Buzz About Utah: Understanding the Wasps and Hornets in Your Backyard
Utah's diverse landscapes are home to a variety of stinging insects, including wasps and hornets. While they play important roles in the ecosystem, understanding the different species and their behaviors can help you stay safe and avoid painful stings. Let's explore some of the common culprits you might encounter in your Utah backyard. Be careful around these pests as they can cause painful stings and allergic reactions!
Yellowjackets: The Uninvited Picnic Guests
Yellowjackets are perhaps the most notorious wasps in Utah. They're easily identified by their black and yellow striped bodies and are known for their aggressive behavior, especially around food. They build their nests in the ground, in walls, or even in hollow logs. Yellowjackets are social insects, living in large colonies. They're scavengers and are attracted to sweets, meats, and garbage, making them frequent visitors at picnics and barbecues. Unfortunately, they are also very defensive and can sting repeatedly if they feel threatened. Proceed with extreme caution, with their nests being underground or in voids it can be hard to understand how large these nests are and just how many there are. We regularly have to use bee suits to remove the queens from the nest.
Bald-faced Hornets: Not So Bald After All (Mostly Black)
Despite their name, bald-faced hornets are mostly black with white markings on their face and thorax. They're actually a type of yellowjacket, but their distinct coloring sets them apart. Bald-faced hornets build large, papery nests that are often suspended from trees, eaves, or other structures. They are also social insects, but their colonies are usually smaller than yellowjacket nests. While they can sting, they are generally less aggressive than yellowjackets unless their nest is disturbed. While they are less aggressive than yellowjackets, use extreme caution. Wasp stings are never enjoyable, and if you were to get swarmed by them you could need to go to the ER.
Paper Wasps: The Architects of Hanging Nests
Paper wasps are named for the papery material they use to construct their distinctive umbrella-shaped nests. These nests are often found hanging from eaves, porches, or branches. Paper wasps are slender insects with long, thin bodies. They can be brown, yellow, or even reddish in color. Unlike yellowjackets and bald-faced hornets, paper wasps are less social and have smaller colonies. They are also less aggressive and typically only sting if they feel directly threatened. Their stings, while painful, are usually less severe than those of yellowjackets.
Other Wasps and Hornets in Utah:
Besides these common species, Utah is home to other wasps and hornets, including:
Mud Daubers: These solitary wasps build nests of mud cells, often found attached to walls or buildings. They are generally not aggressive.
Carpenter Bees: These large bees resemble bumblebees but can cause damage to wood structures by drilling holes to create nests. While they can sting, they are generally docile.
Tips for Staying Safe Around Wasps and Hornets:
Avoid Disturbing Nests: Keep a safe distance from wasp and hornet nests. Do not attempt to remove a nest yourself unless you have experience and the proper equipment.
Be Careful Around Food and Garbage: Keep food covered and dispose of trash promptly, especially when outdoors.
Move Slowly and Calmly: If you encounter a wasp or hornet, avoid sudden movements. Slowly move away from the area.
Wear Light-Colored Clothing: Wasps and hornets are attracted to dark colors.
If You Are Stung: Remove the stinger (if present) by scraping it away with a credit card or fingernail. Wash the area with soap and water and apply a cold compress. Seek medical attention if you experience severe allergic reactions.
Coexisting with Wasps and Hornets:
While stings are painful, wasps and hornets play a vital role in controlling other insect populations. By understanding their behavior and taking precautions, we can coexist peacefully with these important members of Utah's ecosystem. If there is a nest or colony that is impeding on your yard or home we are just a call away!
