One of the most common calls we have gotten the last couple of months is about bees! It seems they have been getting a little too close for comfort at your homes.
Bees are good for so many things, keeping the nuisance insects away being one of them. But when they start building their nest in your homes or become aggressive defending outdoor nests, they become a problem.
The most common bees in South Carolina are Carpenter Bees, Yellow Jackets, Mud Daubers and Hornets.
Carpenter bees are large in size often mistaken for Bumblebees. The females create their individual nest by drilling a hole the diameter of her body and tunneling inside older or untreated pieces of wood. They are commonly found nesting in wooden decks, fence rails, wooden trim and furniture, overhangs, and window sills. Females are equipped with a stinger but are very docile and rarely sting. Luckily, the males have no stingers.
Yellow Jackets are wasps with a yellowish coloring that build nests in sheltered area. These wasps will sting if they feel threatened, and they can sting repeatedly, unlike honeybees.
Mud Daubers are yellow or black with a very thin waist, but mostly identified by their nest. Mud Dauber nests consist of short mud tubes constructed side by side and are most often located in shaded areas like porch ceilings, under eaves, or in sheds and barns. Mud daubers are not nearly as aggressive as other wasps and typically do not sting unless their nest is directly threatened. They are beneficial in reducing the spider population around your home.
Hornets have long, strong bodies that are brown in color with yellow abdominal stripes and their faces are pale in color. Hornets are known for being extremely aggressive and unhesitatingly attacking any perceived threat, whether to an individual or to their entire nest.
How to Keep Them Away-
Like most other pests, stinging insects are attracted to properties that offer them their three basic needs of food, water, and shelter. Here are a few things you can do to protect your property from stinging insects and the damage they can do:
• Maintain your property by removing excess debris regularly and frequently mowing your lawn.
• Paint, stain, or otherwise treat the wood on your property as this will help deter the nesting activity of carpenter bees.
• Some species of stinging insects are attracted to sweet drinks, meats, and other food items; clean up immediately after eating outside or hosting an outdoor gathering to deter stinging insects from advancing onto your property.
Give PestGuard Solutions a call if you see any nests starting to appear near your home and we can come take care of those for you!
864-616-6308