The first instinct many have when seeing a large, flying insect approaching at a fast speed is to get away – this is crucial when you find yourself dealing with wasps and hornets! While they do control insect populations in gardens, wasps can also be a major pain, both literally and figuratively. If you notice an increased amount of hornet activity or stumble across a nest, here is some information on how to handle the pests.

What Are Hornets?

Arizona is home to several types of wasps including:  yellow jackets, mud daubers, and paper wasps.  Hornets are a species of wasp that, like other wasps, are aggressive and give painful stings when provoked. They are considerably larger than regular wasps, sometimes growing up to 3” in length! With a stinger made for repeated stabs in self-defence, hornets actually tend to be less aggressive compared to other wasps. Their bodies are slim, do not have any hair, and are usually one of the following color combinations:  black & white, black & yellow, or yellow & brown. 

How Dangerous Are Hornets?

Typically, hornets will only attack when provoked, so you’re less likely to be stung by a random hornet flying about than those guarding their home nest. That said, the venom stored inside a hornet stinger is incredibly dangerous to those with allergies to bees; hornet stings are capable of causing the victim to fall into anaphylactic shock in worst case scenarios. Unfortunately, a sting is terribly painful, even if anaphylactic shock doesn’t occur.

If you’ve been stung, it’s better to get medical help right away. It’s much better to be safe than sorry when it comes to anaphylactic shock.

How To Handle A Nest

Some people will go out to a nest prepared to do battle with a shovel, bug spray, and a heavy jacket, ready to strike the nest and run. Unfortunately, this isn’t a good plan – you risk suffering from a considerable number of hornet stings, which could be fatal, without the guarantee of removing the source. 

To cut right to the chase:  Don’t risk the health and safety of your own household to handle a wasp problem. Let the professionals handle hornet nests for you with the proper protective gear and removal equipment. Here at Arizona Organic Pest & Termite Control, our team is fully trained and prepared to handle all types of wasps. Call us today for an appointment and a customized plan to rid your home of unwanted pests.