Stinging insects can be very dangerous and cause severe pain, discomfort and other reactions with their stings. Nonetheless, they claim over 50 lives every year, making them even more dangerous for people susceptible to severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and eliminate them at an early stage.
While you may take some precautions to keep stinging insects away from your home, dealing with an infestation on your own is not advisable. You can hire the services of experts, like Brooks Pest Control, to eliminate the population of harmful stinging insects from your property.
Common stinging insects of California
While many insects are known to bite as a defense mechanism, some are more notorious than others. Following are the insects that you must watch out for.
- Bald-faced hornets: Bald-faced hornets are mostly black with a white face. They build their nests in exposed locations like trees, overhangs, and utility posts. They are known for their stings, which could lead to infections and allergic reactions. However, bald-faced hornets can help control other pests like spiders.
- Bumblebees: About ¼ to 1 inch in size, bumblebees make their nests from pollen clumps, mostly in abandoned mouse nests. While their honey is considered healthy, their bite can be painful.
- Carpenter bees: Carpenter bees can be ½ to 1 inch long and closely resemble bumblebees. They can cause severe damage to your property. While male bees don’t have stingers, females do have this capability.
- Mud daubers: Mud daubers have a slender black body with metallic luster or pale markings. They can be about 1 inch long and can sting.
- Paper wasps: The nest of paper wasps looks like it is made of paper, giving it its name. Brownish in color, they have red or yellow markings.
- Yellow jackets: About ½ to ¾ inches long, yellow jacket wasps are infamous for their stings, which can cause anaphylactic symptoms. They are also known to be highly aggressive.
- Honey bees: Honey bees are around ½ inch long and have a brownish-orange colored body. While they are usually not aggressive, they can sting if threatened or their colony is attacked.
Risks and signs of an insect sting
All stinging insects cause severe discomfort and pain. However, some insects also secret chemicals with their sting, which can make things work. The greatest risks of an insect sting are allergies and infections. While infections are more common, allergies are less common but highly risky.
Following are the common signs of an insect sting.
- Pain, redness, and swelling in the area you were stung.
- Itching, warmth, and hives on the sting location
Apart from the above, some serious symptoms can be as follows.
- Coughing and thickened throat
- Tightness in the chest or throat, along with breathing problems
- Nausea, vomiting, fainting, or dizziness
- Sweat, anxiety, and the spread of hives on the body.
How to protect yourself from stinging insects
It is not advisable to try to remove the hives or nests of stinging insects on your own, as this can threaten the insects and cause them to become aggressive. You must hire a professional pest control agency to handle a stinging insect infestation. However, you can employ the following methods to protect yourself from stinging insects.
- Seal the crevices and cracks as they can act as nesting places for the insects.
- Keep your food items covered, as they can attract insects
- Avoid excessive sweet-smelling fragrances as it can lure the insects
- Dark colors and floral prints can also attract stinging insects.
- Do not act frantically when a stinging insect is flying nearby, as it can provoke them.
- Remain calm and call for professional help.
Summary
Stinging insects can be dangerous. If you spot one inside your property, you must look for signs of infestation. Acting in a timely manner can help you avoid infestation and the risks of painful stings.
