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Yellow Jacket Wasps

Trying to picnic in late summer can be hazardous to your health. I’m not talking about heat stroke from ninety degree temperatures and humidity you can cut with a knife. Nor, am I speaking of getting food poisoning from that potato salad that has been baking too long in the sun. I’m referring to the health hazard caused by nature’s little stinging machines, the Yellow Jacket wasp.

As summer comes to an end and the kids are preparing to return to school, you decide to have one more family gathering. “Let’s get everyone together for an “end of summer” picnic.” Unbeknownst to you,

Paravespula germanica, the German yellow jacket, is planning its own “end of summer” event on the same patch of land where you hope to spread you blanket.

You need to know that from August through October, yellow jackets build up in large populations and scavenge for human food (carbonated beverages, cider, juices, ripe fruits and vegetables, candy, ice cream, fish, ham, hamburgers, hot dogs, etc.) All worker yellow jackets die with the first frost, so they are in a frenzy to collect food for the hive that will help the over-wintering queen survive. By the end of summer a yellow jacket colony can reach a maximum size of 4,000 to 5,000 workers and a nest of 10,000 to 15,000 cells.

Knowing all this, if you are still determined to have that picnic, keep these tidbits of information in mind. Keep food covered until eaten, especially ripe fruit and soft drinks. Any scent of food caused by outdoor cooking, eating, feeding pets or garbage cans will attract many bees and wasps Yellow jackets have a lance-like stinger without barbs and can sting repeatedly. This insect is bold, aggressive and, if provoked, can sting repeatedly and painfully. Should a yellow jacket wasp fly near you or land on your body, never swing or strike at it or run rapidly away. Quick movements often provoke attacks. When a wasp is near you, remain calm and stationary for a while. Then, move very slowly away from where the wasps are swarming and avoid stepping on the ground nest.

Wasps and bees can fly about six to seven miles per hour so humans can outrun them. However, by the time you start running you may incur numerous painful stings caused by your rapid movement. Never strike, swing or crush a wasp or bee against your body since it could incite nearby yellow jackets into a frenzied attack. Wasp venom contains a chemical "alarm pheromone," released into the air, signaling guard wasps to come and sting whomever and whatever gets in their way.

Bon Appétit and don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Comments

Patty
14 Jul 2008, 19:24

Every year I get a yellow jacket/wasp nest (it's round and looks like paper with holes in it) in the door of my shed. I usually spray it and burn it early in the season but didn't get to it until yesterday. I sprayed the nest and knocked it down but the wasps are swarming around the shed and sitting on top of the door (for 2 days now they are coming and going ). I sprayed them and put the hose on them but they are undaunted! They have taken over my yard! Any suggestions would be so appreciated. Thank-you Patty

Ask The Exterminator
14 Jul 2008, 23:22

There are numerous types of wasp and hornet pesticides sold in pressurized cans that spray a direct stream of pesticides that will reach ten feet. This type of application keeps you safe and far away from the wasps. The product should specifically mention yellow jackets on the label. This product will quickly knock down the wasp.

If you have left-over wasps still looking for their now-destroyed home, I suggest putting out some wasp traps. These little devices are inexpensive and can be purchased at most hardware stores.

Lee Bowers
20 Sep 2008, 19:05

We live in the Montana Rockies and have been bombarded by Yellow Jackets since Late July. We've looked for the nests in all our buildings and have tried to follow them to no av avail. We've tried to see where they congragate at dusk. Nothing. My wonders how far from thier nest can they go? I'm wondering ... is there any sure way we can find the nest? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. we're way tired of dealing with these nasty varmints.

Sincerely,
Lee

Ask the Exterminator
21 Sep 2008, 14:16

Wasps can fly hundreds of yards from their nest, so there is no telling where they may be coming from.

I can tell you the best way to fight yellow jacket invasions is by eliminating the food they are seeking. Simple as that! No food source, no yellow jackets. Figure out what is attracting them and remove it.

sarah
23 Oct 2008, 16:59

Yellow jacket have a nest somewhere under a facia board in our 300 yr old house. we sprayed them as best we could given the position of what appeared to be the entry point. we did not kill all of them and sprayed several more times..even from inside the house in our 2nd fl bedroom. for days now there have been bees in the house, up to 20 or more on our window. should be get an exterminator in the spring or will they nest in a new area next year?

Ask the Exterminator
23 Oct 2008, 17:16

You have not been reading my articles very carefully, otherwise you would have known that you should be treating the wasp entry holes with pesticide dust, not sprays.

Yellow jackets are about to die off with the oncoming cold weather. You still need to locate and remove their nest to avoid other infesting insects. Once removed, fill in all the entry holes so other wasps do not discover ways into your house.

Jerry
27 Oct 2008, 15:36

I live in the Pittsburgh, Pa area. Over the past week and 1/2 I have been finding, I believe German Yellow Jackets in our upstairs. They have mostly been in a East facing room. They appear to be dazed. I found that they were coming from the attic through a whole house fan. When I turn a light on in the attic they seem to stay in the attic and fall to the floor not totally dead. I have killed about 3 to 400 of them but can not find the nest. The temperature has been in the high 50's to low 60's during the day. What do you suggest I do?

Thanks,
Jerry

Ask the Exterminator
06 Nov 2008, 23:58

The nest is there somewhere, Jerry. It could be under the insulation or stuck behind a rafter, but it is there and you need to locate it and remove it. It will not become active again, but it can draw all sorts of other insects that you do not want in your house.

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