Upstate New York is home to a myriad of stinging insects. While most are beneficial pollinators, they can also be a nuisance or threat when they become aggressive or nest near humans.
The most common stinging insects are the honey bee, carpenter bee, bumble bee, yellow jacket, hornet and paper wasp. Many unfriendly stinging insects are characterized by a slender midsection and larger thorax and abdomen. Some will only attack if provoked, but others are more territorial and aggressive.
Facts about common stinging insects:
- Honey bee colonies may contain as many as 80,000 insects.
- Carpenter bees bore into wood instead of building nests and while they do sting, their main threat is the structural damage they cause.
- Bumble bees are generally not aggressive but will sting and may become a nuisance if nesting near your home.
- Yellow jacket nests can be as large as basketballs and are located near the ground or hanging in vegetation, and they will sting if threatened.
- Paper wasp nests are usually found in trees, eaves, and door frames. A sting is likely if you are near the nest and they feel threatened.
If you find a stinging insect nest around your home or business, please contact us for a free inspection. We offer residential pest control and commercial pest control for the greater Capital District area including Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga and Rensselaer Counties.