Yellow Jackets In Kittitas County Can Be Hard To Get Rid Of

As one of the most aggressive stinging insects, you don’t want yellow jackets around your Kittitas County home, but how do you deal with them? Here’s what Kittitas County homeowners should know about what yellow jackets look like, what attracts them, the best way to get rid of them, and how pest control in Kittitas County can help you keep them away permanently.

Is This A Yellow Jacket?

Many types of wasps and bees can look similar at first glance, so how do you know if you’ve really got yellow jackets or some other type of stinging insect? Some of the most distinctive traits of a yellow jacket are its thin waist, hairless and patterned body with black and yellow coloring.

When it comes to spotting a yellow jacket nest, their nests don’t look any different from other wasps, but the location may differ. Rather than build their nests high in the air, yellow jackets often build their nests in open cavities in the ground, inside trees, or sometimes under structures.

Do yellow jackets bite? No, yellow jackets do not bite, but they can sting like any other wasp. Are yellow jackets aggressive? Yes, unfortunately, yellow jackets can be quite aggressive, which is another con to having them on your Kittitas County property. If you accidentally stumble upon a yellow jacket nest, these wasps may not take too kindly to your intrusion and are likely to attack in swarms.

Not only do yellow jackets like to sting in swarms, but they can also sting you repeatedly. Unlike some bees, a yellow jacket’s stinger doesn’t detach after they sting you for the first time. Because they can sting you in swarms, and there’s no limit to the number of times they can sting you, encountering yellow jackets or having them on your property can be extremely dangerous for anyone. Whether you’re completely healthy or have a wasp allergy, getting attacked by yellow jackets can end up warranting medical attention.

The Best Way To Get Rid Of Yellow Jackets

The best way to get rid of yellow jackets is by working with a professional pest control company like Prosite. Given how dangerous yellow jackets can be to encounter on your own, you should never try to deal with or get rid of a yellow jacket nest by yourself. If you suspect you may have yellow jackets or a yellow jacket nest on your Kittitas County property, the best and safest way to deal with these pests is by calling a residential pest control professional. Contact us today at Prosite to schedule an appointment or request a quote.

What Kind Of Things Attract Yellow Jackets?

While you may see the occasional yellow jacket fly onto your property, some things can attract them to stick around or even build a nest near your Kittitas County home, including:

• Any type of food source, including sweets and protein-rich foods 
• An abundance of other insects like caterpillars, flies, or spiders, which yellow jackets eat
• Overflowing trash and garbage cans with rotting food 
• Bright, flowering plants in your garden 
• Sweet foods as well as sweet scents, like flowering plants or sweet perfumes and colognes

Ultimately, yellow jackets will try to build a nest on any property that has two things: an abundant food source for them to live off of and a good location for their nest. 

How To Keep Yellow Jackets Away From Your Home For Good

What keeps yellow jackets away? We’ve already covered what attracts yellow jackets close to your home, but what keeps them away? Here’s how you can prevent these pests and get rid of yellow jackets in your house:

• If you have outdoor garbage cans or compost piles, you should keep a tight lid on them to prevent insects and yellow jackets from hovering around.
• Be careful about planting too many flowering plants, especially those with sweet scents, too close to your home.
• Try planting plants that repel yellow jackets, like cloves, geraniums, lemongrass, and rosemary.
• Avoid using too much sweet-smelling perfume or cologne when spending time outside, as this may lure in yellow jackets.
• If you have a picnic or cookout, make sure you clean up any food scraps that may be left behind.
• Fill in any open cavities in the ground where yellow jackets may build a nest in.
• Try using decoy wasp nests around your property, which may deter yellow jackets from building their own nests nearby.

If you do notice a yellow jacket nest near your home, you should always reach out to a pest control service like Prosite for help.