Wasps and bees can cause problems around stru
tures. Most are social insects that live in colonies. 'They
aggressively defend their nests by stinging. The sting
usually involves the injection of a venom that is a nerve
poison. The sting may cause death in cases of allergy or
when many wasps sting.
Bumble bee, Bombus spp. It nests underground
in colonies of several hundred individuals. The nests
are usually in abandoned rodent burrows, in mulch, or
under logs or debris. The abdomen of the bumble bee
is covered with hairs.
Cicada killer, Specius speciosus. It is 40mm long
and black with pale-yellow markings on the last three
abdominal segments. It is a solitary wasp, but colonies
of wasps nest in the same location. Each female digs its
own hole up to 10 inches deep. It stings and paralyzes
cicadas, placing one in the hole with an egg. Closely
related species attack and kill flies.
Honey bee, Apis mellifera. Honey bee colonies
have 20,000 to 80,000 individuals. they are raised for
honey and beeswax, and are essential for pollination of
crops. The stinger has barbs, so that the stinger and the
poison sac remain in the skin. Unlike wasps, honey
bees can sting only once.
Honey bee swarm. Most honey bee colonies are
in hives managed by beekeepers, but some colonies
swarm in large numbers and can be found outside.
They may become established in house wails or eaves.
The nests in walls can contain a lot of honey. If the bees
are controlled or removed, the nest and honey should
also be removed to prevent problems to the house.
Mud dauber wasp, Sphecidae. It is a black wasp
with a long, thin waist, and is not a social wasp. It is not
very aggressive and rarely stings people. However, it
often builds its mud nests close to human activity.
Mud dauber brood chamber. The mud dauber
constructs brood chambers from mud on the sides of
buildings and under eaves. The wasp stings and paralyzes spiders, lays an egg on them, and seals them
inside the chambers. The wasp larva hatches and feeds
on the spiders. An emergence hole in the mud means
the wasp has emerged from the chamber.
Paper wasp, Polistes spp. It is usually yellow
with brown markings or black with red or yellow
markings. These wasps are aggressive and they readily
sting. People are usually stung while trimming shrubbery or cleaning nests from eaves of houses.
Paper wasp nest. Paper wasp nests are made of a
papery material that is shaped like an inverted umbrella. It usually has a single comb with up to 250
wasps. Nests are often built under eaves or on branches
of shrubs. The eggs are laid in a cell.
Yellowjacket, Vespula spp. It is about 12mm
long and has alternating yellow and black markings on
the abdomen. The wasp is very aggressive in defending
itself or the nest. The stinger is not barbed, so the wasp
can sting repeatedly.
Yellowjacket nest. The nest can be quite large for
some colonies of yellowjackets. It is made of a papery
material. Inside, the new nest has layers of combs to
raise the brood. Some nests are aerial, but usually the
nests are subterranean or are both aerial and subterranean. People are usually stung when they step into or
disturb a nest. |
