Stinging Insect Identification & Prevention

Stinging insects are pests that we know are important but don’t want to find living in our yards or homes. Stinging insects all have a stinger extending from their hind end that predatory species use to help paralyze and capture their insect prey. All stinging insects use their stinger to drive away threats to themselves or their nest.

If you come across a stinging insect nest in your Knoxville yard, it likely belongs to one of the following species that call Tennessee home. 

• Carpenter bees
• Honey bees
• Hornets
• Yellow jackets
• Wasps

To accurately identify the stinging insects that have found their way to your property, always reach out to an experienced pest professional. 

Stinging insects play a vital role in the ecosystem, helping to control populations of nuisance insects and, of course, helping to pollinate the trees, crops, and plants that provide the food we need to survive. 

Though stinging insects are beneficial, they become dangerous when they become permanent residents in our yards or homes. The more contact you have with stinging insects, the more likely you be in the wrong place at the wrong time and be on the receiving end of a painful sting.

Not only are the stings of bees, wasps, and yellow jackets painful, but the venom they inject can trigger allergic reactions. Allergic reactions can range from mild swelling around the sting site, hives, a swollen throat, difficulty breathing, or, worst-case scenario, full-blown anaphylaxis.

If stinging insects have become a threat to you, your family, and your pets, reach out to Pest OPS to safely remove these pests. 

Stinging insects are pests that live outside all around us. They are always looking for an outdoor space that will provide them with easy access to their necessities. Unfortunately, our yards are often a perfect place to build a nest and forage for food. 

Stinging insects tend to be most problematic in the late summer and fall when their colonies are at their biggest and the workers are frantically trying to gather what little food is available. They are grumpy and on edge and can make it impossible to feel comfortable in your yard!

These outdoor pests can find their way into any of our Knoxville yards. Being proactive and partnering with a local pest control expert is the best way to learn about relocating problematic honey bee nests and removing the nests of wasps, hornets, and other stinging insects. 

Though stinging insects are primarily outdoor pests, sometimes they will take advantage of a crack or gap in our home’s exterior. Attic spaces, wall voids, and chimneys provide stinging insects with a safe, protected area to build their nest.

Common places to encounter a stinging insect nest in our yards include bushes, trees, woodpiles, and ground holes. Stinging insects also like building nests under porch steps, deck rails, roof eaves, door frames, or around light fixtures.

Carpenter bees are unique because the females nest within wood, preferring untreated softwood. Over time their nesting habits can cause costly structural damage.

The closer their nests are to your home, the more likely you will come into regular contact with stinging insects. 

Get rid of stinging insects with the help of the professionals at Pest OPS. We provide organic, sustainable pest control options that you can trust. Our top priority is protecting the environment and people while showing respect for stinging insects. 

When it comes to stinging insect control, our goal is to provide the control and removal services necessary to protect people whiles also protecting the pollinators that are vital to the ecosystem.

To remove problematic stinging insects like wasps and hornets from becoming a threat on your property, we will treat the areas they regularly land on or nest in. Please call us today for more information about stinging insect control and pest control solutions in Knoxville!

Preventing problems with stinging insects is difficult because they can move to and from your property as they please. The best defense against these pests is to make your yard as unappealing to them as possible. 

• Keep your grass cut short and fill in ground holes.
• Regularly prune trees, shrubs, and landscaping back- overgrown vegetation can hide stinging insect nests.
• Remove areas of standing water and leaking pipes and fixtures that can provide stinging insects with a reliable water source.
• Regularly empty and clean out trash cans and recycling bins. Always keep locking lids on trash receptacles.

For the safest stinging insect control in Knoxville, partner with us at Pest OPS!