FMC Professional Solutions: Stinging Insect Tips

By: Dr. Reid Ipser

Ouch! Stinging insects are a nuisance and can be dangerous — even life-threatening — to those with allergies. Yet only a handful of the thousands of stinging insect species are pests to humans.

Stinging insects include the order Hymenoptera, which comprises wasps, bees and ants. Most stinging insect pests are social in behavior. In addition, most have a breeding female and single or multiple generations of non-breeding females, all of which have specific duties.

When pest management professionals (PMPs) get a customer call to treat a large nest builder, such as a yellowjacket, sometimes it is necessary to treat the nest at night with either dusts or liquids. However, if they’re careful, PMPs can treat during the day.

At times, liquid treatments do not reach the queen and the colony survives. Applying dust at the entrance of the nest will facilitate movement of product into the colony, eventually killing the queen.

Nests that are located in foundations or voids are more complicated to treat. Usually, PMPs will need to drill holes through the foundation to reach the nest and fill the void with foam containing an active ingredient designed to transfer from one insect to the next.

With any stinging insect account, the queen is the ultimate target. Application methods intended to eradicate the queen will prove to be more effective than methods targeting workers. When using aerosol treatments, spray the nest fully to immobilize individual workers as much as possible. Wait several minutes for a needed re-treatment.

Invasive pest species with large populations, such as red imported fire ants, can be treated with liquids and granules. But PMPs should keep in mind that eradication of such pests is not likely — and they should instead customize their treatment methods for continual population suppression.

Finally, beneficial species that pollinate plants, such as honey bees, can be harassed with water, forcing them to find another location. Always keep in mind that when the queen dies, the colony dies, and when the queen moves, so will the colony.