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Stinging Insects

Stinging Insect Identification Guide

What are stinging insects?

Stinging insects belong to the insect order Hymenoptera and are either social or solitary. Social species live and work together in large groups; wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and paper wasps are all social. Solitary species have females that create individual nests, but many females often nest together within the same area — mud daubers, grass carrying wasps, and carpenter bees are all solitary species.

No matter if these insects are social or solitary, all stinging insects have a stinger that injects venom extending from their abdomen. These insects use their stingers as a means of defense and, if a predatory species, to paralyze prey.

Are stinging insects dangerous?

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Where will I find stinging insects?

Stinging insects create nests in various places on, in, or above the ground:

  • Yellow jackets often use ground holes, the abandoned nests of small animals, and spaces under woodpiles or fallen trees to create nests.
  • Carpenter bees create solitary nests in weathered or untreated wood. The stems of hollow plants or the tracks of storm windows are where grass-carrying wasps often choose to build nests.
  • Wasps and mud daubers usually like to nest up off the ground. They and other aerial nesters place nests on trees, utility poles, under roof eaves, behind shingles, and on rafters.

How do I get rid of stinging insects?

When stinging insects build a nest in an area of your property that puts you or your family in danger, you need it removed quickly. At Assurance Pest Solutions, we offer prompt and reliable pest solutions to eliminate these potentially dangerous pests from your yard or home. With years of experience of solving pest problems in Massachusetts, our family owned and operated company is dedicated to solving our customer’s pest problems.

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