Stinging Insect Season in Vermont

a wasp siting on a flower outside

There are few things worse than when stinging insects invade your outdoor space in Vermont during the warmer season. It’s enough to ruin any pool party or family get-together, but that’s far from the only social causality. Even a few moments watching the sunset over the horizon can be a moment ruined if these pests build nests and swarm around your premises, annoying and endangering your health and safety. Luckily, Vermont Pest Control is here to help.

Which Stinging Insects Can Nest and Swarm Your Yard?

Here are the common stinging insects you may encounter in Vermont:

  • Bald-faced Hornet: This large black and white wasp builds nests of paper-like material in trees, shrubs, or buildings. They are very aggressive and will attack if you disturb their nest. Their stings can cause severe pain and swelling; you need wasp prevention to avoid them.
  • Bumblebee: This bee is fuzzy and black and yellow. It nests in the ground, under decks, or in wall voids. It usually does not attack unless you provoke it, but its sting can hurt and trigger allergic reactions in some people. It pollinates plants and flowers, so you should not bother it if you can.
  • Carpenter Bee: This bee is black and yellow and makes holes in wood to nest. It looks like a bumblebee but has a shiny abdomen and a loud buzz. It seldom stings, but it can ruin wooden structures and draw woodpeckers.
  • Cicada Killer Wasp: This black and yellow wasp is huge. It catches cicadas, paralyzing them with stings. It takes them to burrow in the ground, laying eggs on them. It does not attack humans but can scare you with its size and appearance.
  • European Hornet: This is a large brown and yellow hornet. It makes nests of paper-like material in hollow trees, attics, or wall voids. It is active at night and likes lights. It stings many times and causes severe pain and swelling.
  • Honeybee: This bee is golden-brown and small. It lives in hives with other bees in colonies. It makes honey and wax and pollinates many crops and flowers. It usually does not attack unless you threaten its hive, but its sting can kill those allergic to its venom. 
  • Mud Dauber: This wasp is black or metallic blue and slender. It makes nests of mud on walls, ceilings, or eaves. It does not attack and stings rarely, but its nests can look ugly and dirty.
  • Paper Wasp: This wasp is brown or yellow and slender. It makes nests of paper that are umbrella-shaped under eaves, decks, or roofs. It is not very aggressive unless you bother it, but its sting can hurt and cause allergic reactions in some people.
  • Yellowjacket: This is a small black and yellow wasp. It makes nests in the ground, under rocks or logs, or in wall voids. It likes sugary foods and garbage and attacks easily when you disturb it. Its stings can cause severe pain and swelling. You need to call a pest control expert for yellowjacket prevention on your property.

Stinging Insect Prevention Tips

  • Seal any cracks or gaps in your walls, roof, or foundation.
  • Keep your trash cans covered and clean, and avoid leaving food or drinks outside.
  • Trim your trees and shrubs regularly, and remove any dead or decaying wood that could attract carpenter bees or hornets.
  • Avoid wearing bright colors or floral scents that could attract stinging insects.

Call a Professional Exterminator

A professional exterminator can safely remove stinging insects from your property with their expertise and tools. Vermont Pest Control offers effective stinging insect control services to protect your family from these unwanted pests. We will inspect your home for signs of stinging insect activity, identify the type of insect involved, and apply the appropriate treatment to eliminate them for good.

Dealing with Common Late Summer Pests

An American dog tick

While what we refer to as “pest season” ends in the middle of summer, this doesn’t mean that the late summer season is free of pests entirely. In fact, there are several kinds of pests that thrive in these conditions in Vermont. Preventing these pests for the rest of the summer means making regular efforts to ensure that your property is in inviting them in. To learn about late summer pests and the prevention techniques that our technicians at Vermont Pest Control recommend you use against them, read on!

Pests to Look Out For in Late Summer

Several kinds of critters to just find in the heat and relative aridity of the late summer. These are the pests that we are most often called to deal with in August and September:

  • Ticks: These parasitic arachnids lurk in large numbers in the forests of Vermont. Because they breed in the late spring and early summer, tick numbers are at their highest right about now.
  • Wildlife: If an animal hibernates during the winter, it means that they will be out and about all summer, taking advantage of the favorable conditions. Raccoons, possums, and squirrels commonly cause property damage in the late summer.
  • Bees and wasps: If you host regular outdoor get-togethers or have a habit of leaving food out, you can easily attract bees and wasps, or even incentivize them to build a nearby nest.
  • Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes are a tricky pest to deal with because if you don’t prevent their ability to breed, they can stick around in large numbers through the summer and into the fall.

How Can I Prevent Pests in Late Summer?

While we encourage all of our customers to lead with natural, DIY pest prevention, it is important to know that any serious pest infestation should be addressed by a licensed exterminator right away. That said, we advise you to add these measures to your routines to keep late summer pests away:

  1. Seal gaps shut: You could have tiny gaps or cracks in your fencing, roofing, siding, foundation, windows, or doors that you’ve never paid close attention to. These holes could be used as pest entryways, so seal what you can with a silicone-based caulk and install screens where needed.
  2. Be cautious with garbage: Taking out the trash frequently and using sealable outdoor bins will go a long way in preventing bees, wasps, wildlife, and other pests.
  3. Eliminate standing water: Mosquitoes will breed in even the tiniest of standing water pools, so you have to cover or pour it out wherever you find it on your property. Be sure to double-check gutters, planter boxes, and other receptacles.
  4. Do regular yard maintenance: Get rid of grass clippings and leaf piles promptly, trim your trees and shrubs back, and take regular decluttering sweeps to prevent pests from finding hiding places.

Late Summer Pest Control in Vermont

Sometimes you discover a pest infestation before you have the time to do anything about it. If you’re dealing with an outbreak of any kind of pests that’s getting out of hand, let your local pest control company know. Our licensed and certified technicians at Vermont Pest Control can assess your property for the cause of the infestation, quickly handle the pest problem, and teach you how to prevent similar ones going forward. For a free quote, contact us today!