Honey Bee

European Paper
Wasp

European Paper Wasp - The Invasive European Paper Wasp is often mistaken for a Yellow Jacket. A closer look reveals it is larger than an average Yellow Jacket and has a much slimmer waist.

The nest of the European Paper Wasp may be built out in the open, however, this insect prefers to put its nest in cavities, such as rain gutters, down spouts, plumbing vents, bird houses, pipes, hollow logs or trees, and the like. We have seen many in mailboxes and car mirrors.

Because of its propensity to nest in enclosed areas, the European wasp has become a threat to cavity nesting birds in North America and a danger to humans who might come upon a hidden nest or reach into something with one in it.

The European Paper Wasp is more aggressive than our native species of wasps. The older species are being displaced and replaced by this new non-native species. They get an earlier start in Spring and have been known to overtake newly built nests and kill the native Queens.

Every attempt should be made to limit suitable nest sites. Repair holes in walls, caulk cracks in soffits and eaves, and screen vents and louvers. Nests made early in the season by founding queens are easier to eliminate before workers are produced.

Prevention of new nests is the key.

The colonies are annual.

Paper Wasps

Paper Wasps have a segmented body, a slower flight pattern and dangling legs. They are about 3/4" long and have a slim body.

Without a doubt the most painful "bee" sting doesn't even come from a bee at all. Wasp stings are far worse than bees. Bees are reluctant to sting because they can only sting once. Wasps sting repeatedly.

Paper Wasps prefer nesting in attics but will nest practically anywhere; in eave peaks, behind shutters, under deck railings, in gas grills, swing sets, mailboxes, and light fixtures. Their nests aren't very large and can be tucked into any little nook or cranny.

The colonies are annual.

Hornets

Bald Faced Hornets are certainly the physically strongest stinging insect that I encounter. It is the only one able to sting directly through my protective clothing or shoot venom into my eyes if it hits hard enough against the protective netting covering my face.

Hornets nests are entirely exterior; trees, shrubs, under decks, and high in the eaves. They construct a "football" or upside down teardrop-shaped nest from gray paper. Hornets, as do wasps and yellow jackets, actually make this paper themselves by chewing on tiny slivers of wood. The young are hatched and food is stored in the nest's center or "core" of hexagonal (or six-sided) cells. Hornet nests may contain thousands of insects which are extremely aggressive when disturbed.  The nests are often located out of reach and removal is best accomplished by a professional pest control firm. Unlike Bees, they can sting repeatedly.

 The colonies are annual.

Yellow Jackets

German Yellow Jackets are often mistaken for bees. They belong to a group of social wasps that cooperate to build and defend their queen and colony. 
They are also the univited guests at picnics who get into soda cans.

Aerial Yellow Jackets nest in trees, shrubs, under decks, or high in the eaves, their nest is very visible and easy to identify; a "football" or upside down teardrop-shaped nest constructed from gray paper with a single hole on the bottom.

Yellow Jackets actually make this paper themselves by chewing on tiny slivers of wood. The young are hatched and food is stored in the nest's center or "core" of hexagonal (or six-sided) cells. See picture at the left.
 

When Yellow Jackets nest inside a structure (such as your home) the nest is not at all visible. You'll see them flying in and out at some small gap, crack, or crevice on the exterior of your house. Note: Please do not seal this entrance hole shut.

You may even be able to hear yellow jackets inside. Listen to your wall or ceiling for a crackling, tickling, "rustling-leaves" sound. Those are yellow jackets going about the business of building their hive and slowly chewing through your plaster or drywall to expand their nests.

Ever been mowing the grass and been chased off your mower? Those were Ground Bees (actually a type of yellow jacket) that chased you in the house. They build hives two inches to two feet underground often using abandoned rodent burrows. They are much smaller than other yellow jackets but will aggressively defend their home.

Unlike a honeybee, which stings only once, a yellow jacket can sting repeatedly.

The colonies are annual.

Mud Dauber

Mud Dauber wasps are not social wasps like Paper wasps. They are in a different family.

The adult insect puts a paralyzed spider or worm in each mud cells built to enclose eggs, larvae and pupae. The mud cells form long clay tubes or large lumps.

The wasps are slender; they are shiny black or brown, orange or yellow, with black markings. Many have long slender thread waists.

Like Carpenter bees there is no protective worker caste; these wasps are not aggressive; they will not sting unless pressed or handled, however, they do sting repeatedly. 

Mud Daubers place their mud nests in protected places like electric motors, sheds, attics, against house siding and under porch ceilings. The nests are long tubelike structures. They do like soffits and hidden places as well.

Bumble Bee

Bumble Bees, as social insects, live in colonies. Each spring a queen that has survived over wintering will find a suitable nesting site and establish her colony.

The bumble bee colony grows larger over the summer and is usually discovered while gardening or mowing the lawn. The bumble bees will attack to defend their nest, so they are considered a health concern. They are pollinators and should only be exterminated if in an undesirable location. Unfortunately, they often build their nests under concrete by patios and steps. In that case extermination is the only option.Bumble Bees are reluctant to sting, however, they will vigorously defend their nest.

Often confused with carpenter bees, bumble bees are characterized by the hairiness of the abdomen (carpenter bees have a smooth abdomen).

Carpenter Bee

Carpenter Bee In the late-spring and early summer, homeowners often notice large, black bees hovering around the outside of their homes. These are probably Carpenter Bees searching for mates and favorable sites to construct their nests. Male carpenter bees are quite aggressive, often hovering in front of people who are around the nests. The males are quite harmless, however, since they lack stingers. Female carpenter bees can inflict a painful sting but seldom will unless they are handled or molested.

Carpenter bees resemble bumble bees, but the upper surface of their abdomen is bare and shiny black; bumble bees have a hairy abdomen with at least some yellow markings. Carpenter Bees can be observed around and under eaves, decks, breezeways, etc. They drill holes in the exterior of the wood to lay eggs.

Mining Bees

Mining Bees resemble the typical honeybee in shape and size. Bodies are colored dark with fine light brown or yellow hairs.  Andrenid bees have chewing-lapping mouthparts used to manipulate and collect flower products such as nectar and pollen. The protruding 'lapping' mouthpart is shorter in mining bees than honeybees giving them the common name of short-tongued bees.

Unlike honeybees, mining bees are solitary and do not form large, socially organized nests. As their name suggests, mining bees dig single nests in the soil. In spring, adult bees emerge, mate and begin nest preparation. Bees select exposed, well-drained soils to nest in such as banks, hills and road cut-outs. Although the bees are solitary nesters, they often construct nests in large numbers next to one another at a given nesting site. Each female mines out a cylindrical hole to raise offspring. The nest consists of a vertical tunnel and side cells along side the tunnel for hatching eggs. Foraging activity generally lessens during the summer months and the bees become less noticeable. Mature larvae pupate and transform in adults during the late summer. Adults spend the winter inside the burrow and will emerge the following spring to start the whole cycle over.

When bees nest together in large numbers, they can be quite ominous, especially during mating and foraging seasons. Mining bees can sting only once and they are not easily provoked unless you run over their nest with a lawnmower.

Asian Beetles

Cluster Fly

Box Elder Bugs