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Stark-Billings County |
Extension Spotlites
August 27, 2009
Hornet Season Is Here!
Hornets (or yellow jackets) belong to the family Vespidae. All yellow jackets sting and their stinging behavior is considered a defensive reaction when the colony is threatened. They can sting more than once because their stinger stays with the insect. Yellow jackets are more aggressive during August into September and more likely to sting people. Although yellow jackets are actually a beneficial insect feeding on other insects, they often become a pest problem when nests are located near homes, schools, picnic areas, or playgrounds. Pest control is often warranted.
Vespid wasps are active outside the nest during the daylight hours. Nearly the entire colony is in the nest during the evening and night-time hours. Commercially produced "wasp and hornet" aerosol sprays are quite effective and economical for ridding the yard of wasps. These aerosol sprays are designed to squirt a stream of insecticide 8-15 feet, allowing you to treat the nest from a distance. Treatment should be directed at the nest and applied at dusk, when the wasp have returned to their nest and are quiet for the night. Direct a steady spray on the nest or into the opening for 5-10 seconds and then get away for your own protection.
Check to see if there is wasp activity the nest day; re-treat if necessary. If there is no wasp activity, nests should be removed to avoid attracting dermestid beetle infestations at some later time and to keep wasp pupae from possibly reestablishing the nest.
If dealing with yellow jacket nests in structures like homes, the nest entrance should never be plugged from the outside. If constrained yellow jacket workers cannot escape to the outside, they may locate a way to escape toward the inside of the home or structure, creating possible stinging threat for people inside.
Yellow jacket nests become an important source of carpet and other dermestid beetle infestations in the home, so the nest should be removed whenever possible. When outside enjoying your picnic, avoid wearing bright colors and perfumes which are attractive to hornets and yellow jackets.
For more information contact:
Kurt Froelich,
Extension Agent
NDSU Extension Service
Stark-Billings County
1340 W. Villard St.
Dickinson ND 58601-4646
(701) 456-7665