​

Stinging Insects

Bumble bees, wasps, and hornets are the most common insects that will sting us. Remember bumble bees, wasps, and hornets can sting repeatedly – so beware of hidden nests. If you are being bothered by bumble bees, wasps or hornets flying to close to your home or family please call us without delay. Our well-trained technicians will be able to locate the nest and remove the problem before anyone gets stung, and help to ensure that they do not return the following year.

Bumble Bees 

Bumble bees are important pollinators and are used for agricultural purposes to pollinate plants that other species of bee are too small to access.  Bess are beneficial as they are important pollinators. As a general rule if a nest is located on the back of a property, in an out of the way area, leave it alone. If the nest is under a front step or a back deck and there is real safety hazard then contact the folks at Peregrine and they will remove the nest.

Contrary to popular opinion, bumble bees can sting and will do so repeatedly since their stinger does not have barbs and so can be used more than once.

What to look for

Fortunately bumble bee colonies tend to be smaller than colonies of honey bees and may have as few as 50 members. They like to nest either directly on the ground or in holes or under solid objects. Bumble bee nests generally last only for one season since the old queen dies off as winter approaches and the younger queens that have mated in late autumn hibernate until the warmer weather tempts them out to start a new colony.

However, if the old nest is not destroyed a new colony may be started in or near it the following year – which is why it is important to destroy the nests of bumble bees that are causing a nuisance at the end of each season.

How to identify a bumble bee

Bumble bees are larger and fluffier than other honey bees or wasps. They like to visit the same patch of flowers each day and will return until the supply of nectar there is exhausted. Unlike honey bees, bumblebees only store a few days’ worth of food in the nest and so are much more vulnerable to food shortages.

What we can do to help

If you are being bothered by bumble bees flying to close to your home or family please call us without delay. Our well-trained technicians will be able to locate the nest and remove the problem before anyone gets stung, and help to ensure that the bumble bees do not return the following year.

Yellow Jackets   [Wasp]

What to look for

They are among the most persistent of wasps and often appear at barbecues and picnics attracted by the smells of soda, grilled meat and, believe it or not, human sweat!  They actively seek salty moisture which is why in hot, humid weather yellow jackets can be the most problematic. Perfumes, colognes and even bright colours are also attractive to them. Adult yellow jackets themselves feed on nectar but they scavenge our picnic food to carry off to feed the young in the nest. Yellow jackets are often more problematic as the summer progresses and more young are born that need to be fed.

Nests are generally located at ground level or below ground, often at the edge of forests or wooded areas, sometimes in wood stumps or fallen branches. Most yellow jackets die off as the cold season approaches except for young mated females which hibernate over winter ready to start new colonies in the spring.

The best way to deal with a yellow jacket problem is to find the nest and eliminate it. However, if the nest is inside a space in external walls don’t ever try to get rid of it from the outside as you will just drive them deeper into your residence.

How to identify a yellow jacket

Yellow jackets measure just over half an inch in length and, as their name suggests, are bright yellow colour
on the top segment with black underneath.

What we can do to help

Our skilled technicians here at Bug Busters are experienced in carrying out this type of work with the minimum of disruption to you or your neighbours and with the appropriate protective clothing to help to minimize stings.

Hornets  [hornet]

What to look for

A hornets nest is known for its large, football-shaped paper nest. The nest is one of the largest of wasp nests and can be up to 14 inches (35 cm) in diameter and 23 inches (60 cm) in length.The bald-faced hornet is protective of the nest and will sting repeatedly if it is disturbed. This wasp is more aggressive than most yellow jackets and the nest should be observed only from a distance. It is common to find the nests hanging from trees, soffits, and other objects around the home.

How to identify a hornet

The bald-faced hornet actually belongs to the family of yellow jackets in North America, but unlike many yellow jackets lacks yellow coloring. Instead, it is called a hornet in the American sense of a wasp that builds paper nests. It is large compared to other yellow jackets, with adults averaging 2–3 cm long. It is sometimes confused with the similar-sized European hornet the only true hornet in America, but is distinguished by its mostly white “baldfaced” head and three white stripes on the end of its abdomen.

What we can do to help

The best way to deal with a hornet problem is to find the nest and eliminate it. Elimination of hornets can be difficult and may require the services of a professional applicator.