Contrary to popular belief, stinging insects don’t seek out random people to sting simply because they have a grievance against humans. These pests will only sting those that they perceive to be a threat to the colony or nest. If a person bumps the nest, smashes one of the insects, or is too close to the colony for a long time, the pests will sound the alarm and begin to unleash their stings. Insects that live in colonies – aka eusocial insects – use pheromones to communicate with each other. Pheromones are invisible scent chemicals that members of the same colony can detect, and each pheromone communicates a different message, such as leading them to a food source or alerting them to danger. Once the first stinging insects release the alarm pheromone, the rest of the workers will make their way to the threat and defend their colony.

The actual stings are where bees and wasps differ. Bees can only sting once before they die, whereas wasps can sting as many times as they want. This is because bees have barbed stingers that get stuck in our skin when they sting us, but wasps have smooth stingers that easily release from our skin when they pull away. Either way, both insects release venom through their stingers when they sting someone. For insects and spiders, this venom is debilitating and will essentially paralyze them until the wasp or hornet brings the prey back to their nest to feed to their larvae. As for humans, this venom simply causes the sting site to become red and slightly swell for a few hours. When a person is allergic to bees, they are technically allergic to this venom. Common signs of an allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, hives, tightness in the throat, and dizziness. Anyone who experiences an allergic reaction to being stung needs to seek medical attention immediately.

A Smithton yard that is invaded by stinging insects is a risky place to be. These insects are quite territorial and won’t hesitate to sting anyone who disturbs their nest. Our Pointe Pest Control technicians are committed to protecting residents from these aggressive insects, and we won’t leave any pests untreated when we are on the scene. We specialize in both elimination and prevention of Smithton stinging pests, so contact us today for more information on our non-toxic stinging pest control services!