Why Do Yellow Jackets Seem More Aggressive at the End of the Summer Season?

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.

Why Are Yellow Jackets So Aggressive?

Stepping in a yellow jacket ground nest can be flat-out dangerous. Yellow jackets are social insects, so they instinctively collaborate for the good of the nest. Unfortunately for those who encounter them, that includes defending the nest. Not only will yellow jackets chase you for yards, if not further, but they can also sometimes swarm, leaving you pursued by dozens to hundreds of them. If you are allergic or suffer multiple stings from encountering a swarm, there is the possibility of anaphylactic shock and possibly even death.

Are Yellow Jackets Aggressive to Humans?

Yes, they are highly aggressive. Yellow jackets will not only attack you but also chase you away, stinging you the whole time. Medicine.net notes that an average of 100 people per year die from reactions to yellow jacket stings.

Why Are Yellow Jackets Aggressive in the Fall?

There are a few factors, starting with dwindling food sources. As cold weather starts to arrive and gardens are less productive, the amount of available food plummets, and just like humans, yellow jackets get more surly when hungry. Combine this with population pressures because their colony has reached the maximum level, and you get some angry insects. Queens usually build their nests in late spring / early summer, and the rest of the time until fall is consumed by a breeding cycle that can sometimes produce up to 5,000 yellow jackets. That is certainly a lot of mouths to feed on short rations.

How Do You Get Rid of Aggressive Yellow Jackets?

While folklore suggests several remedies, not to mention traps and such on hardware store shelves, it is usually best to call in a professional. If you smash yellow jackets, they release a pheromone that alerts their nest, summoning more of them. Their stings are excruciating, and since their stingers aren’t barbed like a bee’s, they can sting you repeatedly. Professionals have the means to effectively and safely get rid of yellow jackets.

Let Twin Forks Pest Control® Eliminate Your Wasp Issues!

With more than two decades of experience dealing with wasp and yellow jacket infestations, the Twin Forks Pest Control® team is the leading choice for Eastern Long Island. Yellow jackets are no joke, so let Twin Forks Pest Control® risk the stings, so you don’t have to. Start by using our free estimate form so we can help you make an informed decision, or give us a call at (631) 287-9020 in Southampton), (631) 324-9020 in East Hampton, or (631) 298-0500 in Southold.