Yellow Jackets are a common pest in Meridian, especially in the summer and fall months. Just as a lot of us do not want summer to end, the yellow jackets don’t want summer to end either! This is because yellow jackets have reached their population growth at the end of the summer, meaning that the eggs that the yellow jackets have laid in September, are the only ones who will make it through the winter. Unfortunately because of this, yellow jackets are only going to get more aggressive towards the end of the summer to try and protect their eggs. Yellow jackets also have a sweet tooth, just like a lot of us humans do, and are attracted to fermented fruits like apples and grapes. It’s because of this that businesses by the Meridian Main Street Market, like First Interstate Bank or the Health and Wellness Store, might see an influx of yellow jackets while they have fruit outside! If you and your family like to have barbecues with fruity drinks, or have fruit trees that could ferment- call us, your Meridian yellow jacket exterminator!
Identification:
- Yellow jackets range in size from 1.25-1.8 cm long, depending on whether they are a queen, worker, or male
- Yellow jackets have black and yellow abdomens like bees do, but they have an exceedingly small ‘waist’
- Yellow jackets are hairless and have elongated wings
- While most yellow jackets are yellow and black, they can also have white or red markings
Dangers:
Yellow jackets can both sting and bite. Yellow jackets are more aggressive than other stinging insects such as wasps, hornets, or bees. As opposed to bees, yellow jackets do not have a barbed stinger which means that they can repeatedly sting it’s victim. Yellow jacket stings could cause a severe reaction if the victim is allergic to their venom.
Prevention:
A main way to prevent yellow jackets from flying around you would be to reduce their access to your food. A second tip to help prevent yellow jackets would be to plant things they don’t like, such as: lemongrass, thyme, and spearmint. Another way to prevent the issue from growing, would be to look for where yellow jackets may be building a nest. Yellow jackets nests can be well hidden inside a dense bush, or buried in the ground with only a small entrance hole, or located deep inside a wall void of a building. That’s why it’s important to look for the source of the yellow jackets before they get out of control.
Treatment:
Though it’s important to look for the source of the problem before it gets out of hand, yellow jackets can form their nest in tough-to-find places. It can also be difficult and potentially dangerous to trap them once you do find them. A yellow jacket problem can quickly become too much to handle on your own.
The professional technicians at Get Lost Pest Control are equipped with the right tools and safety equipment to properly diagnose and eliminate your yellow jacket infestations. Our no-contract programs offer flexibility, without locking you into an expensive service agreement. Call us, your Meridian yellow jacket exterminator to get a free quote and see how we can help you!
