Melissophobia, also known as apiphobia, is the intense fear of bees. Thousands of people experience this fear, especially after having a negative experience with stinging insects or experiencing insect bites and stings. When you have trouble with stinging insects in your yard, you can find ways to deal with these pests in your outdoor areas. 

Do you want to learn how you can prevent flying insects that sting? Keep reading these tips to keep these pests at bay. 

Maintain Your Home, Garage, And Other Outdoor Spaces

The first step to preventing stinging insects from nesting in your home is to make sure you properly maintain your home, garage, and other outdoor spaces where stinging insects commonly nest. Many types of insects like wasps and bees build their nests in holes.

For example, if you have broken panels, missing post caps on your fence or deck, or other crevices that are open to the environment, this provides a perfect place for insects to nest. 

If you want to prevent this from happening, it is vital that you patch any holes, fix broken panels, and do whatever else you can to block off common nesting areas of your house. 

Remove Old Nests

If you have had a wasp or stinging insect infestation in the past, you may have leftover nests that were never removed. To prevent another infestation in the future, it is vital that you remove old nests during the winter. 

This is because many wasps and bees will continually return to the same nesting site, even after years. If they notice a nest, they may build in the same place twice. 

By removing old nests, you make your home a less hospitable place for stinging insects to nest. 

Use Traps

It can be scary to deal with wasp nests in your yard, especially if you are not sure if they are active. If you do not want to get too close to a nest, you can try removing stinging insects by using traps. 

Sticky traps are an inexpensive and easy way to remove any stinging insects from your yard or if one makes its way into your home. Other traps trap wasps and other insects in a funnel and prevent them from getting out. Traps are a great way to get rid of a few stinging insects in your yard. 

However, if you have an infestation or several nests in your yard, you will likely need the help of a professional to remove them.  

Keep Sweet Foods Covered Up

Many people notice that wasps and other stinging insects tend to come out during a barbeque or an outdoor picnic. One of the reasons for this is that there is sugary food, drinks, and other food that these insects may try to eat. 

One way to keep them from crashing your outdoor eating is by keeping food, especially sugary food, covered up. 

Block Entrances To Your Home

Blocking entrances to your home is an easy way to avoid any type of stinging insect infestation. If you leave your windows and doors open without screens, stinging insects and many other pests can find their way into your home. 

Just like any other pests, wasps can crawl into your home through other cracks and crevices. Make sure you seal this off if you notice any stinging insects around your property or in your home. 

Avoid Sweet Perfume

Many people don’t realize that stinging insects, especially bees, are attracted to sweet smells. While this is often used to find sweet food and nectar, it also makes bees and other pests attracted to the smell of your perfume.

When you wear sweet-smelling perfume in your yard, you may become more of a target for stinging insects. If you find that stinging insects approach you outside, make sure you stay calm and try to avoid shooing them away.

Keep Garbage Covered

Another way that you can handle a wasp problem on your property is to always keep your garbage covered. Wasps are attracted to food, so they may try to find the leftovers in your garbage can. 

By keeping your trash cans covered, you eliminate their food source and will keep them from coming to your home. 

Call an Exterminator

Finally, if you are not able to remove stinging insects on your own, it is time to find an exterminator to help. Rather than risking experiencing the insect sting pain index, you can hire a professional company to remove active wasp nests and other stinging insects from your property. 

Wasp removal experts know how to remove nests safely and effectively without creating any additional problems. If you notice any active nests, contact a company that offers stinging insect removal. 

Get Profesional Help With Stinging Insects Today

Having wasps, or other black stinging insects can put a damper on your summer get-togethers. Not only are they some of the most painful insect stings, but they can cause a lot of issues in your yard as well. By following each of these tips, you can keep wasps and other stinging insects out of your yard and away from your home. 

If none of these tips have worked for you, it may be time to get professional help. Do you need help with stinging insect and wasp control in the Memphis area? Inman-Murphy Pest Control can help!

Contact our team today to learn more about our Memphis pest and stinging insect control services or check out our website to get a free estimate for wasp removal. 

Stinging insects are concerning not only for the pain of their sting, but also because they can cause severe allergic reactions for some people. If a reaction occurs, visit an emergency room immediately and always carry epinephrine.

In Tennessee, we have a range of insects known for their sting. Learn about the top stinging insects you need to be concerned about in Memphis and our best tips for how to handle them:

Paper Wasps

Tennessee hosts several paper wasp species with the most common being northern paper wasps. These wasps have large mandibles to strip wood and bark from trees. They chew the fibers and mix it with their saliva to make “paper.” This paper is used to construct nests under roofs, awnings, and tree branches.

Paper wasps are very defensive around their nests, but rarely sting when searching for food or wood. Adults typically feed on nectar but also capture caterpillars to feed developing larvae.

Red Wasps

Red wasps are true to their name with red bodies which can grow as large as one inch. They cohabitate together in big families and build large umbrella-like nests in areas with protection against the environment. Like any wasp, they are capable of stinging multiple times when threatened.

Wasps are attracted to bright colors, loud noises, and the smell of sweet perfume and food. Avoid leaving food out which can entice wasps to join the party.

Bald Faced Hornets

Tennessee is home to four species of bald-faced hornets. They get their name from their black color and mostly white face. Oddly enough, these stinging insects aren’t considered “true” hornets. Some refer to them as “aerial yellow jackets” as these large wasps are very similar to their closest relative.

While less aggressive than their ground-dwelling relatives, they will attack anyone or anything that invades their space. This can make removing hornet nests very difficult. Their smooth stingers can sting multiple times, and their venom makes the sting hurt, itch, and swell for about 24 hours.

European Hornets

The one true hornet species is the European hornet which came to New York from Europe in the 1800s. They make their nests in attics, out buildings, barns, and hollow trees.

Their stingers can grow as large as 1 ½ inches and are active day or night. While less aggressive than others, their stings can cause itching and swell for nearly 24 hours.

Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets are easily recognized by their yellow bodies and black stripes. While often confused for bees, they exhibit very aggressive behavior and are capable of attacking more than once. They eat other insects when hungry, but are drawn to sweet drinks, candy, and food.

Yellow jacket nests are in the ground or rotting logs with potentially thousands in one colony. If you see yellow jackets coming out of the ground, you likely found a nest and should stay far away. Yellow jackets are known to cause several deaths each year.

Velvet Ants

Velvet ants, or “cow killers,” aren’t ants at all. They’re actually wasps. If you see these fuzzy bodies with black and red stripes running along the ground, don’t step on them barefoot. Their sting is painful.

These solitary creatures tend to travel alone and make their homes in nesting chambers of ground-dwelling bees and wasps. After their eggs hatch, their larvae will eat the host. This insect is certainly not one to mess with!

Dealing with Stinging Insects

When their nests are in danger, these stinging insects will not hold back. To remove hornet, wasp, or bee nests from your property, always make an appointment for professional pest control services to protect you and your family from being attacked.

Need wasp control services in Tennessee? Call Inman-Murphy Termite & Pest Control today at 901-388-0852.