Stinging Insects

Insects such as bees, wasps, and fire ants use a stinger to defend themselves when they feel threatened. They may be beneficial or unwanted depending on where they are found. Some bees, paper wasps, and hornets may build nests in attics, walls, under eaves, and in tree branches.

Other insects such as velvet ants, yellowjackets, and some bees build their nests in the ground. Many of these insects feed on nectar or other sweet-smelling foods such as fallen fruit and soft drinks. Others may also eat meat, other insects, or oils. Social insects such as honey bees, hornets, yellowjackets, and paper wasps can build colonies containing thousands of workers. Solitary insects such as mud daubers and velvet ants may live alone or in small groups.

Control Tips:

• If you or someone else has been stung and are allergic or sensitive to stings, call the Poison Control Center (800-222-1222) or your healthcare provider right away.
• Identify your pest! Beneficial insects and unwanted species may look similar.
• Monitor for nest-building insects. Inspect trees, open structures, eaves, soffits, and holes in walls and structures.
• Knock down new nests early in the season.
• Remember that many bees and wasps nest on or in the ground. Always wear shoes when walking through your yard.
• Deter stinging insects by limiting food and water sources. Tightly seal garbage bins, get rid of soft drink cans and food containers, keep pet food covered or indoors, and dispose of fallen fruit.
• Lure traps can limit pest presence in the area. Be sure to keep lure traps away from patios, porches, or entrances to buildings and homes.
• Properly seal doors, windows, and cracks in your foundation, vents, and walls.
• Reduce debris in and around the yard to limit shelter for pests.
• Consider not planting flowering trees, shrubs, and flowers close to entrances of buildings and homes. They may attract stinging insects to the area.
• Consult a professional for nest removal.
• Always read and follow label directions for any pesticide product.

Learn more about:

Bees

Scorpions

Stinging Caterpillars

Wasps

If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email at npic@ace.orst.edu.

Stinging Insects

• Identify your pest. Some stinging insects are beneficial to lawns and gardens. Control techniques may not be needed.
• Monitor nest-building insects. Inspect trees, open structures, eaves, soffits, and holes in walls and structures.
• Knockdown new nests early in the season. Contact a professional if you are worried about getting stung.
• Deter insects by limiting food and water sources (such as garbage bins, fallen fruit, and soda cans).
• Lure traps can limit pest presence in the area.
• Properly seal doors, windows, and cracks in your foundation, vents, and walls.
• Reduce debris in and around the yard to limit shelter for pests.
• Consider not planting flowering trees, shrubs, and flowers close to entrances of buildings and homes. They may attract stinging insects to the area.
• If you are allergic or sensitive to stings, call the Poison Control Center (800-222-1222) or your health care provider right away.
• Treat at night when insects are less active.
• If you choose to use a pesticide, always follow the label. Try a lower toxicity product first.
• If you have a pesticide product in mind, have your label handy and click here for information about that product.

Bees

All bee species are considered to be beneficial as pollinators. Bees can live in many different locations, with many nesting below ground. They are attracted to different plants depending on the type of bee and where they live.

Additional Resources:

• Carpenter Bees - University of California Statewide IPM Program
• Bee and Wasp Stings - University of California Statewide IPM Program
• Bumble Bees – Utah State University Extension
• Honey Bee - Utah State University Extension
• Solitary/Ground Bees - Utah State University Extension
• Controlling Wasps, Bees and Hornets Around Your Home - University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension
• Wasps and Bees - University of Minnesota Extension

Scorpions

Scorpions are easy to identify with their pincers, stinger, and sectioned tail. They like to hide in enclosed areas, which can include shoes and boots. Their sting can cause swelling and severe pain, numbness, and convulsions.

Additional Resources:

• Scorpions - University of California Statewide IPM Program
• Scorpions - Utah State University Extension
• IPM Action Plan for Bark Scorpions - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Stinging Caterpillars

Often found in wooded areas, stinging caterpillars have hairs or hooks that are connected to sacs of poison. When touched, the hairs or hooks break and release the poison. This poison can cause mild to severe itching and pain, or intestinal issues.

