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Identify 5 Wasps You’ll Find in Your Yard

YESpestpros • August 25, 2017

Identify Five Common Indiana Wasps

Summertime means gardening, cookouts, and camps. All that outdoor activity also means at some point you’ll likely encounter wasps. There are several varieties of wasp common in Indiana. We’ll take you through them and let you know which ones you can take care of on your own and which ones you’ll want to call a pest control expert to exterminate.

Common Wasps Around Columbus, Indiana

Yellow Jackets

Yellow Jacket Wasps Columbus Indiana Pest Control

Yellow Jacket

Yellow jackets are aggressive wasps that make nests both in the ground and in trees. They’re not hairy like bees, and like all wasps have a thin waist. Drones (male yellow jackets) guard the nests full-time, and they will actively defend the colony against any potential threats. Females are actually even more aggressive.

If you find a yellow jacket nest, identify the entrance and stay clear. It’s not suggested that you attempt to destroy the nest because they’ll likely attack you. And unlike bees, they won’t die after they sting. They will sting you multiple times.

If yellow jackets invade your picnic or barbecue, don’t swat at them or otherwise bother them. Not only will swatting anger them, but they’ll release a pheromone that alerts other yellow jackets to join the attack. The best thing to do if yellow jackets are pestering an outdoor gathering is to make sure you cover up the food and sweetened drinks and keep tight lids over trash.

Bald-faced hornets

Bald-faced hornet Wasps Columbus Indiana Pest Control

Bald-faced hornet

Bald-faced hornets are another aggressive wasp species in Indiana. They don’t make nests underground like yellow jackets. Instead, they make big, football-shaped paper nests that can get as large as basketballs. Hives are usually gray and are open on the bottom.

Bald-faced hornets are easily identifiable not only from their nests but their color and shape. They’re usually white and black rather than the typical yellow-and-black wasp color, and they’re stockier than most other wasp species.

If you encounter a hornet nest, stay clear. Bald-faced hornets are extremely aggressive and will sting repeatedly. If the nest is small, you may be able to destroy it with insecticide spray found at a home improvement store. However, if the nest is large, we suggest calling a pest control professional to take care of it.

In any case, if you’re allergic to bee or wasp stings, don’t try and exterminate the hive by yourself. Ask a neighbor to help or call a local pest control expert.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps, commonly misidentified as yellow jackets, make small paper nests in sheltered areas. Unlike hornets and yellow jackets, they don’t build hives. The celled nests they make are only for their grubs and for storing food. Like yellow jackets,

Paper Wasp Wasps Columbus Indiana Pest Control

Paper Wasp

they’re striped yellow and black, but they’re sometimes red and black or have red coloring. They can also be distinguished from yellow jackets from the shape. Paper wasps are generally more slender than yellow jackets, and their abdomen is more oval shaped.

Paper wasps are great news for gardeners and organic planters because they kill lots of caterpillars. But they can be an annoyance to homeowners, especially if they build their nest close to an entrance or exit. Although they’re less aggressive than bald-faced hornets and yellow jackets, they will aggressively defend their nest if it’s disturbed.

You can usually destroy a paper wasp nest with pesticide, but if you’re allergic, we suggest getting help or calling a pest control expert.

Fun fact: some paper wasps can actually recognize each other’s faces and will attack other wasp species.

Potter Wasps and Mud Daubers

Mud Dauber Nest Wasps Columbus Indiana Pest Control

Mud Dauber Nest

 

Potter wasps and mud daubers are the insects that make those little mud huts and cells on your porch and under bridges. They don’t live in the nests. Rather, the nests are for their eggs and larvae, which they feed caterpillars and spiders. These wasps are much less apt to sting compared to other wasp species. So, usually if you leave them alone, they’ll leave you alone.

 

Are You Worried About Wasps in Your Indiana Yard?

If you or a family member have an allergy to wasp stings or you simply want to keep these pests far away from your home, the pros at YESPest can help! Your local Columbus and Bloomington, IN, pest exterminators are here to give you the solution to fit your specific needs. If you’re interested in finding out how we can help, contact us here! We look forward to making your home safer soon!

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