The summer months are a busy time for wasps and bees. These insects buzz around looking for food, building up their colonies and protecting their nests. Since they’re out and about, there’s always a risk of being stung. How can you lower your risk of bee or wasp stings this summer? In addition to using Hilton Head wasp and bee abatement services if needed, you can also keep the following tips in mind.
Avoid Strong Scents
If you tend to wear perfume or cologne, avoid doing so if you’re going to be outside this summer. The same goes for any other products that have a strong scent that could attract wasps or bees. Certain types of scents have a higher risk of drawing bees and wasps than others, such as floral scents or fruity scents.
Keep Food and Drinks Safe
The scent of food and drinks can attract bees and wasps to your outdoor barbecue or picnic. Sugary foods and drinks, including sodas and juices, have a higher likelihood of bringing these bugs around. If you’re going to be eating and drinking outside, make sure that you keep foods in tightly sealed containers to keep bees and wasps out. You should also throw paper plates and plastic utensils away right after you’re done using them. This helps keep stinging insects away from you.
If you’re drinking anything sugary, keep a cover on it, such as a lid or bottle cap. This prevents bees and wasps from being able to get inside the can or bottle. Keep in mind that certain wasps, such as yellowjackets, become more aggressive in late summer and early fall while going after foods and drinks.
Watch What You Wear
Some colors and patterns tend to attract bees and wasps more than others. If you’re going to be outside, avoid wearing clothing that has vivid colors or floral patterns. Try wearing neutral or light-colored clothing instead. These stinging insects aren’t able to see red, so this color is generally considered safe as well.
Avoid Swatting or Running
Your instinct might be to swat a bee or wasp away when it gets near you. However, this can increase your risk of being stung, since this movement can agitate these bugs. Try staying calm and still when they’re flying around you. Even if you feel like running away, avoid doing so, since they might chase after you.
Handling Bee and Wasp Infestations
Not having bees or wasps in your home or yard can significantly reduce the risk of being stung. This is even more important if you or someone at your home is allergic to bee or wasp venom. If you notice a bee hive or wasp nest in your yard, you should plan on hiring Hilton Head wasp and bee abatement services to remove it. Avoid trying to do this yourself, since there’s a good risk that you might be stung. Some wasps and bees are very territorial and will attack anyone who comes close to their hive or nest or disturbs it. With some colonies numbering in the hundreds or thousands, this could lead to multiple stings.
When you suspect that you have a bee hive or wasp nest inside your home, such as inside the walls or in your attic, prompt removal is essential. Since these nests and hives can be harder to access, you should leave it to the professionals to get rid of it. Pest control experts know how and when to remove these nests, so that you don’t have to worry about being stung or having these insects do any damage to your home.
If you have a stinging insect problem on your SC property, please contact Island Pest Control. Our Hilton Head wasp and bee abatement services can eliminate these insects in a safe manner.