See our webpage about other caterpillars for more information.

Additional Resources:

• Stinging Caterpillars - University of Kentucky
• Asps and Other Stinging Caterpillars - Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
• Stinging Caterpillars - Louisiana State University

Hornets and Yellowjackets

Hornets and yellowjackets are social wasps and can build nests with many members. Their nests may be placed in exposed areas or in burrows below ground. Yellowjackets and hornets can be very aggressive and, unlike bees, they can sting repeatedly. If threatened, they can also release an alarm signal telling others in the nest to attack.

Additional Resources:

• Wasp Integrated Pest Management (Infographic | Video) - CA Dept. of Pesticide Regulation
• How to Get Rid of Yellowjackets - Oregon State University Extension
• Wasp and Hornet Control - University of Idaho Extension
• Wasps and Bees - University of Minnesota Extension
• Wasps, Yellow Jackets, and Hornets - Utah State University
• Yellowjackets - University of California Statewide IPM Program
• Western Yellowjackets - Utah State University Extension
• Baldfaced Hornets - Iowa State University Extension
• Baldfaced Hornets - Utah State University Extension

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps often use roof eaves and overhangs to build nests and can overwinter in attics. Unlike hornets and yellowjackets, they’re not normally aggressive. However, they can defend their nest if threatened.

Additional Resources:

• Paper Wasps - Utah State University Extension
• IPM Action Plan for Paper Wasps - Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
• European Paper Wasp - Colorado State University

Velvet Ants

Velvet ants are actually wasps. They often live alone in nests built by other creatures and mostly feed on nectar and water. Velvet ants wander randomly on the ground and can produce a painful sting. Female velvet ants are wingless and are the only ones that can actually sting.

Additional Resources:

• Velvet Ant - North Carolina State Extension
• Velvet Ants - Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
• Velvet Ants (Cow Killer Ants) - Nebraska Extension, Lancaster County

County Extension Offices

Through its county agents, the Cooperative Extension Service gives individuals access to the resources at land-grant universities across the nation. These universities are centers for research in many subjects, including entomology (the study of insects) and agriculture. Each county within the United States has an Extension office, which is staffed with agents who work closely with university-based Extension specialists to deliver answers to your questions about gardening, agriculture, and pest control. You can find the phone number for your local county extension office in the local government section (often marked with blue pages) of your telephone directory or by clicking on the map below.

U.S. States:

AK | AL | AR | AZ | CA | CO | CT | DE | FL | GA | HI | IA | ID | IL | IN | KS | KY | LA | MA | MD | ME | MI | MN | MO | MS | MT | NC | ND | NE | NH | NJ | NM | NV | NY | OH | OK | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | TN | TX | UT | VA | VT | WA | WI | WV | WY | Washington D.C. |

U.S. Territories:

Puerto Rico | American Samoa | Guam | Northern Mariana Islands | Virgin Islands

Additional Resources:

• Stinging Insects 101 - National Pest Management Association
• Paper Wasps, Yellowjackets, and Other Stinging Wasps - Oklahoma State University Extension
• Mason, Potter and Mud Dauber Wasps - Utah State University Extension
• Identification Guide: Narrow-waisted Solitary Wasps - University of Kentucky Extension
• Pest Identification Guide: Stinging Insects - Utah State University Extension
• Non-Honey Bee Stinging Insects in North Carolina - North Carolina State University Extension
• Yellowjackets and Other Social Wasps - University of California Statewide IPM Program
• Stinging Insect IPM (video) - New York State IPM Program
• Stinging and Biting Pests - University of Georgia Extension
• Bee and Wasp Stings - University of California Statewide IPM Program
• Bee, wasp or hornet nest: Which one is it? - Michigan State University Extension