Sunny Florida is one of the best places to spend time outside, until you realize you’re sharing your backyard with unwanted buzzing, stinging guests. Stinging insects are common here in the Sunshine State, and while most aren’t looking for a fight, one nest in the wrong place can quickly become a problem.
The trick is identifying which insect you’re dealing with, because it’s actually much more complicated than just knowing you have bees or wasps. Different species have different behaviors, and each behavior means a different problem for your family and your home. Here’s a guide to some of the most common stinging insects you may run into as a Florida homeowner:
Bumblebees
Bumblebees are large, round bees with black and yellow stripes. They’re covered in fuzz, which almost makes them look cute and cuddly. Don’t let their endearing appearance fool you, though. These bees often nest underground, including beneath porches, decks or even thick mulch beds, which puts them right in your walking path. While bumblebees aren’t known for being particularly aggressive, one step in the wrong place can put them in defense mode. Unlike honeybees, these bees can and will sting more than once to protect their nests.
Honey Bees
When you think of a bee, you probably think of a honey bee. With their warm golden-brown color and generally laid-back attitude, these bees are just as endearing as bumblebees. Because they’re the only species of bee that produces honey and aren’t known to be aggressive, we often view them as somewhat sweet in nature. This is mostly true, but a colony inside wall voids, the attic or the chimney is still a problem that needs to be addressed. Hives can become quite large and pose a structural threat to your home, while dripping honey can damage drywall.
It’s also worth noting that Africanized honey bees, which are commonly known as killer bees, are present in Florida and look nearly identical to common honey bees. Where they differ is in their behavior. Killer bees are far more aggressive, quicker to swarm and more likely to attack than the common honey bee, making them a real stinging threat to family and pets.
Carpenter Bees
Commonly mistaken for bumblebees, carpenter bees are a wood-boring bee that burrow into wood to create nesting sites for their eggs and to store food. They’re similar in size to bumblebees, and they also have fuzzy bodies. The easiest way to tell the difference is by looking at their color markings. Carpenter bees have an all-black abdomen, while bumblebees have yellow and black stripes all the way down.
Instead of eating wood, like termites, carpenter bees burrow into it, creating perfectly round holes in eaves, decks, fences and other wooden structures around your home. The big problem with carpenter bees isn’t so much that they can sting, but that they cause structural damage to your home. In fact, male carpenter bees don’t have a stinger at all, but will aggressively fly toward you to defend their nests. Female carpenter bees can sting, but it’s rare that they do. Only if their nest is threatened will they sting. Still, carpenter bees aren’t a problem you want to have.
Paper Wasps
Every Floridian has encountered paper wasps. Easily the most common stinging insect in the state, paper wasps are slender wasps with long legs that dangle when they fly. Their nests are made of a papery substance and have an open-celled structure that slightly resembles a honeycomb. These nests are usually hanging from rooflines, porch ceilings or even exterior doorways and are shaped a bit like an open, upside-down umbrella. The most common reason for a sting is a disturbed or threatened nest.
Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets have quite the reputation for being especially aggressive, and it’s well earned. These wasps are pretty easy to identify because they have striking black and bright yellow color markings. While they can look somewhat similar to paper wasps, their all-black antennae are what set them apart. They nest underground, in wall voids, behind siding, under porches and decks, and in attics. Yellowjackets do not hesitate to sting and will do so repeatedly if you even come close to their nests.
Keep Stinging Pests Away
Now that you know the different bee and wasp species to look out for, you can take steps to prevent them from nesting near your home. Here are a few simple things you can do to keep these stinging insects away:
- Seal entry points
- Remove attractants and eliminate food sources
- Use natural deterrents
- Hang decoy nests
- Call a professional bee and wasp control team
Whether you need help removing an active nest or you’re looking for preventative Fort Lauderdale bee and wasp control services, AAA Pest Control is here to help! Call our team at (954) 771-3400 or contact us online for a free inspection.