Of the various types of wasps, yellow jackets have one of the fiercest reputations. Thoughts of them usually conjure mental images of airborne hostility and repeated painful stings. [Read more…]
Great Black Wasps on Long Island
It’s like something from a horror movie, but you can’t look away. A giant black insect flies through the air with a paralyzed cicada in its jaws. It lands in the dirt and begins to stuff the creature into a hole in the ground, where hungry larvae will consume it while it’s still alive. No, you didn’t walk onto a creepy kaiju movie set. It’s just a great black wasp, going about its daily business.
Are Great Black Wasps Dangerous?
Great black wasps may be fearsome looking, but they typically aren’t aggressive toward humans. Unlike yellow jackets and other social wasps, great black wasps are solitary and don’t have a large colony to defend – or join them in an attack. A female great black wasp can sting, but she will only do so if provoked or her nest is threatened.
Great black wasp stings do happen, but they rarely cause more than moderate pain at the site of the sting. As with other insect stings, some individuals may have an allergic reaction, ranging from redness and swelling around the sting to anaphylaxis, which constitutes a medical emergency. If you are stung by a wasp and experience severe swelling of the face, lips, or throat, hives, dizziness, breathing problems, or a weak pulse, administer an EpiPen, and call 911 immediately.
What Is The Difference Between A Mud Dauber And A Wasp?
With so many species of wasps calling Long Island home, it’s easy to confuse great black wasps with mud daubers. They’re both solitary wasps that only sting when provoked, but they are pretty different in where they nest and what they eat.
Mud daubers get their name, as you might expect because they use mud to build their nests. Long Island hosts three species of mud dauber wasps – the organ-pipe mud dauber, the black and yellow mud dauber, and the metallic blue mud dauber.
Like the great black wasp, mud daubers are large, with the females averaging between 1.5-2 inches long. Unlike the great black wasp, which is monochromatic, dauber species vary in color.
Mud daubers build their nests above ground, under eaves, on walls, or other flat surfaces. Female daubers collect mud and form it into either a group of cylindrical shapes (organ-pipe daubers) or a smooth, fist-sized nest (black and yellow daubers). Blue daubers don’t build their nests; they take over abandoned nests formerly used by their black and yellow cousins.
Great black wasp females build their nests underground. They use their mouth and legs to dig a tunnel about a foot below ground where they will nest, lay their eggs, and feed their larvae.
Mud daubers and great black wasps consume insects but choose very different prey. Mud daubers are spider hunters, whereas great black wasps eat crickets, katydids, and grasshoppers. Like most wasps, both paralyze their prey with venom, preserving it for up to a week so it can be eaten slowly while still alive.
What Wasps Are On Long Island?
Long Island is home to a variety of wasp species, solitary, burrowing wasps, and nesting, colony-based wasps that often swarm in large groups. In addition to the great black wasp, mud dauber wasps and cicada killer wasps are solitary insects that build underground nests and rarely attack unless provoked.
Yellow jackets, paper wasps, and European paper wasps are “social” wasps that nest in large colonies. Of these, the yellow jacket is the most aggressive, repeatedly stinging when threatened.
Twin Forks Pest Control® Is Your Wasp Removal Professional
Unless someone in your household has a wasp allergy, finding the occasional great black wasp on your property probably isn’t an issue. If allergies are a factor, or if you see colony-based wasps like yellow jackets or paper wasps, the time to take action is now. Because of some wasp species’ ability to attack repeatedly and en masse, it’s highly recommended that you leave removal to an experienced professional.
Contact. Twin Forks Pest Control® today for an appointment to discuss wasp removal and all your pest control needs. Southampton residents please call (631) 287-9020. Easthampton residents, please call (631) 324-9020. Southold residents, please call (631) 298-0500.
Interesting Facts About Paper Wasps
As we enter the hot summer months, we welcome the return of insects, pollinators, and pests.
The most common paper wasp in the Northeast is the European paper wasp. They are more slender than yellow jackets, have some combination of black and yellow, brown and yellow, or black and brown striping, and have a smooth exoskeleton as opposed to a bee’s more fuzzy appearance. [Read more…]
7 Carpenter Bee Prevention Tips
One of the summer’s lazy pleasures is watching bees buzzing in your yard, going about their business. Not so pleasurable is finding out that some of these busy bees are busy damaging your home.
Carpenter bees are a common summertime sight on Eastern Long Island and sometimes a significant headache for homeowners. These destructive pests can do a shocking amount of damage to your home and other wood structures. [Read more…]
7 Fun Facts About Squirrels
Squirrels are the most visible rodent on Long Island and arguably, the cutest. Or at least they’re cute until they get into your attic or walls. Still, there’s much more to these bushy-tailed rodents than you might think.
Interesting Facts about Squirrels
- While the most common Long Island squirrel is the grey squirrel, and black squirrels are the least common, worldwide, there are 280 species of squirrel – except in Australia. The continent down under doesn’t have any native squirrels.
- Squirrels can run down a tree headfirst because they can turn their ankles 180 degrees, and their back legs are double-jointed.
- The smallest squirrel species is the African pygmy squirrel, which typically measures five inches from nose to tail.
- On the other end of the size spectrum is the Indian giant squirrel at three feet long.
- Like other rodents, a squirrel’s four front teeth never cease growing. Their teeth growth is managed by constantly gnawing.
- People often think squirrels are frivolous because of the way they run back and forth without what seems like any logic. It’s a way of staying safe and evading birds of prey and other predators because it’s unclear what direction they’re heading.
