Stinging Pest Facts & Information

Protect your home or business from stinging pests by learning techniques for identification and control.

Stinging pest illustration

IDENTIFY

Types of Stinging Pests

What do stinging pests look like?

Stinging pests come in a range of shapes an sizes that span multiple insect species. While the common factor is a stinger, body types, colors, and legs vary widely between pest such as bees, hornets, wasps, and even scorpions. These pests can all present problems for you or your home and controlling them begins with accurate identification. For more information, contact Orkin for an accurate identification of the pest problem you are experiencing.

Bees Removal - How To Identify & Get Rid Of Bees

Bees

Clade Anthophila

Hornets Exterminator - How To Identify & Get Rid Of Hornets

Hornet

Vespa crabo

Scorpions Exterminator - How To Identify & Get Rid Of Scorpions

Scorpions

Order Scorpiones

Wasp Exterminator | How To Identify & Get Rid Of Wasps

Wasps

Suborder Apocrita

Yellow Jackets Exterminator - How To Identify & Get Rid Of Yellow Jackets

Yellow Jacket

Vespula spp. & Dolichovespula spp.

Treatment

How do I get rid of stinging pests?

What Orkin Does

If you find a stinging pest nest on your property, removing it safely and completely can be difficult. It’s important to contact an expert in stinging insect identification in order to determine the best course of treatment. Orkin can perform an inspection and put together a custom plan of action to help eliminate your stinging pest situation. With more than 160 hours of training just in their first year, Orkin Pros are knowledgeable in the classification of different types of stinging insects.

Once an Orkin Pro locates the nest, they can provide stinging pest treatment and help resolve the situation. Your Orkin Pro will look for conditions that invite stinging insects, tackle current infestations and remove any nests to help prevent future stingers from showing up and moving in.

To learn more about stinging insects and how to protect your home, contact your local Orkin branch.

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Frequently Asked Question

Close up of stinging pest

Stinging Pest Facts

Learn More About Stinging Pests

The more you know about stinging pests, the better you can predict and control their behavior. Here are some quick facts to help you on your way.

Stings

Stinging insects such as bees, wasps, yellow jackets and hornets use their stings to subdue prey (primarily insects and spiders) and to defend themselves or their colony.

Hornet Nests

Hornet nests are constructed with paper-like material produced by the insects mixing their saliva together with the wood fibers they gather.

Stings

Unlike wasps, yellow jackets and hornets, honey bees, Africanized honey bees and bumble bees sting and inject venom only once and usually die within minutes after delivering their sting.

Scorpion Habitats

Scorpions live in very dry climates. Despite this, they are very sensitive to the loss of moisture from their body and hide during the day in shady locations.

Pollination

There are many species of wasps that are important pollinators. However, taken as a group, wasps do pollinate, but are not as effective at pollinating as the bees.

Bee Swarms

Two kinds of bee swarms occur: primary and secondary. Queen bees lead primary swarms. Secondary swarms are led by several virgin, female bees. As a result, these swarms are half the size of the primary swarm and do not occur as often.

Behavior, Diet & Habits

More Information on Stinging Pests

Common Stinging Pests

The more you know about stinging pests, the better you can predict and control their behavior. Bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets are among the most common types, and when they feel threatened, they’re known to sting. Their stings can be very painful, and depending on a person’s allergies, they may develop mild to deadly allergic reactions after being stung.

Why Do Bees Sting?

Stinging insects such as bees, wasps, yellow jackets and hornets use their stings to subdue prey (primarily insects and spiders) and to defend themselves or their colony. When stinging insects are alerted to potential danger, they will aggressively attack and sting to force people or animals away from the nest. Removal of stinging insect nests should be done only by a professional and experienced removal expert to avoid dangerous stings.

Where Stinging Pests Live

In the warm months, stinging insects buzz around your home, often building nests inside attics and gutters, or under decks and eaves. It’s important to find and seal cracks and crevices to keep these pests from migrating indoors.

How to Get Rid of Stinging Pests

Every home is unique, and so are the proper treatments for successfully getting rid of stinging pests in your space. After conducting a thorough inspection and identifying the type of bee and its location, an Orkin Pro will create a custom treatment plan to help repel and remove the pests from your home. Once the nests and its inhabitants have been successfully removed, it’s important to prevent reinfestation by utilizing and sticking to a plan to keep them at bay.

More Resources on Stinging Pests

Dig Deeper on Stinging Pests

Visit the Orkin Pest Library to learn how to identify and control other pests.
Explore Our Pest Library

More Details On Stinging Pests

Should I Be Worried About Parasitic Wasps?

Although parasitic wasps may be a scary sight, they are actually beneficial garden pests and harmless to humans.

Does Orkin Deal With Digger Wasps?

Find more details on digger wasps, also known as cicada killers, and what treatment options Orkin has to remove these stinging pests.

How Much Does Bee Hive Removal Cost?

Bee hive removal can be very dangerous and should only be attempted by a trained Orkin Pro.

How Do You Exterminate for Carpenter Bees?

Male carpenter bees are usually harmless while female carpenter bees do sting. Find out what you should do if you find carpenter bees.

How Do I Kill or Prevent Scorpions?

Scorpions can inflict painful bites and be very hard to control as they move frequently and are good hiders.

How Do We Get Rid of the Wasp Nest Under Our Cedar Siding?

Have you found a wasp nest and want to get rid of it? Learn about what you should do if there is a wasp nest on your house.

How Do You Get Rid of Yellow Jackets Under Your Siding?

Yellow jackets can build massive nests that contain hundreds of worker wasps. Removing a yellow jacket nests can be very dangerous and should only be attempted by an Orkin Pro.

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