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(NAPS) – If you’ve ever failed to heed the warning, “Don’t bug them, and they won’t bug you,” and swatted at bees ( particularly honeybees) or wasps (most notably yellow jackets, hornets and paper wasps), you likely know how painful insect stings can be. But did you know that each year, stinging insects send more than 500,000 people to hospital emergency rooms and cause at least 40 deaths in the United States, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology ?
However, according to Orkin, Inc., flying and stinging insects are often considered vicious because they are misunderstood. Learning about their characteristics explains why they exist where humans live.
- These insects need carbohydrates, fats and proteins to survive. Therefore, they build colonies and nests where they have access to constant food sources, which can include areas near humans and human food.
- Flying and stinging insects are also attracted to heat and light. Therefore, like people, they are more active in the outdoors on warm sunny days.
“Bees and wasps are often just a hovering nuisance during warmer months, but they can inflict painful stings when disturbed,” says Frank Meek, board certified entomologist and technical director for Orkin, Inc.
“It’s important to exercise caution when coming across insects that fly and sting, as encounters can result
in pain and severe allergic reactions.”
According to Meek, controlling these pests often requires a pest control professional with appropriate equipment and protective clothing. Additionally, to make homes and yards less attractive to bees and
wasps:
• Keep food containers tightly wrapped and secured;
• Don’t leave food or discarded wrappers in the open;
• Cover soda cans. Yellow jackets often enter soda cans unseen;
• Empty garbage cans often and keep them away from your house;
• Fit screens and tighten seals properly on doors and windows; and
• Frequently monitor for nests, and call a licensed pest control professional immediately for treatment and removal.
People who experience severe reactions to insect stings, such as difficulty in breathing, infection at the site of the sting, or aggravated skin disorders, should consult a physician.
For more information, or to receive a free home inspection, call 1-800-800-ORKIN or visit www.Orkin.com.
