-cleaned.
  • Vacuum and dust your property frequently.
  • Keep pet food sealed in a tight container and wash food bowls.

Long-Term Pest Allergy Prevention

The best way to avoid allergies from pests is to make sure you are protected against pest problems all year wrong! To keep roaches and stinging insects out, it’s best to team up with a professional exterminator. At Rentokil, we are committed to keeping our customers safe from the many dangers of pests–allergies included!

5 Tips for Avoiding Insect Stings

Stinging insects such as yellow jackets, wasps and hornets send more than 500,000 people to the emergency room each year. And, if that’s not bad enough, in Las Vegas and Henderson neighborhoods, they become extra feisty in late summer and early fall when their colonies forage for food to sustain their queens during the winter months.

While the thought of encountering a bee hive in a sprinkler valve box or a hornets nest under the patio is enough to make anyone want to stay indoors over the next few weeks, don’t fret. There are a handful of ways to ensure these pesky stingers won’t ruin your fun in the sun.

Seal cracks and crevices

One effective way to prevent an infestation of these insects and most other pests is to eliminate access and harborage sites around of the home. Stinging insects often build their nests inside block walls and valve boxes, behind patio lights and under decks or eaves. Homeowners should seal all visible cracks and crevices to keep these pests from moving indoors, and regularly inspect around the yard and along the perimeter of the house for nests.

Keep food covered

Have you ever been to an outdoor gathering where bees are swarming around the table of hamburgers, chips and fruit? Stinging insects are attracted to exposed food and open garbage cans. To avoid an unwanted encounter with a yellowjacket or bee during a picnic or cookout, cover all food when outside and be sure to keep tight fitting lids on trash bins.

Avoid excessive use of fragrances

Yellowjackets and other stinging insects are attracted to sweet-smelling fragrances. If spending long periods of time outdoors, avoid excessive use of perfume or cologne. When possible, also choose unscented shampoos, soaps, lotions and sunscreen.

Adjust your wardrobe

Avoid wearing dark colors and floral prints, since these patterns are known to attract stinging insects. It’s also important to wear closed-toe shoes, especially in grassy areas as bumblebees and some hornets often nest there.

Remain calm, cool and collected

If a stinging insect is flying nearby, many people’s first reaction is to either swat the insect away or flail their arms in panic. However, these movements may actually provoke an attack. Do not swat the pest, but rather remain calm, slowly walk from the area and it should fly away without causing any harm. If you do get stung, carefully remove the stinger and seek medical attention, as reactions can be severe in some cases.

Contact a pest professional

If a nest is found on the property, keep yourself and other members of the family away and do not attempt to remove it on your own. Depending on the species, a nest could contain hundreds (if not thousands) of stinging insects, which could swarm and sting en masse if they are disturbed or feel threatened. Instead, contact our pest professionals at Western Exterminator, and we will be able to identify the species and aid in stinging insect control by either removing the colony or destroying the nest.