It’s well past the end of summer, yet we’re still getting lots of calls about Yellow jackets. Ever wonder why these pests seem to get more aggressive as fall sets in? Read on and we’ll tell you!
Late summer and into fall the yellow jacket nest (“nest” can refer to both the collective insects and the structure they live in. Here it refers to both!) is as large as it will get, with potentially up to several thousand bees inside. That’s a lot of stingers! Yellowjackets are very territorial and will not hesitate to attack an intruder or someone who simply gets too close. Their stings are painful, and they can sting more than once.
With more bees and the temperatures getting cooler, food becomes more scarce and the nest goes into survival mode. Desperate for the sweets they love, they might be seen hanging around trash bins or swinging by your tailgate party for the sweet drinks or spilled barbeque sauce.
A development in recent years is the addition of the Spotted Lanternfly to the mix. The “honeydew” secreted by the Spotted Lanternflies is sweet and if the yellow jackets feed on it, it could actually contribute to the yellow jackets longevity.
But enough about why they’re around and why they’re so aggressive, what to do if you have a nest on your property? You may be tempted to try to eliminate the nest on your own. A quick web search provides a number of ways to handle a yellow jacket nest, including dumping ice into the nest, covering the nest entrances with bowls, or spraying peppermint oil at the nest. All of these methods are dangerous and we do NOT recommend them! The best thing to do is call a pest professional to safely and completely remove the nest, especially if the yellow jackets have gotten into your home. Nests in the wall of a building are very difficult to remove and should not be attempted by anyone other than a trained, experienced pest tech.