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Home , Honey bee, Paper wasp, Wasp

Nuisance and Fact Sheet No. 5.525 Series|Home and Garden by W.S. Cranshaw* Wasps and bees can be a serious nuisance Quick Facts problem throughout , particularly late in the summer when certain • Most wasps develop by wasps forage at garbage and outdoor food feeding on . Bees areas. In overall balance, however, these develop on a diet of or insects are beneficial in their activities, . particularly as predators of insects and as . It is important to distinguish • Almost all insect stings result between the various wasps and bees because from and an their potential as problems and their insect newly established in control differ. the state, the European paper Figure 1: Yellowjacket entering . underneath wall. Social Wasps • Yellowjackets, and Several wasps are social insects that paper wasps make produce a . Colonies begin anew each of paper. bees and spring, initiated by a single fertilized female make nests of (queen) that has survived winter. The social . Solitary bees and wasps wasps construct their nest of paper, which nest in holes in the ground, they produce by chewing on , scraps of rotten wood or natural paper and cardboard. cavities. Some wasps even Social wasp colonies are very small early make mud nests. in the season, but expand rapidly through the summer as more wasps are raised that assist in colony development. By the end of summer, a colony may include dozens, or even several hundred, individuals. Some Figure 2: Baldfaced . wasps reared at the end of the season are fertile females (potential queens) and a nectar, however, social wasps are generally few males. In fall, colonies are abandoned, not important plant pollinators. never to be reused, and the fertilized females All social wasps are capable of producing scatter to find protection during winter. The a painful sting but none leave the remaining members of the colony perish with embedded, as do honey workers. cold weather. Most stings occur when the colony is Most social wasps rear their young on accidentally disturbed. a diet of live insects. Several types of social Yellowjackets ( spp.) are wasps are important in controlling insect banded or orange and black and pests such as . An exception are commonly mistaken for honey bees, to this is the western yellowjacket, which but they lack the hairy body and are more primarily scavenges dead insects, earthworms intensely colored. Yellowjackets typically and other carrion, including garbage. This nest underground using existing hollows. scavenging habit is usually why yellowjackets Occasionally nests can be found in dark, © Colorado State University become serious nuisance problems. Male enclosed areas of a building, such as crawl Extension. 4/96. Revised 12/12. wasps occasionally visit flowers to feed on spaces or wall voids. www.ext.colostate.edu Nests are enclosed in a paper envelope, *Colorado State University Extension entomologist but they are not exposed nor observed and professor, bioagricultural sciences and pest unless excavated. The nest entrance is small management. 12/2012 and inconspicuous. Colonies are readily fall. The nest can be safely removed in the defended and yellowjackets will sting when winter or, if left alone, will break up during the nest area is disturbed. late fall and winter. Thewestern yellowjacket (V. Reducing paper wasps nesting sites pensylvanica) is, by far, the most important is possible before the colonies become stinging insect in Colorado. Late in the established in early spring. This is done season, when colonies may include up by sealing all openings that allow access to 200 individuals, they become serious to hollow tubing or similar materials. nuisance pests around outdoor sources of The interior of many kinds of children’s food or garbage. The western yellowjacket playground equipment are suitable nesting is estimated to cause at least 90 percent of sites by this wasp and should be given Figure 3: Western yellowjacket. the “bee stings” in the state. special attention. Hornets (­ spp.) produce Active nests causing problems can be large, conspicuous grayish paper nests in destroyed with an . Insecticide trees, shrubs and under building eaves. The applications are best made during late most common is the baldfaced evening or cool periods in early morning, hornet (D. maculata) which is stout- when the wasps do not readily and most bodied and marked with dark and white foragers have returned to the colony. A striping. Hornets feed their young live variety of are currently sold insects and do not share the scavenging for this purpose with active ingredients habit of yellowjackets. Nests often attract including , deltamethrin, attention because of their large size, but tralomethrin, bifenthrin, tetramethrin, hornets rarely sting unless the colony is allethrin, and esfenvalerate. Many of these seriously disturbed. are combination products that include a Figure 4: Baldfaced hornet nest cutaway to Paper wasps ( spp. and the fast-acting, short-lived ingredient (e.g., expose paper comb. western , allethrin, tetramethrin) with an insecticide flavitarsus) make paper, open cell nests that is more persistent in ability to control that are not covered by a papery envelope. wasps (e.g., permethrin). Often these nests are produced under For exposed nesting species, such as building overhangs. However, a new species paper wasps, insecticides can easily be to Colorado, the applied directly to the nest and control (Polistes dominula), will also nest in small should be excellent. However, ground cavities in the sides of buildings, within nesting yellowjackets with only a small metal gutters and poles, outdoor grills, external entrance can be much more and similar items. Paper wasps are more difficult to control since the nest may slender-bodied than other social wasps. actually be some distance from the Most native paper wasps are reddish-brown opening. Repeated insecticide applications and marked with yellow, but the European are often required to destroy existing paper wasp is marked with shiny black and yellowjacket nests. Figure 5: The western paper wasp, a native yellow, allowing it to be easily mistaken for Social wasps nests are more easily species of paper wasp. a yellowjacket. controlled early in the season when Paper wasps are beneficial predators colonies are small. of caterpillars and other insects and do Nuisance problems with scavenging not scavenge. However, the habit of the yellowjackets are difficult to manage unless European paper wasp to nest in many all the nests are found and destroyed. locations around a yard has greatly However, nests are inconspicuously located increased the incidence of stings associated and the wasps may fly as far as 1,000 yards with this group of wasps. from the colony while , so complete control is difficult. Control of Social Wasps Many concerns with social wasps occur Commonly sold wasp traps only late in the season when colonies grow large are effective for yellowjackets. They and the above-ground nests of hornets and are not attractive for paper wasps or paper wasps become apparent. If the wasps hornets and will not assist in control of are not causing a problem, the best solution these types of wasps. Figure 6: European paper wasp. is to wait until the nest is abandoned in the Table 1. Physical description of the most common bees and wasps. (Apis mellifera): Very hairy. General color orange or yellow-orange, sometimes with dark gray. Individuals collecting pollen will pack it into clumps in special structures (pollen baskets) on the hind legs. Bumble bees (Bombus spp.): Very hairy and stout bodied. Black and yellow markings on all species but many are marked with orange or orange-red on the abdomen. European paper wasp (Polistes dominulus): Not hairy. General color black and bright yellow. Overall body form more elongate than the other species. Hind pair of legs long and trail conspicuously when flying. Western yellowjacket (): Not hairy. General color black and bright yellow. Overall body form slightly more compact than European paper wasp. Baldfaced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata): Not hairy. General color is black and creamy white. Overall body form similar to yellowjacket, but larger. Figure 7: Yellowjacket traps.

Yellowjackets will regularly return of wasps, the sting is quite mild to sites where food and water sources compared to that of social wasps. are available. Therefore, it is important An unusual wasp common in prairie to deter yellowjackets from visiting an areas are the velvet . Females are area by eliminating all food sources (e.g., wingless, hairy, extremely active and open garbage cans, foods). Water possess a painful sting. Velvet ants develop sources around the yard may also attract as parasites on ground-nesting bees. yellowjackets during hot, drought- Another important group of wasps are stricken periods. the parasitic wasps. These wasps lay their There has been some success using baits in other insects and the developing Figure 8: . and traps for control of yellowjackets. The wasp slowly consumes and ultimately (Photo from the K. Gray collection.) western yellowjacket is attracted to the kills the insects. Parasitic wasps are chemical heptyl butyrate, which is included non-aggressive, only sting when handled, as a lure in many wasp traps. Such traps can and are considered beneficial for their be helpful when used early in the season, role in controlling a wide variety of pest June and early July, when the number of insects. They are discussed further in fact yellowjackets is small and the colonies are sheet 5.550, Beneficial Insects and other struggling to become established. However, . these traps will not attract European paper wasp and are worthless for control of this species. Social Bees Bees differ from wasps in many respects, most fundamentally in their diet. Solitary Wasps Whereas developing wasps feed on insects Figure 9: Mud dauber building nest. Many kinds of wasps do not produce and other materials of origin bees (Photo by H. Evans.) a colony, including