If you’ve ever noticed yellowjackets becoming much more active -- and much more aggressive -- as summer starts to wind down, you’re not imagining it. Late summer is often the time when homeowners are most likely to encounter these stinging insects around patios, decks, garbage cans, outdoor kitchens, and other areas where people gather.
The reason comes down to a combination of colony growth, changing food availability, and the natural life cycle of yellowjackets. By late summer, yellowjacket colonies can reach their peak population sizes. At the same time, natural sources of protein and sugar may become less abundant, causing workers to search more actively for alternative food sources. Unfortunately for homeowners, that can mean yellowjackets increasingly show up around homes and outdoor activities.
Yellowjackets play an important role in the environment. They prey on many insects, including caterpillars and other pests, making them valuable predators. They also feed on sugary substances and can act as pollinators while visiting flowers and other sources of carbohydrates.
The problem begins when their search for food and their need to defend the colony brings them into close contact with people.
Yellowjackets can build nests in a variety of locations, depending on the species. Some construct their paper nests underground, while others build them in wall voids, attics, crawl spaces, trees, shrubs, or other protected areas around a property.
As the season progresses, the colony can grow substantially.
Late summer is when yellowjacket colonies can reach their peak population sizes. A nest that started with a single queen in the spring may now contain hundreds or, in some cases, thousands of workers. With more yellowjackets actively foraging and defending the nest, encounters become much more likely.
As late summer progresses, some natural sources of protein and sugar begin to become less plentiful. Flowers may produce fewer resources, insect populations can change, and other natural food sources may become harder to find. Yellowjackets consequently become more persistent in their search for food and may be drawn to human sources such as uncovered drinks, ripe fruit, pet food, garbage, and outdoor food.
This increased competition for food can contribute to more frequent encounters with people; but the biggest reason yellowjackets become defensive is still nest protection. When a person gets too close to an active nest, yellowjackets may perceive the person as a threat and aggressively defend the colony.
A yellowjacket nest may go unnoticed for much of the summer, particularly when it is hidden underground or inside a wall or other structure. As the colony grows, however, yellowjacket activity can become increasingly obvious.
Homeowners may suddenly notice yellowjackets around:
For families who spend a lot of time outdoors, a nearby nest can make enjoying the property considerably more difficult.
Yellowjackets can also pose a greater concern for individuals who are allergic to insect stings. Because yellowjackets can sting repeatedly and may aggressively defend their nests, disturbing an active colony can create a dangerous situation.
Instead, keep children and pets away from the area and contact a pest management professional who can identify the source of the activity and recommend an appropriate treatment strategy.
At EcoShield Pest Solutions, our trained professionals can help identify yellowjacket activity and develop a plan to address the problem while helping protect your home and family.
You can also take simple steps to make your property less attractive to foraging yellowjackets, particularly during late summer:
Keep food covered. Don't leave outdoor meals, meat, fruit, or sugary foods uncovered for extended periods.
Secure garbage. Keep trash cans tightly closed and clean up food residue around outdoor garbage containers.
Clean up spills. Sweet drinks and other sugary substances can quickly attract yellowjackets.
Inspect potential nesting areas. Regularly check areas around decks, sheds, eaves, landscaping, and other protected locations for unusual insect activity.
Don't block an active nest entrance. Sealing an entrance without addressing the colony can cause yellowjackets to find another way out—potentially into your home.
If yellowjackets are becoming a regular presence around your home, don't wait for someone to get stung before taking action.
EcoShield Pest Solutions can help you identify yellowjacket activity and determine the right approach for your property. Contact us today to learn more about protecting your home from stinging insects.