Living in colonies, yellow jackets live in nests that will harbor thousands of members. The females have a stinger and will sting repeatedly where drones, the males do not possess a stinger. Most wasps feed on insects but also rely on nectar or pollen in their diet. The colony usually lives in a large nest. Their face is primarily yellow and they have dark eyes, yellow banding around the abdomen, along with black with yellow markings on the front of the head. Yellow jackets are bee-sized wasps. The front wings are folded lengthwise when rested. The antennae are fairly large and fairly conspicuous. Because of the size, shape and coloration, yellow jacket wasps are sometimes mistaken for bees. Though they also resemble hornets, the yellow jackets have a much bigger head. To cover the basics, we at Stewart Termite and Pest Control would like to continue sharing some fundamentals regarding yellow jackets.
What Do Yellow Jackets Eat?
Frequent crashers of picnics at the park and BBQs in the yard, they are highly attracted to meats. Yellow jackets are highly concentrated in the southeastern United States but are found across the world. Yellow jackets are carnivorous and will mainly feed on other insects, such as bees and flies. Their diet also consists of fruits, carrion, as well as the nectar of flowers. Their hunting ground for foraging is typically within a mile of a nest. The queen, drones and workers all have their specific tasks that support the colony. The male drones are ready to fertilize a receptive queen, where they queen will lay hundreds of eggs, and the workers perform of an array of tasks to operate and maintain the nest.
Multiple Yellow Jacket Stings
Anyone who is within a few feet on approach is at risk of an aggressive attack since a yellow jacket’s primary objective is to protect the nest and queen. Under the skin of the victim, yellow jackets will inject a venomous fluid. Allowing them to easily deliver repeated stings as a very painful sting, their stingers are smooth. Yellow jackets will sting repeatedly.
Yellow Jacket Nests
To make her nest in the spring, the yellow jacket queen collects wood fibers and chewed fibers mixed with saliva. Initially, the single queen, called the foundress will build the nest that looks like paper materials. Constructed within the nests, multiple layers of paper cells that look like the honeybee’s comb. The German yellow jackets will build the nest in old burrows underground.
Stinging Insect Control
Their venom can cause ranging allergic reactions, since yellow jacket wasps are fairly dangerous as they deliver multiple and painful stings. Trying to eliminate the nest is best done with a professional who has the experience and safety procedures in place. If you have a yellow jacket wasp nest on your property, you need Stewart Termite and Pest Control to remove it as quickly as possible. We use efficient methods and treatments to prevent injury and will effectively remove the perceived threat in a timely manner. Contact us for all your pest control needs.