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Residents of Los Angeles are going to run into stinging insects at some point. It is unavoidable. The good news is that you don’t have to get stung. As long as you’re smart, you can avoid experiencing a serious sting. Remember that stinging insects belong to the Hymenoptera order which is also home to ants. Although they’re going to terrorize Los Angeles residents, many stinging insects are great pollinators. Therefore, it is best to leave them alone when they’re not putting you or your loved ones at risk. Furthermore, you can’t fix the problem until you’ve found out what you’re dealing with. Identify the species and you’ll have a better idea as to which treatment will work best.
You’ll also want to identify the species so you can find out how aggressive they’re going to be. Never try to eradicate aggressive stinging insects on your own because you could get stung multiple times. Los Angeles residents frequently encounter paper wasps, honeybees, carpenter bees, and yellowjackets. Below, you’ll learn more about them and how to identify the species.
Identifying The Stinging Insect
First, you have to identify the stinging insect you have in your home. Look at the stinging insect and its nest. Use this information to determine what species you have
Paper Wasps
Paper wasps are not as aggressive as some of the other stinging insects in our area. They shouldn’t create any issues for you unless you walk too close to the nest. Try to avoid making contact with the paper wasp’s nest. When paper wasps build nests, their nests are going to be small and round. They’re gray with a pattern that resembles a honeycomb. Although paper wasps will build nests elsewhere, most of them are found around overhangs, fences, and eaves.
In our area, there are several species of paper wasps. The Northern Paper Wasp has thin white or yellow stripes on its brown body. It also has a few orange spots. The European Paper Wasp has orange antennas. It also has yellow and black stripes.
Yellowjackets
When compared to other stinging insects, yellowjackets are immensely dangerous. They get meaner and more aggressive when the pest’s colony grows. In general, the colony will grow in late summer and early fall. Another thing to note is that a yellowjacket’s nest can house thousands of stinging insects simultaneously. These stinging insects wrap a material around their nest that resembles paper. It is either black or gray. Their nests can be built around porches and attics. They’re also found around dense bushes.
Some yellowjacket species build underground nests. Unfortunately, this makes them much harder to avoid. Yellowjackets have abdomens covered by yellow and black stripes. Their heads are black.
Bald-Faced Hornets
Bald-faced hornets are very aggressive so you don’t want to get too close to their nests. They’re similar to yellowjackets because their colonies are going to become more aggressive as they grow. These stinging insects build large nests that can house thousands of stinging insects at once. When you find one of their nests, you’ll agree that it looks like an upside-down teardrop. They can be found hanging from trees and bushes. They’re also built on building sides.
These stinging insects have smooth, black and white bodies.
Honeybees
You’ll be lucky if you encounter a honeybee infestation because they’re less aggressive than other members of the stinging insect family. Honeybees are moderately aggressive but they can be bred to eliminate their aggressiveness. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about them stinging you. These pests build intricate hives using wax. Their extensive combs are placed on rocks and wall cavities. They can also be built on hollow trees. They’re round with a pattern that closely resembles a honeycomb. Honeybees are unique because they’ll use the same nest for multiple years. They have to store enough honey to survive during the winter months.
Honeybees have fuzzy bodies that are brown. They’re also orange or yellow.
Carpenter Bees
When compared to the stinging insects mentioned above, carpenter bees are less aggressive. They can sometimes be more aggressive than honeybees. These stinging insects bore small holes in wood decks, siding, and fascia. Once the wood is thrown out, the carpenter bee uses its nest to care for its offspring. Carpenter bees are large and similar to bumblebees. These pests have a fuzzy thorax. They’re normally black and yellow. Another thing to note is that these pests have black, hairless abdomens.
When the pest has a yellow dot on its face, it is a male stinging insect.
Dangerous Nature Of Stinging Insects
Most people suspect that stinging insects are incredibly dangerous but this isn’t always the case. In some cases, stinging insects are indeed dangerous. Yellowjackets build underground nests that are difficult to avoid. If you unknowingly step near a stinging insect nest, you’re going to get stung. Unfortunately, you might get stung multiple times. Suffice to say, this could be incredibly dangerous. Some people will experience an allergic reaction that requires medical attention. It should like doom and gloom but most stinging insects aren’t dangerous. Many stinging insects are not aggressive. Many others won’t sting unless someone gets too close to their nests.
Male stinging insects cannot sting. Also, remember that the pests are going to become more aggressive as the colony grows. Try to stay away from these pests and you should be okay.
Why Stinging Insects Invade Residences
Why are stinging insects adamant about invading your residence? Ultimately, these pests are looking for places to build nests. If your property has ideal nesting conditions, stinging insects will come and build nests on your property.
