There are many types of bees and wasps, and the most common in central Pennsylvania are listed below. Both bees and wasps tend to be quite dangerous, so if you have a nest on your property please click the button below to schedule a an appointment immediately.
If you've noticed finger-sized holes in the wood on the outside of your house, you likely have a carpenter bee problem. These bees are about 1" long, and are mostly black in color, with a fuzzy, yellow thorax and smooth, black abdomen.
Carpenter bees chew through wood in order to make their nests. Female carpenter bees are the burrowers, and males are the protectors of the nest. Females have the ability to sting, but you will likely not encounter one because they are often inside their nests. Males do not have stingers, but act very aggressively toward humans in order to protect their nest.
Unfinished wood is the preferred wood of carpenter bees, and when cracks or holes exist in the wood, that makes it even more attractive to these wood-chewing bees. You can help to prevent carpenter bee problems by painting or staining wood on the outside of your home, and plugging up any existing holes.
If you've discovered these unwanted guests already dwelling in your house, there are a few other steps you can take to eradicate them. You can spray an insecticide that is specially formulated for carpenter bees inside the holes, use an insecticide dust in and around the holes, or plug the holes with dowels. You may also use a canister vacuum to vacuum the bees from the holes.
For more help with carpenter bees, call us or fill out the form on this site to book an appointment.
Yellowjackets are the most aggressive flying insects you are likely to encounter in central Pennsylvania. Often mistaken for bees, yellowjackets are actually wasps, and build nests in the ground or occasionally in manmade structures. Approximately 1/2" in length, yellowjackets live up to their name with alternating yellow and black stripes running the width of their bodies, and yellow or white markings on their faces.
Yellowjackets are known to sting even when unprovoked, and can sting several times. They are committed defenders of their nests, and can pose a serious health risk to humans who are allergic to their venom.
As they are dangerous insects, please contact us immediately if you suspect a yellowjacket problem in or around your house. We have proven methods of eradicating yellowjackets and safely removing their nests.
Paper wasps are similar in appearance to yellow jackets, and share many visual and behavioral similarities with the species. They get their name from their distinctive nest, which is shaped like an upside-down pear, and is constructed from dead wood mixed with saliva to create a papery material.
Unlike yellowjackets, paper wasps are much less likely to sting. However, they still valiantly defend their nests when predators are close, so remember to be on the lookout for their unique nests. If you see one of these nests, do not attempt to remove it yourself—please call us or fill out the form on this website to set up an appointment.
There are two types of hornets that are common in Pennsylvania—European hornets and bald-faced hornets. European hornets are almost twice the size of bald-faced hornets, between 3/4" and 1-1/2", and are black and orange in color. Bald-faced hornets are approximately 1/2" to 5/8" in length, and black and white in color.
Bald-faced hornets build nests similar to that of paper wasp nests, and European hornets build nests in existing spaces like tree stumps or wall cavities.
Hornets tend to be rather aggressive, like other types of wasps, and it is unsafe to attempt to eradicate them or remove their nest if you are untrained in methods of doing so. Please call us immediately or book an appointment to avoid harm and maintain safety on your property.
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