Nashville, Murfreesboro, Knoxville and Chattanooga TN
Summer is the season we spend more time outdoors gardening, hosting a cookout, or just drinking morning coffee on the patio. Whether you’re outside for a few minutes or hours, the last thing you want to encounter is a stinging insect. Many of these stings can be painful or, if you’re allergic, cause a severe medical situation. Ameri Care Services wants you to be informed, so here’s this guide to four types of stinging insects that are common in Murfreesboro.
Bumble bees
Stocky and covered with hair, these four-winged insects usually are yellow and black. They may have different color variations, sporting bands of red or orange hues. Only the females have stingers. Bees live in hives, which form when the queen wakes up from winter hibernation, emerges from the ground, and chooses a nesting site. Piles of dead leaves, wood, and compost become popular locations for bees to call home. They also tend to be found near abundant flowers or other plants that produce nectar.
Yellowjackets
These insects with black and yellow stripes may look like bumblebees, but they’re far more dangerous—and aggressive. Their wings are long and slender compared to bees and have a hairless, segmented body with a thinner waist. Each yellowjacket can sting multiple times, leaving behind massive welts or triggering a severe allergic response. A single yellow jacket nest could hold more than a thousand of these stinging insects. They’re also quite territorial; the sound of a lawn mower passing by can provoke a defensive assault. If you encounter these pests, call a professional to treat the problem.
Wasps
There are several different varieties of wasps, and they all can be dangerous and deliver a potent, painful sting.
Types of wasps that are common to Nashville and the surrounding areas in Tennessee include:
- Velvet ants – These wasps have a unique appearance; they’re small, fuzzy, and resemble a red velvety-looking ant. The females are wingless and have more fuzz, while the males lack stingers and have two pairs of wings. These ants squeak or chirp when threatened and live independently rather than in nests or large colonies.
- Red wasps – About an inch long, with red bodies and dark-colored wings, red wasps are drawn to other insects and discarded human food. They can quickly attack in numbers; when threatened, a red wasp emanates pheromones that attract other colony members to join the fight. Their nests can be found in high, hidden places—trees, roof eaves, and on or under decks.
- Paper wasps – These wasps are brown or black, with yellow or red markings on their bodies and heads. They’re a little larger than yellowjackets and build nests from chewed wood or bark that look similar to upside-down umbrellas. They’re drawn to sweetness and people’s food; look for them near trash cans, hummingbird feeders, and any nectar-rich flowers.
Hornets
There are two varieties of hornets you need to be familiar with in Murfreesboro and the surrounding areas:
- European hornets – These stinging insects have two sets of wings, six legs, antennae, and yellow stripes along their black abdomens. They’re also some of the most giant stinging insects in the area, growing up to 1 ½ inch long. These hornets seek out sugary foods and build their nests at least six feet off the ground in locations such as hollow trees, attics, and inside wall voids. They will defend their home fiercely.
- Bald-faced hornets – These hornets look similar to yellowjackets, aside from ivory or white markings that appear on their face, body, or legs. They’re smaller than their European counterparts, ranging between a half-inch and 5/8 inch length. They also build their football-shaped nests at least three feet off the ground, preferring trees, building overhangs, and utility poles. They usually make their first appearance in late summer.
Treatments for stinging insects in Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tennessee
In some cases, stinging insects do serve some beneficial ecological purpose. But they also can be aggressive, deliver painful stings, and be downright dangerous, especially for your pets and any small children in your own family. You can try store-bought solutions like an insect spray, but they’re not going to be as effective as the professional pest control you receive from Ameri Care Services. As part of our regular pest control maintenance program, our technicians can apply regular treatments that form a protective barrier around your home or a designated perimeter area. To find out more, contact our office by calling (615) 893-7111 to schedule your consultation today with one of our pest control professionals.