While some stinging insects are solitary and therefore do not live in colonies, the eusocial varieties are the most common ones we see around St. Peters homes and businesses. These species each live in a nest or hive that is only populated by insects of their own colony, all with a specific pheromone scent that comes from the queen. She is the sole reproductive female in the colony, so her only job is to constantly produce more eggs to grow the colony’s numbers. The rest of the insects are female workers and male drones, but the females largely outnumber the males and live for much longer. The job of a worker is essentially to care for the nest, queen, and colony by any means necessary. They will tend to the eggs, forage for food, help the queen, build out and repair the nest, and defend their home from any potential predators. 

Most stinging pests are omnivores, so they eat nectar, pollen, and other insects. These pests are major pollinators because they have to get close enough to a flower’s nectaries to drink the sweet nectar, so their bodies naturally collect and distribute pollen along their flight path. That being said, this beneficial habit is not enough to justify leaving their nest alone when it is anywhere near your home. This entire group of insects is defensive and aggressive when threatened, so they become immediately agitated when anyone gets too close to their nest. While bees can only sting us once before they die, wasps and other stinging insects can sting us as many times as they want. Their stingers are not barbed, so they do not get stuck in our skin like bee stingers do every time. When a stinging insect detects a threat to their colony, they release an alarm pheromone that alerts the rest of their group to the same area and commands them to attack the “enemy” of their home. 

People usually experience mild symptoms when they are stung by these pests, and the pain level varies depending on the species. The common symptoms include swelling, itching, redness, and warmth on the site. However, some people are allergic to the venom that these insects inject into us. They experience dangerous symptoms with each sting and require immediate medical attention before the symptoms drastically worsen. Stinging pest control is essential for any home or business, especially if anyone is allergic. Pointe Pest Control takes the safety of our clients seriously, and we do not leave any stinging pest problem unsolved. Give us a call today to learn more about our efficient St. Peters services and clean, effective products!