Wasps are often confused with other stinger-bearing insects but have habits that make them unique. They have hairless bodies, some have black and yellow rings, some are brown or black, and they are about a third of an inch long. You can distinguish them from hornets because of the size and color – hornets are a bit larger and tend to be white and black rather than yellow. Getting close enough to distinguish which kind you're dealing with isn't a good idea. It's best to call a pest control expert out if you have an insect problem, and that problem can become increasingly tense when you have the imminent danger of a stinger.

They form colonies of up to 10,000 insects, with a queen at the center. The nests reach their most significant points in late summer, as they are most active in the heat. They tend to build their nests in hidden, shaded areas, and man-made structures provide plenty of good options for them. You might see nests around your ceiling, attic, walls, basketball nets, verandas, or other overhangs. These insects also like to set up shop in trees and shrubs around your house. Yellow Jacket nests can be particularly treacherous as they are formed in the ground and can be easily hidden.  Wasps are scavengers and feed on anything from decaying fruit they find in your trash bin to other bugs they hunt down. If they sniff out a good food source around your home or business, they build nests in that area.

Wasps are incredibly protective of their nests. This poses a huge problem if one is built around your home near foot traffic. They are easily threatened and are likely to attack as you walk by. The stinger contains a venom it injects as it presses the needle into your skin. The stings have a wide range of effects and impact people in different degrees of severity. For some, a sting might be quite painful and bring out a red, swollen wound, but heal quickly on its own, with the pain receding in a few hours. Other people experience more pronounced reactions, with the sting inducing nausea and vomiting, plus significant swelling around the injection point that lasts for days. In others, the venom causes a severe allergic reaction that causes anaphylactic shock and sends people to the hospital. If you notice wasps or other stinging insects around your property, avoid contact and call an expert to handle these pests.

Westshore Pest Control has a solution for whatever pest problems are plaguing you. We have treatment plans for your pest issues, whether it is for your home, business or a larger commercial property. Every structure is different, and we don't use a blanket approach to pest management. When you contact us, our certified and experienced technicians work out the best time for you so we can survey the property and develop a specialized attack. Whether you need help with an infestation or routine treatments to ensure you don't face an invaders' swarm, the pros at Westshore Pest Control are the best in the business.