Stinging Pests and Summertime
How to avoid stinging pests and the pain that ensues! The summertime is so close you can almost taste. The kids are getting impatient for the end of school. Even your pets are spending more time outside. This also means that you and your family are outside. Being outside increases your chances of being stung by a multitude of stinging pests. Visits to the emergency room for stings like those from yellow jackets and wasps reach over 500,000 every year. Ouch… how can you help reduce your chances?
Yellow Jacket/Wasp image courtesy of Wikpedia
No Open Containers- We don’t mean alcohol, we mean those food tables. Have you noticed that the bees swarm the food on the buffet or dinner table outside. Obviously all living creatures need food. But, it doesn’t have to be yours! Here is a link to a video on how to make your own Yellow Jacket Trap. Click here. Please avoid killing honey bees. Honey bees help pollenate 80% of the food we consume. It is important to keep honey bees safe. Trash cans are another area that can be overlooked. Make sure you have tight fitting trash can lids. Washing and sanitizing your trash cans (as well as using liners) on a regular basis will help reduce the stinging pests like yellow jackets from hanging around.
Lose the gaps- Seal up all visible cracks and crevices that this flying, stinging pests love to use those cracks and crevices to start their nests. Other areas that they love are chimneys, attics, eaves and overhangs, light fixtures, under decks and play sets. If you regularly check those areas for nests, it will reduce the chances of being stung in the long run. If you see a nest, use extreme caution to remove it. Calling in professionals is a good idea (especially if you are allergic). Our technicians can assist in removing these nests once they are there but also look for them on your eaves and overhangs during our regular visits.
Colors and smells- You do not have to be the belle of the ball at an backyard picnic. You really don’t want to be! Wearing a lot of perfumes and dark colors or patterns attract those stinging pests to you. That is not what you want! Use unscented sunscreen, lotions and soaps before hanging outside for extended periods. Don’t forget your feet. If you are doing a lot of walking in grass, wear closed toed shoes to reduce the chance of stepping on bees and getting accidentally stung.
Don’t freak out- If you find yourself surrounded by stinging pests like yellow jackets or wasps, remain calm! Swatting at the pests only make them more angry. Walk carefully and purposefully away from the stinging pests. If you get stung, remove the stinger and seek medical attention if necessary. Many people realize their allergies after the second incident.
Contact a professional- If you find a nest on your property, call a professional like Absolute Pest Control to remove it for you. This is especially important if you or your family members have allergies. The nests can have hundreds or thousands of bees inside. If they feel threatened, the stinging pests may swarm and cause serious bodily injury. Our technicians can identify the type of pest you have and correctly remove the nest. Let a trusted professional handle this pest control issue.
Let Absolute Pest Control help you with any pest control problem you may have in your home or office. Our trained technicians can assist you no matter where you live in Middle Tennessee. Call 615-220-1933 today!