the hunting wasps develop on nectar and pollen. ( family) and spider wasps Thehoney bee (Apis mellifera) is the (Pompilidae family). Instead the female only bee, or wasp, that produces a persisting wasp constructs some sort of nest and perennial colony. During winter, honey provisions it with prey. bees survive clustered together within their Nesting habits vary with the different hive. The queen, the only fertile female, hunting wasps. Some excavate nests in begins to lay eggs in late winter and the soil, others dig out chambers in the pith young are fed on stored pollen and nectar. of plants, or use existing holes. Some even At midwinter the size of the colony may construct nests made of mud. Perhaps the only number around 10,000, but numbers best known of these is the mud dauber, increase with the presence of flowering which makes a series of elongate cells, each plants that provide food. of which is then packed with paralyzed crab The majority of bees in the honey bee on which their young develop. colony are workers – females that are Figure 10: The honey bee is an important Some solitary hunting wasps may have infertile solely because their diet during and due to its production of a fearsome appearance but they are non- development was insufficient for them to honey and other products, as well as aggressive and sting only if directly handled mature into a fertile queen. All of the bees of plants. or accidentally trapped. With the exception – workers, the queen, and the few males sites—hollow trees or hives of . Once a location is found, the swarm A strain of the honeybee, known departs to the new home. On the rare as the Africanized honey bee, has occasions when a new nest site is not found, received considerable attention due honey bees will begin to produce a wax to its tendency to readily sting when comb where they originally came to rest. nests are disturbed. This is a tropical During the summer these types of colonies strain of bee that is poorly adapted to may expand greatly but invariably are killed areas of cool weather. It does occur out during winter due to exposure. in parts of the southwestern United Sometimes honey bee colonies are Figure 11: Bumble bee queen. States but is unlikely to ever establish located within wall voids of buildings. in Colorado. When this occurs the colony must be eliminated as soon as possible. If allowed to develop, large amounts of wax and honey Solitary Bees can be produced which ultimately damages the building when the hive dies out or The majority of bee species do not when the combs melt due to extreme heat. produce a colony. These solitary bees Honey bees are not aggressive insects, include leafcutter bees, digger bees, acute- although they will readily defend the tongued burrowing bees, and sweat bees. colony. Most stings occur when people step These bees use existing holes, excavate barefooted on bees visiting ground covers nests in rotten wood and plant stems, or dig or when they accidentally are trapped in in the ground. Within these nests clothing. The foraging bees seen visiting they create a series of cells for rearing the Figure 12: A small, midsummer bumble bee young. One group of these, the leafcutter worker. flowers do not attack. Unlike other bees and wasps, the stinger bees (fact sheet 5.576, Leafcutter Bees), of the honey bee is barbed and embeds line the nest cells with cut fragments of into the skin. When the bee withdraws the leaves and flower petals. All solitary bees, stinger the sac is left behind. The however, pack the nest cells with nectar bee subsequently dies. and pollen. Although these solitary bees In Colorado, the honey bee is important individually produce nests, sometimes to the agricultural economy. They are many will nest in close proximity. This is exceptional pollinators and many crops particularly common with digger bees. are dependent on them for production Solitary bees are not aggressive and including , pears, and stings are quite mild. Most solitary bees melons. The value of pollination alone can be closely observed and will elicit no typically exceeds $20 million annually defensive behaviors. Perhaps the most and several million dollars of honey and common stings that occur are when the Figure 13: Leafcutter bee collecting pollen. products are also produced. sweat bee, which is attracted to moisture, Unlike the honey bee, bumble bees stings when swatted. Males of some solitary (drones) – are dependent on each other and (Bombus spp.) are native to Colorado. Up bees – which can not sting – sometimes will can not survive for long outside the colony. to two dozen species are present in the make aggressive-looking bluffing flights In this sense, a honey bee colony is state. All are heavy bodied, quite fuzzy and when defending a territory. often described as being a “super organism” banded orange or yellow and black. where all the individual insects have Bumble bee colonies are produced Control of Bees essential roles on which the entire colony annually. Fertilized queens survive the depends. As a result, of