TAKE THE STING OUT OF YOUR YARD TIPS TO PREVENT AND ELIMINATE BEE AND WASP INFESTATIONS

Prepared by: Bees and wasps are the most common stinging insects. They can harass you, your children, your pets, and anyone near your home. Most people know too well the sharp pain that comes from a bee or a wasp sting, and so you don’t want them around your property.

If there are bees, wasps, or other stinging insects in your home or yard, it can feel like a war zone. These little, flying pests make their homes in your yard or walls and sting when anyone comes too close. At the same time, these insects are essential parts of the ecosystem, so it is important to preserve their vulnerable populations. Call in a pest control expert to get these pests out of your yard in a safe, environmentally responsible way.

Pest Management Professionals (PMPs) have the tools, training and equipment necessary to rid your home and yard of bees and wasps. Let this ebook be a guide to you as you decide the best course to take to get rid of these pests.

BAIN PEST CONTROL SERVICE 2 THE PROBLEM: INSECTS TERRORIZING YOUR HOME AND YARD Bees, wasps, and other stinging insects can be a huge problem in your home and yard. Their stinging and swarming can be painful and even dangerous. Each insect is a little different from the others, both in appearance and habits.

Bees There are well over 20,000 species of bees in the world. Different species of bees build their nests in different places, most commonly underground, in hollow spaces, or burrowed in walls.

Bees are essential in the ecosystem; plants cannot pollinate themselves so they need bees to do the work for them. Without bees, plant life simply cannot continue. Bee populations are dwindling, which is why it is incredibly important to get rid of them properly, without wiping out the hive.

Wasps Try to think of wasps as beneficial insects to your home and yard. When they aren’t stinging, which they rarely do, they prey on other insects, primarily pests.

Obviously, wasps are a hazard if they are in an area where they will encounter and sting the people or pets of your home. In a high traffic area—such as on a deck or a fence gate—they can be a terrible nuisance. In such cases, a PMP should be called in.

BAIN PEST CONTROL SERVICE 2 Other Stinging Insects Other bee-like insects include hornets and yellow jackets. Both of these insect families prey on other bugs. One or two hornets or yellow jackets can keep your garden free of insect pests that destroy your plants.

Just like wasps, though, these stinging insects can inflict a painful sting if they are agitated by humans. You, your family, and your pets are in danger of being stung if they run across an angry or protective hornet or yellow jacket.

Nests and Hives These outdoor pests build their nests and hives in a wide variety of places.

A sample of the types of places you may find a wasp nest or beehive includes: • Under a concrete slab • In a tree • Inside a wall • In the eaves of a roof • Inside an attic • On a fence • Under or on a deck • In a hollow tree

You can find a nest or hive anywhere that a scout bee or wasp thinks will be a safe place for the colony. When you notice one or two insects flying around, thoroughly check your home and yard to find the source.

BAIN PEST CONTROL SERVICE 3 Prevention Prevent bees from making your house their home by following these tips: • Remove potential nesting materials (wood, paper, etc.) • Paint and stain wood • Seal points of entry into your home • Frequently inspect your home and yard • Reduce outdoor clutter • Remove food products, including pet food, food left outdoors, and fallen fruit from trees • Use a commercial or homemade trap • Use a deterrent that does not kill the insects but repels them

A PMP can help you understand further prevention tips. They can advise you on ways to prevent recurring infestations.

Some PMPs may recommend return visits on an annual or semi-annual basis. Frequently giving your home and yard a once over is the best way to have ongoing pest prevention. As there is no such thing as permanent prevention, vigilance is the key to keeping any insect or pest problem under control.

BAIN PEST CONTROL SERVICE 4 THE SOLUTION: PEST MANAGEMENT infestation without harming your yard, PROFESSIONALS (PMPS) pets, children, or the bees. If you notice bees, wasps, or other stinging insects the first thing to do is Calling in a professional exterminator call in an expert. These pests can be can rid your home of these hazardous harmful and even dangerous if they pests for good! are agitated by inexpert removal techniques. Effective Bee and Wasp Control: Get Rid of Them Right A PMP can be the only way to properly The number one reason to call in a and permanently get rid of bees PMP is that they have the tools and and wasps in your home or yard. In the experience to rid your home of some cases of "do it yourself" wasp bees and wasps for good! or bee control, homeowners may get rid of a small nest but are unable to Thoroughly destroying a bee or wasp locate the full problem; as such, the nest is the key to really getting rid swarm comes back full force and the of these insects. Some visible nests homeowner has to start all over again. may be easily removed by at-home remedies, but in general bees and Additionally, a pest control wasps are more resilient. A PMP can professional knows the proper use the proper materials in order to techniques to get rid of your get rid of the nest for good.

BAIN PEST CONTROL SERVICE 5 Nests that are harder to reach— that the infestation is handled properly, whether they are up high, inside the preventing future stings. PMPs have walls, or underground—nearly always appropriate protective gear to keep require professional intervention. A them safe, so they will be safe from the PMP can safely use techniques to get pain and venom of a sting. rid of the existing bugs and destroy their nests, without harming vulnerable Dwindling Bee Populations Require bee populations. Extra Care It's true that bees and wasps are Sometimes multiple visits from an necessary parts of the ecosystem, but exterminator are required to fully that sure doesn't make a bee sting eradicate the problem. This is a normal hurt any less! When you have a hive or part of the process, as bees and wasps nest in or around your home and yard, can be incredibly resilient. Repeatedly stinging and swarming, you want to get destroying new nests and removing rid of these pests as fast as possible. any straggling insects is often the best way to ensure that they are gone. Taking into consideration that bee populations are endangered, it is Keep Your Family Safe from Stings of utmost importance to call in a One of the most important things that professional that can properly remove a PMP can do is keep your family and relocate them. Simply killing or safe. When bee and wasp nests are poisoning bee populations may fix your threatened, the insects often become infestation problem, but there is more agitated, putting people and animals at stake, so please do not do that! A nearby in danger of being stung. professional pest control expert can safely remove bees in a way that Nobody likes being stung by a bee keeps your home and the bee or wasp, but for people with allergies populations safe. to their venom it can be downright dangerous. Calling in a PMP ensures

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SOURCES: http://eartheasy.com/live_natwasp_control.htm https://entomologytoday.org/2014/05/28/how-to-keep-honey-bees-from-nesting-in-your-home/ http://pestworldforkids.org/pest-guide/bees/