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Yellow Jacket, Tacoma-based and family-owned pest control and inspection company

Have You Been Stung by a Yellow Jacket This Year? 

Ouch, I feel for you!

We had a very early start this year with wasps and yellow jackets. Our early warm spring that continues into a sweltering, consistently hot summer, led to population EXPLOSIONS of these nasty pests. While yellow jacket stings can really pack a wallop, they can also lead to other serious problems. There can be varying degrees of allergic reactions to their sting and in some cases can become fatal.  It is important to see a doctor if you begin to have a reaction after you have been stung.

 

Hidden dangers.

This time of year, they have formed pretty good size nests and are very aggressive while seeking nourishment for their colony. The most dangerous nests are the ones we don’t see. These can be in siding and ceiling cavities, within our homes, or underground. Treating these types of nests can be very tricky and dangerous. Having the correct tools, products, knowledge, and safety equipment are the most important aspects of exterminating these dangerous nests where we live, and our children and pets play.

We recently treated a ground nest where a couple’s son and his friends play basketball.  It was hidden in the ivy, on the hillside in range of an errant jump shot. We saw the nest while performing an ant treatment at the property, and informed the homeowner. They thanked us profusely for finding and treating the nest, as it was unbeknownst to them….and their son’s friend is highly allergic!

Another dangerous ground nest we found last week was in the backyard of a house where a couple’s young daughter had a small swimming pool. The nest couldn’t have been more than 5 feet from where the pool was! We were already at this house to treat a yellow jacket nest in a siding cavity at the front of the house. The homeowner requested we take a look around for other nests. We were able to spot and extinguish the nest before anyone was harmed.

 

Keep your eyes open.

LIND PEST CONTROL INC. performs treatments of this type several times each day.  There is a story behind each one and most have happy outcomes. A few have learned the hard way that they have a nest by being stung. Fortunately, this year, we have not run into a situation where an unsuspecting person or pet has been seriously injured by multiple stings. We still have a couple of months to go for our wasp season.

Each day their nests grow tenfold and they become more aggressive. Please keep a constant eye out for areas of concentrated yellow jacket activity in and around your home. Consider having a professional out to your house to give it the “once over”. We offer one-time perimeter sprays and or preventive maintenance sprays for spiders, ants, and other ground crawling insects.  We are glad to inspect the area during this service and make sure your family and pets are safe from these harmful pests.

 

vegetation against house

Pest Control Tip: Why You Need to Keep Vegetation Away from Your Siding. 

Keep vegetation away from your siding.

Vegetation against the siding, especially when it’s dense, tends to hold moisture in the siding and promotes fungus growth which can promote rot and/or perfect moisture content for wood destroying organisms and other nuisance pests. It also provides hiding and harborage for rodents.

You don’t need to butcher vegetation back, nor have a barren landscape around your immediate perimeter of the house. A general rule of thumb is to keep a few inches of space between your siding and the vegetation. This allows proper airflow and a viewing avenue for homeowners and pest control professionals to keep a lookout for vulnerable pest entry points.

Don’t forget to keep your tree limbs trimmed back from the roof and gutter lines. We recommend 3 feet to 4 feet. Ever seen a squirrel jump?  They are capable of jumping quite far and are commonly found in attics of homes (along with rats). They can do considerable damage once inside.

Lind Pest Control Office in Tacoma, Washington

Pest Control Tip: Mulch, Bark, and Bugs

Adding bark or mulch to landscaping beds is a great idea to beautify your landscape, keep the weeds down, and retain plant moisture. Yet, it can create unwanted pest problems if you’re not careful.

Remember to keep about 3 inches of clearance between the bottom of your siding and the mulch. You should be able to see your foundation. Bark, mulch, soil, etc. which extends over and “buries” the siding tends to hold moisture in and rot your siding.

This creates a highly desirable conducive condition and a direct access for termites and other wood destroying organisms. Consider having the immediate perimeter of your house sprayed after your bark/mulch has been laid. This will offer protection against organisms which may be within, or attracted to, the purchased product.