When it comes to stinging insects in Akron, Ohio, home and business owners often have questions about how dangerous these pests are as well as how to tell them apart. Bees, wasps, and hornets can all look quite similar to one another, and there’s also a fact about wasps and hornets that you might not realize. Hornets are a subset of wasps, so all hornets are wasps but not all wasps are hornets.
One of the most common species of "hornet" in the area isn’t even a true hornet at all. The bald-faced hornet is just a poorly-named wasp. They are closely related to yellow jackets, and they are known for their black coloring and mostly white faces. They are usually around half an inch long and have narrow “waists” and a sleek appearance. One way you can identify the bald-faced hornet from bees is that bees have a fuzzy look while the bald-faced hornet does not.
Just How Dangerous Are Bald-Faced Hornets?
Another way to identify these wasps is by their nests. They create papery-looking nests that are greyish in color. They are known for building aerial nests that hang off of things such as trees and rooftops.
If you find a nest around your property, it is a cause for concern as bald-faced hornets are considered dangerous. Their stinger contains venom that is especially concerning for people who are allergic, but even those without allergies to wasp venom can end up with side effects because bald-faced hornets can sting repeatedly.
These risks are compounded because bald-faced hornets will react rather aggressively if they feel they must defend themselves or their nests. They will often attack in groups which means you could be stung over and over by many individual wasps. This can lead in rare cases to hospitalization and even fatalities.
Five Bald-Faced Hornet Prevention Tips
The best way to go about preventing these and other wasps is to try to make your property less appealing to them. Bald-faced hornets are attracted to properties that have flowering vegetation, water sources, and harborage points to build nests. To reduce these factors, follow these five steps:
- Avoid overwatering flowering plants as well as overwatering around your yard.
- Keep trees and shrubs well-maintained and pruned on a regular basis.
- Remove standing water and make sure that rainwater can drain.
- If you have water features like hot tubs or fountains, make sure they are kept treated with the correct chemicals and kept clean. Also, consider protecting water features with covers if possible.
- Avoid eating outdoors, especially sweet foods and drinks. If you do eat outside, make sure to clean up any spills or crumbs right away.
How To Safely Remove Bald-Faced Hornets
If these pests have already established a nest on your property, the safest and most effective way to remove it is with assistance from the professionals at Epcon Lane Pest Control. Trying to remove a nest is dangerous and the time you're most likely to be stung, so don’t put your safety at risk by trying to tackle the nest yourself.
Instead, get in touch with us. We have over 70 years of experience providing professional pest services including wasp removal. Our pest control plans will also ensure that the wasps stay away for good.
We even offer free estimates, so give us a call at (330) 278-8939 to book yours!