Pest Control Solutions For St. Louis' Worst Stinging Insects

Aug. 2, 2012 - PRLog -- Paper Wasps are small colony, semi-social insects.  They eat caterpillars and flies, as well as nectar.  These are all attractants to the paper wasp, bringing them to your house.  They are not aggressive by nature as a species, but will attack en masse if you threaten their nest.  The stings are extremely painful (believe me) and can be deadly if there's an allergy involved.  They attack in a swarm, and can be difficult to avoid when angered.
They tend to hang their nests, built in a comb fashion from the cellulose in wood, from tree branches and twigs, doorframes, windows, soffits, attic rafters, the bottom joints of your deck and railings, and the eaves of your homes. They are sometimes called umbrella wasps, after the shape of their paper nests. While they seem like a seasonal threat, the females can and will find a way into your home once they are inseminated in the autumn, especially with particulaarly tall ceilings or cathedral arches that don't get a lot of attention.
The best way to avoid problems with paper wasps is to avoid them.  While this is easier said than done, checking your shrubs and trees before trimming them can save you some serious welts.  Make sure your decks and rails are treated, not just to keep them from rotting, but to keep paper wasps from using the cellulose in the wood to make their nests nearby.  If you spot one of these umbrella shaped paper nests, do not engage.  Call a St. Louis pest control expert, as you will be stung repeatedly if you attempt to remove this dangerous hazard.
Yellowjackets come in several varieties, but can be identified by their distinctive black and yellow markings. Many species have patterns of stripes on their abdomens, which help a pest control expert identify which species you are dealing with.  However, they all sting and are all aggressive.  Yellowjackets are particularly violent, and will sting repeatedly.  Allergic reactions are a real concern, as stinging insects send 500,000 people to the hospital yearly.  They actually become MORE aggressive in Autumn as the colony, excepting the Queen, begins to die out.
Yellowjackets tend to nest in the ground or in large, unoccupied areas, such as attics.  They can be found anywhere that humans can.  Their diet consists mainly of sweets and proteins, and they are drawn to sodas and meats, making them the worst picnic guest imaginable.  Cover your drinks and clean up your mess immediately after eating to avoid trouble with these angry stingers.  They will circle trash cans, so be careful where you throw things, as an errant can can infuriate a swarm.  If you need to get rid of yellowjackets, call a pest control expert.  These aggressive insects require special equipment to safely remove without being attacked.
Mosquitoes are a whole different type of stinging insect.  Mosquitoes breed in standing, stagnant water and soft soil, and will go from an egg to an adult in 10 days to 2 weeks.  The females are the blood suckers, while the males feed on nectar from plants.  They are well known to spread West Nile virus, dengue fever and malaria, but are also responsible for leaving swollen, itching bite marks on the skin of their victims.
To avoid mosquitoes, ensure that sources of standing water such as birdbaths, non filtered pools, kiddie pools, storm drains and small ponds are churned or replaced weekly.  Make sure that overgrown vegetation around these also needs to be removed. (Which sounds like a blast in 106 degree weather.) There are fish that eat mosquitoes, such as gambusia, green sunfish, bluegills and minnows which can be added to ponds to discourage their growth.  Keep them out of the house with screens over windows and doors.  They are most active at dusk and dawn,so make sure to use a repellent with DEET when outdoors, especially at these times. Just because you aren't near standing water, you're not necessarily safe, as mosquitoes fly up to 14 miles for a meal.
Unwanted guests are always nuisances. Unwanted pests are downright bothersome. If you have animals invading your attic or critters crawling where they shouldn’t be, contact Richardson Pest Solutions. They are members of the National Pest Management Association, and have been a family-owned and family-operated business since 1972. Please contact them today for free inspections and estimates. They are available Monday through Saturday and are ready to serve you. Visit http://richardsonpestsolutions.com today.