Removing Stinging Insects From Your Property
Don’t ignore a stinging insect infestation because these pests can be dangerous. You’ll want to get rid of them promptly to ensure that your loved ones will be okay. Unfortunately, it won’t be easy to deal with stinging insects because they’re aggressive. You can try using DIY sprays but remember that these pests are going to come after you. When you spray the nest, the pests are going to come out and try to sting you. In addition to this, you have to remember that some over-the-counter sprays are dangerous. They’ll expose you to dangerous chemicals and you’ll want to avoid this. If you’re serious about dealing with the problem on your own, wait until the sun goes down.
Doing so will ensure that you can fix the problem while reducing the risks. You may still get stung though. We encourage you to protect your loved ones by teaming us with us. Our skilled technicians will protect you throughout the extermination process.
Safest Stinging Insect Services
We’re going to do what we can to protect our Los Angeles clients. Our technicians are diligent about protecting our clients. They’ve been trained thoroughly to ensure that they can fix the problem while keeping you safe. In addition to this, our employees are going to deal with the problem using products approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. They’ve been tested extensively so we know that these products work and they’re safe. Therefore, they’re not going to put people, pets, or plants at risk. Call our local office to learn what we’re going to do to keep you safe.
The Cost Of Our Stinging Insect Services
You’re likely curious to learn about the cost of our stinging insect services. Our price is going to depend on several factors, including the stinging insect species that you have. We’ll need to find out before we can determine the price. We’ll also set the price based on the nest’s location, the nest’s size, and the size of your property.
When Can An Extermination Begin?
Call our Los Angeles office so we can begin helping you. After your initial call, we’ll get back to you in 24 to 48 hours.
Preventing Future Stinging Insect Invasions
Stinging insects often invade properties because they’re looking for places to build nests. It won’t be easy to prevent them from doing this. You should sign up for our home service program. We’ll visit your home three times each year to check for pests. When treatments are necessary, the annual fee will cover the treatment costs.
If you have any other pest control issues please check out other services.
Our Service Areas
Adelanto, San Clemente, Capistrano Beach, Santa Paula, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, Avalon, Rialto, Ladera Ranch, Bloomington, Laguna Niguel, Somis, Rancho Santa Margarit, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, Camarillo, Fillmore, Aliso Viejo, Trabuco Canyon, Lake Hughes, Riverside, Laguna Hills, Pinon Hills, Lancaster, Phelan, Fontana, Lake Forest, Lytle Creek, Silverado, Foothill Ranch, Mira Loma, Wrightwood, Norco, Llano, Moorpark, Newport Coast, Valyermo, El Toro, Corona Del Mar, Corona, Piru, Newbury Park, Rancho Cucamonga, Guasti, Littlerock, East Irvine, Palmdale, Thousand Oaks, Newport Beach, Pearblossom, Irvine, Mt Baldy, Westlake Village, Upland, Ontario, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Brandeis, Chino, Oak Park, Montclair, Agoura Hills, Acton, Simi Valley, Chino Hills, Claremont, Stevenson Ranch, Villa Park, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Castaic, Valencia, Canyon Country, Yorba Linda, Atwood, Orange, La Verne, Newhall, Malibu, Pomona, Midway City, Huntington Beach, Westminster, Sunset Beach, Placentia, Calabasas, Surfside, Diamond Bar, Chatsworth, San Dimas, San Pedro, Garden Grove, Canoga Park, West Hills, Seal Beach, Stanton, Glendora, Anaheim, Rancho Palos Verdes, Brea, Winnetka, Walnut, Woodland Hills, Granada Hills, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Topanga, Los Alamitos, Fullerton, Cypress, Rowland Heights, Azusa, Covina, San Fernando, Lomita, Buena Park, Sylmar, Tarzana, Mission Hills, Hawaiian Gardens, La Habra, Harbor City, La Palma, Wilmington, Signal Hill, North Hills, Northridge, Reseda, West Covina, La Mirada, Pacific Palisades, Cerritos, Duarte, Hermosa Beach, Artesia, Hacienda Heights, Encino, Baldwin Park, Lakewood, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Monrovia, La Puente, Sunland, City Of Industry, Torrance, Carson, Norwalk, Long Beach, Tujunga, El Segundo, Sun Valley, Santa Monica, Venice, Lawndale, Bellflower, Marina Del Rey, Van Nuys, Toluca Lake, Panorama City, Pacoima, Santa Fe Springs, Sierra Madre, Sherman Oaks, Mount Wilson, Gardena, Paramount, Hawthorne, Valley Village, Arcadia, El Monte, Whittier, South El Monte, Altadena, Temple City, Compton, Montrose, La Canada Flintridge, Playa Del Rey, Pico Rivera, Downey, Verdugo City, Lynwood, Studio City, Culver City, Burbank, Rosemead, Inglewood, South Gate, San Marino, San Gabriel, West Hollywood, North Hollywood, Universal City, Beverly Hills, Bell Gardens, Montebello, La Crescenta, Bell, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Huntington Park, Bel Air, Maywood, Monterey Park, Alhambra, Glendale.
Zip Codes We Service
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