- When you see squirrels burying food, it’s not always genuine. They pretend to bury food to trick would-be thieves and protect their real winter stash.
Does Long Island Have Flying Squirrels?
Yes, the Southern flying squirrel lives on Long Island, and it’s one of only two flying squirrel species native to North America. Asia has 40 native flying squirrel species, and there are only 43 species worldwide.
Despite the name, flying squirrels don’t fly as bees or birds do. Instead, they glide using a membrane between their limbs that can act as a parachute.
Why Do Squirrels Flick Their Tails?
Squirrels flick their tails to send information to other squirrels. Twitching their tails in specific ways signals possible danger.
Trust Twin Forks Pest Control® to Solve Squirrel Problems
Squirrels can be difficult to remove, whether they’re in your attic or climbing in your chimney. Twin Forks Pest Control® has more than 20 years of experience resolving squirrel infestations. Our trained experts will rid your property of these unwanted pests. Get a free estimate by calling (631) 287-9020 if you’re in Southampton, (631) 324-9020 if you’re in Easthampton, or (631) 298-0500 if you’re in Southold.
Prepare Your Property Against Pests This Spring
Every spring, homeowners wonder, what is the best defense against pests? It can seem daunting, but the good news is that a few steps, which also provide additional benefits, will help prevent pests from infesting your home and property.
How Can You Stop Pests Entering Your Home?
Ultimately, preventing pests boils down to a two-pronged approach. It would be best to have both outdoor pest control methods and indoor.
- Make an outdoor examination. If the weather is warm, start with the outside.
- Walk around to look for debris that blew into your yard during the winter, especially in the far corners where they could collect along a fence.
- Check the foundation of your house and check for cracks.
- Look for damaged or wet wood that could attract insects to serve as a food source or entry point.
- Check to see if water is pooling anywhere or if the grading around your house has shifted.
- Look at exterior faucets, conduits, and pipes.
- Inspect window screens.
- Tidy the outside.
- Trim trees and shrubs.
- Position the woodpile properly.
- Switch to yellow bug lights.
- Clean the gutters
- Avoid pet/pest problems.
Proper grading ensures that water will flow away from the dwelling instead of pooling against the foundation, leading to cracks, wet basements, or insect infestations. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water, so get rid of any puddles or pools.
Gaps around these items can form or widen, allowing pests and vermin to enter your home, using the pipes as a sort of through-way. Use chalk to seal the gaps or pack with steel wool. Mice can’t chew through steel wool.
While doing your exterior inspection, check window and door screens for damage or holes. Check them from the inside for best results because small holes might only be visible through a closer look than you can get from the outside. A variety of insects can get through even the tiniest of tears.
After the inventory, start bagging any leaves that fell late in the season and any papers or trash. Collect broken branches and bundle them for garbage or as fireplace kindling.
Bushes and tree branches that touch the house can help insects find their way into your home. Check the species of your trees and bushes for when to cut them back but make sure to trim them all at least once a year.
Wood piles can attract termites and carpenter ants. If you have a fireplace, ensure the woodpile is at least 50 feet from the house, and the logs are stored off the ground.
The white light from typical outdoor bulbs attracts clouds of insects because of the light’s wavelength and temperature. Swap them for yellow “bug lights,” which use a less appealing part of the spectrum for insects. Motion sensor lights closest to the doors will further discourage insects from hanging around there and ducking inside when the door is open.
Backed-up rain gutters can lead to structural damage that pests can get inside. Mosquitoes can also lay eggs in water pooled in clogged gutters.
Pet doors don’t just let in your dog or cat; rodents and insects can also use the entry. Unless necessary, avoid feeding pets outside since the food will attract pests and vermin. If you have to feed pets outside, take in any leftovers as soon as they’re finished.
Remember that indoor/outdoor pets are more prone to picking up fleas, ticks, and mites. If you can’t switch them to indoor-only, consult with your veterinarian on the best options to protect your pets from such parasites.
Indoor Pest Control Methods
Protecting your property from pests isn’t solely an outdoor endeavor. Steps you take indoors will also make a difference. You can do these on rainy days or when it’s still chilly instead of waiting for good weather.
- Spring clean.
- Do a clothing check.
- Do the dishes every day.
- Book pest treatments.
Season changes are a great time for the in-depth cleaning that’s often neglected when busy. It deters insects and helps you spot any that might have already made their way inside. Clutter clearing deprives them of places to hide, too.
Preventing pests means depriving them of food, water, and shelter. When swapping winter clothing for summer, make sure everything is clean before putting it away since that untreated food stain could attract bugs.
Dirty dishes are food magnets for pests, and soaking doesn’t change that. The only thing worse than dirty dishes in a sink for attracting pests is a big pile of dirty dishes sitting there for days.
Termites love Long Island’s sandy soil, so a yearly termite inspection and treatment is essential. Tick treatments are also necessary, especially for Suffolk County residents. If your property is near woods or grasslands or has deer visits, tick treatment is essential to avoid Lyme disease.
Preventing Pests Is Our Only Business
The Twin Forks Pest Control® team is the expert in pest removal methods and preventing the return of pests. We have provided pest control for homeowners across the Eastern Long Island area for more than 20 years. Request a free estimate or call (631) 287-9020 if you’re in the Southampton area, (631) 324-9020 if you’re in the East Hampton area, or (631) 298-0500 if you’re in the Southold area.
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