Scientists Say Yellow Jackets To Be Out In Force
Drought Conditions Have Made It Nearly A Perfect Year For Wasps
POSTED: 7:57 a.m. MDT July 31, 2002
UPDATED: 12:21 p.m. MDT July 31, 2002
DENVER -- First it was the miller moths. Then the grasshoppers. Now, the yellow jackets are coming.
And once again, it's because of the drought.
Experts say that the mild winter, spring drought and high summer temperatures have
made it close to a perfect year for the wasps.
"Starting early in August, yellow jackets will be out in
force," said Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University
Cooperative Extension entomologist.
"They set up colonies in spring. Without rain, they do much
better, and this year, the conditions were perfect for them," he
said.
Cranshaw said colonies of 500 to 800 individuals could be
expected.
And with the drought drying up food supplies of fruit and
insects, yellow jackets may be heading to homes and picnic tables.
At least one exterminator has been hearing more complaints about
yellow jackets in the past couple of weeks.
"Our 16 trucks are constantly on the move -- from 6 a.m. to 7
p.m. every day," said Mike Rael of Denver-based Ace Pest
Management. About 25 to 30 calls have been coming in daily, he
said.
The Ohio State University Extension Service says yellow jackets
are social wasps that live in colonies with workers, queens and
males.
The colonies remain alive solely through inseminated queens that
spend the winter in hollow logs, stumps and manmade structures.
The queens build a paper nest and lay their eggs in the spring.
By mid-June, the first adult workers start expanding the nest,
foraging for food, taking care of the queen and larvae, and
defending the colony.
The colony expands quickly in August and late September,
producing new males and queens at its peak.
The small yellow-and black-banded wasps build nests in the ground or paper-like nests in trees. Worker yellow jackets are common around picnic areas where they forage for food.
Yellow jackets are attracted to perfumes and other strong scents, hairspray, suntan lotion, cosmetics and sweet food.
To prevent yourself from coming into contact with too many yellow jackets -- which do sting -- experts say homeowners shoul use solid garbage cans (no wire or mesh, etc.) made of plastic or metal and equipped with tight lids and empty it frequently.
To decrease stings, don't go barefoot, don't swat it with your hands, and use lids on your soft drink cups.
Additional Resources
Experts say that the mild winter, spring drought and high summer temperatures have
made it close to a perfect year for the wasps.
"Starting early in August, yellow jackets will be out in
force," said Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University
Cooperative Extension entomologist.
"They set up colonies in spring. Without rain, they do much
better, and this year, the conditions were perfect for them," he
said.
Cranshaw said colonies of 500 to 800 individuals could be
expected.
And with the drought drying up food supplies of fruit and
insects, yellow jackets may be heading to homes and picnic tables.
At least one exterminator has been hearing more complaints about
yellow jackets in the past couple of weeks.
"Our 16 trucks are constantly on the move -- from 6 a.m. to 7
p.m. every day," said Mike Rael of Denver-based Ace Pest
Management. About 25 to 30 calls have been coming in daily, he
said.
The Ohio State University Extension Service says yellow jackets
are social wasps that live in colonies with workers, queens and
males.
The colonies remain alive solely through inseminated queens that
spend the winter in hollow logs, stumps and manmade structures.
The queens build a paper nest and lay their eggs in the spring.
By mid-June, the first adult workers start expanding the nest,
foraging for food, taking care of the queen and larvae, and
defending the colony.
The colony expands quickly in August and late September,
producing new males and queens at its peak.
The small yellow-and black-banded wasps build nests in the ground or paper-like nests in trees. Worker yellow jackets are common around picnic areas where they forage for food.
Yellow jackets are attracted to perfumes and other strong scents, hairspray, suntan lotion, cosmetics and sweet food.
To prevent yourself from coming into contact with too many yellow jackets -- which do sting -- experts say homeowners shoul use solid garbage cans (no wire or mesh, etc.) made of plastic or metal and equipped with tight lids and empty it frequently.
To decrease stings, don't go barefoot, don't swat it with your hands, and use lids on your soft drink cups.
Additional Resources
-
Colorado State University : How To Control Yellow Jackets
Insects Of September
What To Do With Wasps, Bees In Home
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
