Summer Stingers: What Kind of Wasps Are Bothering You in Jacksonville?

It’s summertime in Jacksonville, and that means the sun is blazing hot, the beach is crowded, and wasps are everywhere. If you’ve noticed an increase in wasp activity around your Jacksonville yard, you’re not alone. It’s the time of year when stinging insects are most active. 

Knowing what kinds of wasps are likely to show up on your property, where they’ll build their nests, how to prevent them, and what to do if you find a nest can help you avoid painful and potentially dangerous stings. Find out more about the kinds of wasps that are bothering you around your Jacksonville property this summer.

Why Are Wasps So Active in Summer?

Wasps can survive most of the year in Jacksonville but are most active in the summer. This is mainly due to their life cycle following a predictable pattern. The queens begin to build their nests and lay eggs in the spring. As the weather warms up, the colony grows through the summer, with peak activity and populations occurring in late summer and early fall.

The Types of Wasps in Jacksonville

Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets are wasps that typically build their nests in wall voids or holes in the ground. They have black and yellow striped markings, black antennae, and short legs. Yellow jackets are known for their aggressive behavior. They are very territorial and will not hesitate to sting you if they feel that their nest is being threatened.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps build umbrella-shaped, paper-like nests high off the ground. These nests can often be found hanging from tree branches or the eaves of your home. They have long brown and yellow bodies, with light-colored antennae and long legs. Although not aggressive, paper wasps can sting and should be avoided.

Bald-Faced Hornets

Like yellow jackets, bald-faced hornets often build their nests in wall voids or tree stumps. These pests have black and white markings, which makes it easier to tell them apart from other wasp species. Although less common in Florida, bald-faced hornet populations are increasing in the Jacksonville area. Because they are an aggressive species known for their stings, it’s important to avoid them.

How to Prevent Wasps Around Your Jacksonville Property

The best time to prevent wasps from nesting on your property is early spring when they are just starting to build their nests. However, even if it’s mid-summer, there are still things you can do to make your property less attractive to wasps of all species. By taking these preventative measures, you’ll make it less likely to see wasps buzzing around your Jacksonville yard.

• Store outdoor garbage bins at least 20 feet away from your house and make sure they have tightly-fitting lids.
• Clean up well after outdoor meals so no food scraps are left behind.
• Do not leave pet food outdoors.
• Clean up fallen fruit from trees regularly.
• Seal holes, cracks, and other openings around the exterior of your house so wasps can’t get inside to build nests.
• Cut back foliage around the perimeter of your house.
• Consider moving flowering plants away from areas where you spend the most time outdoors.
• Repair leaking pipes and spigots.
• Address other moisture issues around your property.

What to Do If You Spot a Nest

If you find a wasp nest on your property, leave it alone. Although many homeowners want to try to get rid of wasp nests on their own, it can be very dangerous to do so, for a few reasons.

• First, nests are often high off the ground, putting you at risk for a fall.
• Second, if you approach a nest, the wasps inside and around it will perceive you as a threat, leaving you open to dozens of painful stings.
• Third, many over-the-counter sprays don’t work well, meaning you could get injured or stung and not even eliminate the colony.

Instead of risking your safety, contact the professionals at Lindsey Pest Services for help. We will remove the wasp nest for you, eliminating your wasp problem and keeping you safe in the process.

How Lindsey Pest Services Can Help

At Lindsey Pest Services, we take your wasp problems seriously. We’ll visit your property at either dawn or dusk when it is safest for your family members and other people in your neighborhood. We take your safety seriously!

Once we’ve removed the nest, we’ll return to your property to inspect for any stragglers. This ensures no new nests are built on your property. For effective wasp control in Jacksonville, or to protect your home from stinging insects and other house-infesting pests, contact Lindsey Pest Services today!