Stinging Insects
Most stinging insects in our area belong to the family Vespidae, which includes wasps and hornets. Vespids vary in their degree of aggression; some are rather passive and will seldom sting unless provoked, whereas others seem willing to sting you just for looking at them funny.
Insect stings are not only painful; in some cases, they can be lethal. Individuals who are allergic to stings may be killed if they are stung. Even individuals who are not highly allergic may also experience serious, perhaps life-threatening reactions if they are stung by a large number of insects at the same time.
Control of wasps and hornets can be both complex and dangerous. In some cases, nests may be located deep within the structural voids of a building, far from the entrance holes. It often takes a pro to figure out exactly where the nest is, and how best to handle it.
But even when the nest is obvious, such as in the case of a hornets' nest hanging from a tree, control of stinging insects can be fraught with danger. Ask any exterminator about his worst hornet job; you'll likely hear a story that you won't soon forget.
Representative Varieties of Stinging Insects in the Boston Area
Yellow Jackets
Yellow Jackets are among the most common stinging insects affecting our area. About 1/2 to 3/4 inch in length, yellow jacket wasps tends to build their nests in protected void areas such as hollow trees or within structural voids of buildings. At times, they will also build nests in the ground.
Yellow jackets can be quite aggressive and will often attack when approached. They also often build their nests in a structural void of a building, several feet or yards from the entrance hole, further complicating control efforts.
Baldfaced Hornets
Baldfaced hornets are among the most aggressive of all wasps. At about 3/4 of an inch to an inch in length, they are stocky and are excellent flyers. The are black in color, with prominent white or pale yellow markings. Hornets often will attack anyone who gets too close to their nest. Their stings are extremely painful and can trigger anaphylactic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Hornets build oval-shaped paper nests that commonly are suspended from tree limbs or other similar perches. On occasion, they will build nests inside buildings, especially in attics or other unoccupied areas. The nests can be quite large. The entrance hole is usually located at or toward the bottom of the nest. Typically, two hornets remain outside the nest hole acting as "sentries." When alarmed, they alert the other members, who will attack en masse. This can result in a person's receiving hundreds of painful, potentially harmful stings at one time.
Paper Wasps
The term "paper wasps" actually refers to a group of different wasp species who build paper nests. Often, these can be found under porch ceilings, attached to windows frames, under the eaves of houses, and under the drip edges of the roof. Some species will fly up under roof shingles and construct nests between the insulation and the roof itself. Paper wasps vary widely in their degree of aggression, their habits, their life cycles, and the most effective methods of control.