winter and attempt to establish colonies Insecticides used for control of wasps honey bees is different and requires that in spring. Oftentimes bumble bee nests can also be used to kill bees. the colony periodically subdivide, a process occur in abandoned rodent burrows, but Local beekeepers will often collect known as . During swarms about they may also occur in other small hollow honey bees that have just swarmed. half the colony leaves the hive along with spaces, particularly if there is insulating Collecting swarms typically involves the queen and attempts to establish a new debris available. shaking the swarm into a suitable hive box. colony. The remaining bees then rear a new The size of bumble bees varies with They will all remain together if the queen queen, who may begin to lay eggs 3 or 4 the season. Large queens are observed is collected. The swarm is then removed weeks after a swarming event. first, followed by the tiny workers she has at night after the foraging scout bees have Most honey bee swarms occur on sunny reared. As the colony increases, the size returned. Many Colorado State University afternoons in May and June. Immediately of the bumble bees that are produced also Cooperative Extension county offices carry after leaving the colony the swarm usually increases. New queens and males develop lists of local beekeepers that may be willing settles nearby clustered on a branch. They by the end of the summer. to collect honey bee swarms. then send out bees to scout for suitable nest Honey bees that are already established Table 2. Comparison of habits of common Colorado bees and wasps. European Western Baldfaced behind a wall of a building produce special Feature Honey bee problems. If there is an extensive wax comb paper wasp yellowjacket hornet and honey, an area of the wall will need to Nest construction Wax comb Paper comb, no Paper comb Paper comb envelope covered with covered with be removed to extract this material. If old paper envelope paper envelope combs are left in place after a honey bee Nest location Large hollows, Under eaves, in Usually Above ground colony dies, the wax and honey will melt hives small voids underground, in trees, shrubs, and flow causing damage. Rodents and rarely wall voids under eaves insects will also become attracted to this Colony permanence1 Perennial Annually Annually Annually site. It is rare to find beekeepers willing produced produced produced to collect bees that are established behind Peak colony size >10,000 <100 100s 100s the walls. Food habits Nectar, pollen, Live insects Dead insects, Live insects Solitary bees can be difficult to control some sweet garbage, meats, with insecticides since there are multiple foods sweet foods nest entrances and multiple rearing cells Stinger Barbed, left Not barbed Not barbed Not barbed within each nest. Often only a portion of during stinging the nest is killed and the surviving young Attraction to wasp No No Yes No emerge the following season. trap Where large numbers of digger bees 1Perennial colonies of honeybees persist from season to season intact, with laying suspended during fall and early winter. Annual colonies are abandoned at the end of the season nest in close proximity, the permanent and fertilized females scatter to protected locations for winter. Colonies are initiated each spring. control solution is to modify the soil surface. Incorporate soil amendments (e.g., compost, peat moss), establish a sac. Honey bee stings are best removed by crushed aspirin, meat tenderizer and plant cover, change the slope or change scraping (not crushing) the stinger with a urine are among those that have been the watering habits to disturb digger bee finger nail or knife blade. suggested. If many stings are received oral nesting sites. The following season, they will Localized swelling and pain are typical antihistamines can sometimes reduce move to a new location. Fortunately, these reactions to a sting by a wasp or bee. In swelling and itching. bees are mild tempered. All solitary bees most people, these symptoms gradually A small percentage of the U.S. should be conserved whenever possible. disappear within a few hours. Some population (approximately 1 percent) swelling, itching and pain are all normal develops hypersensitivity to either bee or reactions and do not necessarily indicate a wasp following repeated stings. First Aid for Stings systemic reaction to the venom of the sting. A systemic allergic reaction can involve Honey bees – but not other bees Treat the sting site with an antiseptic difficulty in breathing, dizziness, nausea or wasps – generally leave the stinger to prevent possible infection. Cool lotions and development of hives. These symptoms embedded in the skin. Remove the stinger or compresses can help relieve pain and may require immediate medical attention as soon as possible since some additional swelling. Various materials applied to from a physician. venom may be pumped by the venom the sting site may also reduce pain –

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