The worst pests in Virginia are not necessarily the ones with the biggest population. Instead, they’re often the ones that inspire fear, could be dangerous, or could cause pain. 2024 brought on a particularly large concern for bees and wasps due to their increasing numbers. There are many reasons why bees, wasps, and hornets swarm around yards in this region of the country. At the top of the list is warm weather. These stinging insects become active when the temperatures get above 50 degrees and stay active till temperatures drop back down, sometimes not until October. The potential for stings is likely what’s driving wasps, hornets, and bees to be considered one of the worst pests in Virginia and have residents concerned. Virginia has more than 80 varieties of these stinging insects, including the more common yellow jackets and paper wasps, as well as the mud dauber and horntail wasp.
Why Stinging Insects Can Be GOOD
Another key factor in bee, wasp, and hornet activity is the availability of food. If you have lots of flowers or flowering plants on your property, you’re going to get visits from these insects. That isn’t necessarily bad, however. Stinging insects help with pollination. Without them, we wouldn’t have honey, chocolate, coffee, vanilla, almonds, cashews, berries, bananas, grapes, avocados… The list of foods and drinks we would no longer have without stinging insects is extensive. As long as these stinging insects do not create nests or hives on or inside your property, it can be good to have them around.
The Trouble Stinging Insects Can Cause
What Can Be Done
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