Yellow jackets are a unique species of wasp that present a unique challenge

Yellow stinging insects seem to come in all shapes and sizes in New Jersey. Initially, you might not care if the stinging insects in your backyard are bees, hornets, or yellow jackets. But some of these insects, especially aggressive wasps, are more annoying and dangerous than others.

If you have particularly aggressive insects on your property, you might have a problem with yellow jackets. Yellow jackets are a unique species of wasp that present a unique challenge to any homeowner who finds them on their property.

At Cavanaugh’s Professional Termite & Pest Services in Freehold and Somerville, NJ, we provide professional yellow jacket pest control in New Jersey. Use the information below to learn how to identify yellow jackets and how to deal with them if you find them on your property.

Yellow Jacket Identification

While yellow jackets might at first appear like any other wasp or bee, they look quite different under examination. They have elongated legs and narrower abdomens than bees and have shiny, black patterns on their bodies. The patterns alternate across their bodies, and yellow jackets don’t have the same type of body hair as bees.

You can also identify yellow jackets by their nests. Yellow jackets create large colonies in the ground. You will often find them nestled under porches, steps, and cracks in the sidewalk. An entire colony can contain as many as 1,000 yellow jackets.

Yellow Jacket Behavior

Yellow jackets are one of the more aggressive and defensive wasp species. They don’t use barbed stingers that fall out like bees. Instead, they can sting multiple times, and their stings have been known to cause allergic reactions. Yellow jackets are easily provoked if swatted at, so it’s best to avoid them when they move into an area.

However, yellow jackets feed on sugars and meat. As a result, they will often seek out picnics, barbeques, and outdoor events where sugary foods and raw meat are being served. They also like water, so outdoor watery activities will also draw them. You might have a hard time escaping these pests during the warm summer months.

Infestation Warning Signs

A few insects here and there don’t constitute an infestation. However, if you notice many yellow jackets in a day or week or they seem to pursue you and guests around your home, then you might have an infestation. If you notice them swarming around a ground location, they might be clustering around a nest, which also indicates that you have an infestation.

If you notice any of the above signs, contact Cavanaugh’s Professional Termite & Pest Services in Freehold, NJ. We will send a wasp control specialist out immediately to determine if there is an infestation and use the right methods to remove it.  https://www.cavanaughspest.com/pest-id/yellow-jackets