It’s that time of year again – unwelcome pests are putting a stinger in everyone’s fun. Stinging insects are most active in the summer and early fall when their nest populations exceed 60,000. Some 500,000 people are sent to the hospital emergency room every year due to stings from insects such as yellow jackets, honeybees, paper wasps, hornets and fire ants. (Earlier this week, an Arizona man died after being stung more than 300 times by Africanized bees while repairing a roof with his father.)
Stinging insects pose a major health concern for families around the country, and these are the months when you are at the greatest risk. It is important to take certain precautions to ensure that you are not their next victim.
The experts here at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) offer pest management professionals numerous tips they can share with their customers to prevent stings.
- Hire a trained pest professional to destroy hives and nests around the home.
- Eliminate standing water and other sources of moisture in or around the home.
- Keep trashcans covered and sealed.
- When dining outside, keep food covered until ready to eat.
- If approached by a stinging insect, remain calm and quiet. Avoid swaying or swinging, as this may provoke an attack.
- Avoid wearing dark colors and floral prints, loose-fitting garments, open-toe shoes and sweet-smelling perfumes or colognes.
A licensed pest professional will be able to use an integrated pest management approach around the home to inspect, treat and keep stinging insects at bay while giving homeowners the piece of mind they need to enjoy their backyards while the warmer temperatures stick around.
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