Pest Control Guide - Stinging Insect Control in IN, KY, & IL

Some would consider this to be the most troublesome of all insects - those who sting or bite. The majority of insect stings in the U.S. come from yellow jackets, hornets, wasps and bees. These insects are most dangerous in the vicinity of their nests. Some types of stinging/biting insects include:

• Bumble Bees are 1/4”-1” in length.
• They are yellow and black striped with a fuzzy appearance to the body.
• Bumble bees are social insects that live in colonies and defend them by stinging.
• They build nests in loosely constructed materials such as leaf piles, grass piles, bird nests and wood piles.

• Locating the bumble bee nest is critical.
• Once the nest has been located applying insecticide dust directly to the nest will achieve control.
• Liquid insecticides can be used but will not provide the control that dusts will.
• Remove the nest after the bees have been eliminated to prevent other pests from stealing the bumble bee larvae.

• Honey bees are about ½” to 5/8” in length.
• They are orange with black stripes.
• They produce honey which feeds the young and old bees.
• All workers in the colony are female and males are only produces when egg laying is needed.
• They are social insects and defend their colony by stinging anything that is a threat.
• Often when colonies become to large the single queen will produce a new queen and cast her out to start a new colony. This is referred to as a bee “swarm”.
• Each nest may be used for many years and colonies of over 20 years are not uncommon.

• Treat hive with an insecticide dust by using a hand duster or a dust-stick.
• If in a tree dust the entrance follow up in 2 days.
• If in a wall void dust the entrance and remove the hive as soon as possible to prevent further insect activity in the hive.

• Bald-faced Hornets are 5/8” to ¾”
• They are black with pale yellow stripes and a pale yellow face.
• Bald-faced hornets are a type of large yellow jacket that produces a paper nest.
• The nest is usually a free standing nest in a tree or shrub but often it is attached to a structure.
• Bald-faced hornets are social insect which defend their colony with painful stings.
• Each nest is used only once and abandoned in fall.

• Dust the hive entrance using a hand duster of dust-stick.
• Once the number of hornets has been reduces remove the nest by clipping it out of the tree or scraping it off of the structure and placing it in a bag.

• Yellow Jackets are 3/8” to 5/8” in length.
• They are yellow and black stripped.
• Yellow Jackets build paper nests in wall voids, wood piles, grass clippings or ground holes.
• Yellow Jackets are social insects that protect their nest aggressively.
• They are capable of multiple stings.
• They use the nest only one season and then abandon it in fall.

• Locate the entrance to the nest.
• Apply a dust insecticide with a hand duster or dust-stick directly into the nest.
• After treatment remove the nest if possible.

Related Pages

• Bed Bugs
• Beetles