You have probably had the experience of working in the yard, going to the side door to get in the garage, when suddenly you notice yellow jackets buzzing above the door. What do you do? Do you go into the house another way, play catch-me-if-you-can, or wait for the yellow jackets to fly away?
Stop living in fear of yellow jackets on your Jacksonville property and obtain the family-run company of Jacksonville pest control experts from Trad’s Pest Control. Don’t stand staring at the doorway, wondering whether or not you are going to play chicken with a wasp!
Identifying Yellow Jackets
When we think of yellow jackets, the following comes to mind:
- Alternating bands of black and yellow on the body
- 1/2 inch in length
- Flies like a wasp
- Six legs
- Black antennae
- Slightly larger than a bee
They may build underground yellow jacket nests in lawns, gardens, and embankments, or create aerial nests in trees, garages, and under eaves. Whether the nest is in the ground or the air, the nest has only one entrance and exit.
Potential Threats A Yellow Jacket Infestation Could Pose
A fertilized yellow jacket builds a small nest and lays eggs in the springtime. The wasps that hatch are worker wasps, and their jobs are to find food, protect the nest, and attend to the queen as she continues to lay eggs. By the fall, the wasp nest is at its peak capacity holding thousands of workers.
If you disturb the nest or provoke a yellow jacket in Jacksonville, they release a pheromone calling the other wasps in the nest to attack, and you will face a swarm of yellow jackets. Unlike the serrated stingers on bees, yellow jackets have a smooth stinger allowing them to prick their victim multiple times. When these Florida insects sting, they inject a venom containing over 30 compounds consisting of protein toxins and enzymes. In some people, the venom causes a severe allergic reaction which can be deadly. Because yellow jackets build nests in the ground, walls, foundations, and other voids, it is easy to upset a nest sending out a swarm of wasps resulting in harm.
Getting Rid Of A Yellow Jacket Nest
If you compare hornet vs. wasp vs. yellow jackets, you will find many similarities because yellow jackets and hornets are a type of wasps. Hornets and some yellow jackets build their nests in the ground, but yellow jackets also build nests in attics, under eaves, and in voids in walls. Because hornet and yellow jacket nests grow to thousands of workers, getting rid of a yellow jacket nest should only be done by the wasp exterminator near you, Trad’s Pest Control.
Trad’s Pest Control Can Help Get Rid Of Yellow Jacket Infestations
Are wasps aggressive? Yes, if you disturb their nest. Therefore, you need to take the following steps to minimize stinging pests like wasps, bees, hornets, and yellow jackets from your Jacksonville property:
- Remove debris such as brush piles and rotten trees
- Trim shrubs and bushes
- Keep outdoor trash can lids closed
- Plant flowers away from the house
- Seal cracks and crevices on the exterior of the home
Don’t attempt to destroy a yellow jacket nest; instead, have the Trad’s Pest Control professionals eliminate this group of Florida bugs from your property. We began serving the Jacksonville area in 1971 as a Garden Center and added our pest control division in 1979. Because of our experience in gardening and pest control, we know how to stop the yellow jackets from causing you problems.
Contact us, and set up an inspection. We will evaluate your situation, create a custom plan, and remove the wasps from your property.