It’s finally summertime. And while the way we’re treating our summers in 2020 is slightly different than it’s been in the past, we still have plenty of opportunities to safely and joyfully bask in the splendor of the summer months — the sunshine, the long, hot days, and the warm nights filled with chirping crickets, croaking frogs, and maybe the occasional firework or two. 

Of course, one of our favorite summertime activities is enjoying the outdoors — particularly when we can share an outdoor meal with our families. There’s usually something for everyone at a backyard barbecue, and we have a feeling that this summer is one where families and “quaranteams” are going to be indulging these small but sweet diversions more than ever. 

A life with pests means you’re never alone

As is often the case, however, when you’re trying to bask in the oasis that is your yard, you’re usually not alone. Most yards are filled with pests. Some are harmless and even beneficial for your garden, while some can be very bad for your plants and flowers. Then there are others — like the wasp, the hornet, and the yellow jacket — that pose a whole host of different problems. 

These stinging insects are not only a nuisance, particularly with the yellow jackets buzzing around your food and drink-filled picnic table, but can also cause real pain with their stings. In the case of those who are allergic to them, they can also pose a genuine threat to your well-being. 

The pest control service Washougal deserves

In order to keep everyone in and around your home (or your business) safe, it’s important to exterminate these stinging insects from your property and to properly dispose of their nests. 

Because they are distinctly different insects, we take different precautions and approaches in the way we treat these pests. Our mission is to show you the true value of comprehensive pest control services, but just as importantly, our aim is to give you the peace of mind you deserve as a home or business owner that your family or staff and clients are safe from stings and potential allergic reactions. Let’s start with the insect that has the most potential for harm, the yellow jacket. 

Yellow jacket extermination: What Washougal residents should know

Yellow jackets are aggressive. Very aggressive. Yellow jackets, compared to its cousins the paper wasp and the hornet, are far and away the most aggressive of the stinging insects. Unlike the other two examples, they are outwardly aggressive and will attack and sting people and animals simply if they get too near to the nests or as a warning to beware of. 

Additionally, unlike the sting of a bee which can occur only once, yellow jackets are capable of stinging repeatedly when wanting to inflict harm. 

These creatures, approximately one-half to one-inch long, are notable for their long, smooth bodies (as opposed to the fuzzy appearance of the bumblebee body) that are covered in distinct black and yellow stripes and markings. 

Yellow jacket nests can be incredibly hard to find. Yellow jackets are also unusual in where they choose to build their nests. They are extremely protective of their colonies, and are known to commonly build their nests in far, out of the way spaces like deep in thick bushes, in hollow logs or trees, or in abandoned, underground animal dens. The nest is often the size of a basketball, and can be home to as many as FOUR THOUSAND yellow jackets! 

In addition to their larvae, these nests are filled with three types of wasps — a queen, who possesses the sole responsibility of laying eggs; the males, who represent only a small portion of the colony and who exist only to mate with the queen (they will die shortly thereafter); and lastly, the workers, whose responsibilities are vast. Workers build the nest, as well as maintain and protect it. They also have the job of gathering food for the colony, and prefer sweet substances and even have a taste for meat, which they feed to their larvae. These are the stinging insects who you will commonly see buzzing around food and drink at an outdoor get together. 

Professional assistance is key in dealing with yellow jackets. Because their nests are hard to find and because they are unpredictably aggressive, we highly recommend that you seek professional assistance in the extermination and removal of these creatures. 

The yellow jacket extermination experts at Aspen Pest Control are licensed, insured, and have the right training, experience, and equipment needed to locate where your yellow jacket problem is coming from, and how to effectively remove its burden from your life — for good!

Wasps and Hornet extermination — We’ve got Washougal covered!

Wasps and hornets are terms that sometimes get used interchangeably, but the reality is that hornets are actually a type of wasp. What distinguishes them is largely their size and their colorings, as well as certain aspects of their diets. 

Paper wasps and hornets: a brief overview. Paper wasps are typically the smaller of the two, measuring, on average, up to one-inch in length. They have distinct brown-to-black and yellow markings (including their distinctive stripes) on their bodies, and most commonly consume other small insects, pollen and nectar, and even certain proteins. 

Hornets, on the other hand, are larger in size. These insects measure to about one-and-a-half inches in length, and, despite having similar markings as paper wasps and yellow jackets, can be found in a different array of colors, such as black, reddish brown, yellow, or even white. Like the paper wasp, they will eat other small insects, larvae, and the like, but are not normally attracted to sweets like nectar or pollen. 

Like the yellow jacket, paper wasp and hornet colonies also consist of queens, males, and workers (and, of course, larvae).

Where to find paper wasp and hornet’s nests. Their nests, both of which are built in the same basic manner, are the reason why the paper wasp has the name that it does. These creatures are able to build their homes through a fascinating process that finds them combining organic materials — such as dead dried wood or other plant matter — with their saliva. The combination of these items creates a substance not unlike the pulp used to make paper. These nests are usually found in aerial spaces, like eaves, under decking, on the underside of patio roofing, overhead piping, or on tree limbs that are out of harm’s way. 

Though paper wasps and hornets are less aggressive than the yellow jacket, they will attack if they feel that their nest is being threatened. It is incredibly important to seek professional guidance and assistance in the extermination and removal of stinging insects in order to keep yourself and your family safe, and to ensure the effective removal of these dangerous pests.

Washougal deserves effective stinging insect extermination — so that’s what Aspen Pest Control delivers!

Your friends and neighbors in the Washougal area have chosen Aspen Pest Control to take control of their wasp, hornet, and yellow jacket problems for years because we back up our services with a 100% service satisfaction guarantee. We provide hassle-free (and free-of-charge) consultations for our recommendations, can often provide quick service within two business days, and, most of all, we take the time to listen to our client’s needs so we can deliver them the services they truly need and deserve. 

If your home or business is in need of stinging insect extermination, call Aspen Pest Control today — we’re local, we’re trusted, and we’d love to serve you!