Janet Hurley, ACE or Dr. Sonja Swiger Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Department of Entomology Biting and Stinging Pests • Bees, wasps, hornets • Blood feeders • Mosquitoes, bed bugs • Spiders • Ants • Scorpions • Caterpillars Difference between a bite and a sting
• Bites involve mouthparts • May involve venom • Reduviid (assassin) bugs • Spiders • Or no venom • Bed bugs • Fleas • Lice • Stings are delivered via modified ovipositor • Bees, Wasps, Ants • Scorpions • Venomous spines (less common) Bites may also transmit disease pathogens
• Mosquitoes • West Nile virus • Eastern equine encephalitis • Dengue fever • Fleas • Murine typhus • Ticks • Lyme disease • Rocky Mountain spotted fever • Body lice • Typhus Risks associated with stinging insects
• Normal reactions to stings • Pain from venom and direct release of histamines • Tissue damage and inflammation • Hypersensitive reactions to stings • Large local swelling • Hives • Anaphylactic shock • Accidents as direct result of avoiding stinging pests • Lost work and school time What are bees and wasps?
• Order Hymenoptera • Families Vespidae and Apidae Wasps Nest - Sceliphron caementarium
Non-stinging • Includes non-social wasps • Do not live-in organized colonies wasps • May live underground or in mud chambers • Not aggressive nest defenders Stinging wasps
• Social wasps • Will defend nest site • Nest will be made of paper or wax Example of solitary wasp: Spider wasp and prey Organpipe mud dauber Principally feeds on spiders • Early summer Cicada killer wasps • One of largest wasps • Males are territorial • Do not sting Paper wasps, Polistes species
• Umbrella-like nest • Exposed brood chambers • Social insects • Colonies less than 200 workers Immature stages Overwintering behavior
• Queen leaves colony site in fall • Aggregations of over-wintering queens form in sheltered locations • Wasps become active during periods of warm weather • Not aggressive during winter Hornets
• Vespa crabro, European hornet, and Dolichovespula maculata, bald-faced hornet both found in east Texas • Above-ground nests usually covered in brown paper envelope • Annual nests Control of hornets
• Rarely require control • If necessary, treat with power or pump sprayer, wasp freeze • Save nest for science teacher in winter!
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY Vespid wasps
• Most important groups are social • Wings folded at rest • Include paper wasps, yellowjackets, hornets • Aggressively defend nest Yellowjacket wasps: Vespula species
• V. squamosa is common local species • Annual colonies generally less than 2,000 workers (20,000) • Aggressively defend nest • Primarily ground nesters Yellowjacket nest diagram Yellowjacket nest entrance Yellowjacket nest variations Control options
• Nighttime nest removal • Red flashlight • Taillight tape • Red cellophane • Red LED flashlights • Protective gear • Mint oils • Wasp freeze • Follow-up Control of yellowjacket wasps
• Very simple (in theory) • Apply dust or aerosol to nest entrance • Best done at night • Wear protective clothing • If nest is in area not close to human activity, let colony die out and seal entrance Bees
• About 3,500 species in N.A. • Major bee families • Plasterer bees (Colletidae) • Andrenid bees (Andrenidae) • Halictid bees (Halictidae) • Leafcutting bees (Megachilidae) • Carpenter, bumble and honey bees (Apidae) Carpenter bees
Carpenter bee management
• Residual aerosol or dust to nest openings • Replace or caulk and repaint wood • Carpenter bees prefer softer woods – removal and replace • Redwood • Cedar • Water-softened and weathered pine Bumble bees Bombus spp
• Large native bees • Nest in underground holes (annual nest) • Will sting if nest disturbed • Considered beneficial pollinators • Relatively small colonies (dozens) • About 50 species in N.A. Honey bees Apis mellifera
• European honey bee • Social insect, lives in colonies of 10,000+ bees • Colonies reproduce by swarming • Beneficial pollinator • One of most difficult-to-control stinging insects Comb nest
• Can be built very quickly. In four days can produce 4 to 6 sheets of comb • 75 lbs honey per season • Nests can be distant from entry point (up to 20 feet) Honey bee swarms Honey bee swarms
• New queen takes workers and drones and “absconds” • Commonly 10-20,000 workers • Follow greenways, parks, creek bottoms • Not highly aggressive • Searching for a nesting site 8 to 14 ft high About bee control
• Bees are not an endangered species • Bees can legitimately be killed when they pose a threat to people or structures • In many cases bees can be safely removed alive • May be more expensive • Fewer beekeepers want feral bees
Swarm control
• Control/remove swarms to reduce risk of bees: • Stinging residents • Taking up residence in or near school building • Control with soapy water • Physical capture/transport • Lure to capture with bait hives Swarm control with soapy water
• Exposed colonies only! • ¾ to 1 cup liquid dishwashing soap (Palmolive, Dawn) in gallon water • Gently wet outside then inside of swarm with spray wand • Place garbage bag or similar receptacle under colony to catch dying bees Bee and wasp control
• Key is destruction/removal of nest • Trapping is slow and effective only in hands of experts • Know what you are dealing with Distinction between wasp and bee nests in wall voids!
• Abandoned wasp nests rarely require removal (large active nests may require removal after extermination) • Bee nests require prompt removal Consequences of not removing bee nests
• Comb melts releasing wax and honey into wall, ceiling • Dead insects and honey decay and result in odors • Secondary infestations of cockroaches, carpet beetles, wax moths, clothes moths, ants, rodents • Re-infestation by new bee colony possible Skills required for bee control
• Bee/wasp identification skills • Protective gear, safety skills and knowledge of how to work around bees • Ability to size-up situation, calculate nest location, apply treatment • Ability to efficiently remove nest • If you can’t do these things, hire a professional Basic equipment
• Bee suit • Veil • Gloves • Tape (to seal gloves, boots) • Smoker (to calm bees) • Sturdy ladder • Actisol or similar applicator, power duster Safety around bees
• Bees attracted to flowering plants pose little threat to school children or teachers on playgrounds • Where bees are a concern, encourage wearing of light-colored clothing, avoid perfumes Bee prepared
• Teachers and students should know to report swarms (good newsletter item in spring) • Should bees attack run to shelter • Stingers continue to pump venom, so should be removed immediately Safety around bees
• Thresholds are subjective • Any report of swarm or nest • Stinging incident • More than 10 bees attracted to trashcans • Multiple bees in classroom or indoor space
Safety around bees
• Safe distance from hive? • No guaranteed safe distance • 50 feet probably safe in most cases • Use CAUTION tape to keep unauthorized people away • Barricades may be best solution in isolated areas, esp. for yellowjacket wasps Safety around bees
• Request to know if campuses have children with known allergies to bees • Check to make sure epi-kit available • Emergency room best option when child or employee experience's systemic reaction to a sting • Hives, itching over whole body • Difficulty breathing
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA