As the warm months of summer come each year, with it they bring out the flying, stinging pests. Bees, wasps and yellow jackets are very common from May through September in Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Quincy, Leavenworth and Chelan. Their stings are very painful but for some it can cause a great deal of swelling and in rare cases even death.

These flying insects commonly build their nests in attics, wall voids, gutters, the gaps in tile roofing and under eaves. Yellow Jackets will typically build their nests in the ground or in gaps along the ground.

While all of three of these insects can leave a nasty sting they are each quite different. Bees are fuzzier and fatter than the other two. Generally, they are pretty gentle and will mind their own business unless you get too close to their nests. They will be found feeding on the pollen and nectar from flowers.

Wasps are longer – about 1 inch – and more slender with distinct black and yellow strips. They also are typically not very aggressive unless their nest is under attack. Their paper nests are very commonly found in the eaves of the roofline. Their main food source is other insects.

Yellow Jackets are a little shorter than wasps – about ½ inch. They are shiny with bright black and yellow strips. They are attracted to sweets and meats and will often interrupt a warm summer picnic lunch. They tend to be very aggressive and can sting repeatedly without dying.