Stinging Insects

One of the most adrenaline-producing noises most people can hear is the angry buzzing of a bee, wasp, or hornet's nest that has been accidentally trampled on. With so many different species ready to sting, you must be careful where you’re walking at all times, especially if you’re taking a walk away from the paved sidewalks and city streets.

• Nests- Stinging insects make their nests in many different places, such as buildings, fences, and barns. Common hidey-holes are on ceiling beams, tucked under awnings, and porches. Some nasty stingers can make their nests in the ground, including yellowjackets and velvet ants, which are a species of wasp.

• Yellow jackets- Several species that look almost identical claim the name yellowjacket, and you would do well to avoid them. These black and yellow patterned territorial buzzers make their homes out of chewed-up cellulose, making a sort of paper carton nest. It can be either above ground, often in attics or building walls, or underground, which makes them harder to see, as they have a tiny entrance hole. Be careful, though, because these nomads can roam hundreds of feet away from their homes. Barbecue and picnic-goers beware, as yellowjackets feed on sweets and proteins and have been known to invade such get-togethers.

• Hornets- Bald-faced hornets' nests are more obvious, built at least three feet off the ground and can measure 14 inches in diameter and a whopping 28 inches in length. Both the yellowjacket and the bald-faced hornet have smooth stingers, which allow them to sting multiple times in a row when attacking. Their name comes from their black coloring and usually all-white faces. Unlike other stinging insects, hornets build their nests enclosed. They are aggressive and can attack in big numbers when they feel their territory is being invaded. Their venom can leave painful red welts that itch for about a day, but due to multiple stings, more severe reactions can take place.

• Wasps- Paper wasps get their name from the paper-like material they make their homes out of and the distinctive, curved shape of their nests. They are often built in residential yards, hanging from a tree, deck floors, and more. Paper wasps are omnivorous, feeding on nectar and small insects such as caterpillars and flies. They aren’t typically aggressive but attack when threatened. People report more wasp stings late in summer, after their colonies stop producing new workers and they are searching for food. Besides the differences in temperament, wasps are discerned from the similar-looking yellowjackets (which are a wasp) by their coloration, which is brown rather than the patterned black and yellow.

• Carpenter Bees- If there’s one stinging insect that is the most well-known across the globe, it is the bee. The carpenter bee burrows into soft wood wherever it is found, especially untreated furniture near residential homes, and builds its nest. Left unchecked, a carpenter bee colony can quickly damage the wood structure, causing rapid deterioration and even breakage. A tell-tale sign of them is small, perfectly round holes, about a ¼ inch in diameter. They can be identified by their colorful sheen, with blue-black, green, or even purple on their abdomens. Males do not have a stinger, while females tend to sting when handled or provoked. 



• Bees: When it comes to bees, most of us can generally refer to two types: honeybees and killer bees. However, Oklahoma is home to 750 native species and has representatives from all six bee families that occur in the United States. They are attracted to flowers and items that mimic their colors or scents, such as our clothes and perfumes. Then there is the sweat bee, which is attracted to, well, you guessed it, sweat. Bees’ stingers help in laying eggs, so only the females have them. In the United States, lightning kills more people than bee stings annually. Being afraid of them puts you in good company, so are elephants.

Luckily for the people of central Oklahoma, New Science offers top-quality service for all your pest control needs. Whatever the problem, New Science is ready and waiting to send friendly, experienced professionals to address your pest issue today. Please call 405.534.4344 for a complimentary estimate and to discuss how we can help you.