Some stinging insects including bees and yellowjackets are beneficial to our environment, but many people disagree because of the powerful punch that comes with their ability to sting.

"There is a distinct difference between honeybees and yellowjackets and it is important for people to understand each species and their habits before they try to take the nest head on," said Ron Henderson owner of Country Boy Pest Control, a Winter Haven, FL pest control company. 

Yellowjackets and bees live in colonies ruled by a queen and maintained by workers, but they look and behave differently.

Honeybees are fuzzy with orange or brown bands around their bodies. These bees make honey and they are a critical component to the pollination of one third of the food we eat. A colony of bees can last for more than a year and prefers to make their nests above the ground on top branches. A bee’s sting is barbed and stays embedded in the skin. Once the bee has stung, it will die shortly after, as the stinger can pull out parts of their internal organs. 

The biggest concern for people regarding bees is the cross hybridization of the Africanized honeybees and the European honeybees. They combine the best and worst of both species. The African honeybees are more aggressive and can swarm to attack even if unprovoked.

"If you think you are being attacked by the African honeybee, do not jump in water," said Henderson, whose pest control company also serves the Lakeland area. "They will wait for you to come out. The reason they are called killer bees is because they all attack at once and react 10 times faster than European bees. They will pursue a victim for 300 to 400 meters and then give up, so keep running away from them."

Yellowjackets are bright yellow in color with no hair covering their bodies, making them appear shiny. Yellowjackets feed on plant and animal matter and their nests, either above or below ground, only last for a year. Yellowjackets tend to be more aggressive, as they swarm to defend their colony and the slightest disturbance from even a lawn mower can set them off.  Their stingers are barbless and once they remove their stinger from the wound the venom will spread, but they will not die, which means they can sting repeatedly.  

"I don't recommend people trying to get rid of the nest themselves unless they have protective clothing to hide under," the outdoor pest professional said. "And since the clothing can cost upward of $100, the safest and most affordable option is to hire a professional to remove the nest."

Learn More

For more information about Country Boy Pest Control, Inc. visit their website at www.countryboypestcontrol.com or call 863-293-7331.

About Us

Country Boy Pest Control is a Winter Haven lawn care and pest control company that has provided full-service pest control and lawn management services to residential and commercial properties around Polk County and Highlands County since 1990.