Warm spring weather has brought out the bugs in droves and many of the little creatures, such as the mosquito, have a bad reputation because they are a real annoyance. Another such insect is the yellowjacket, which is common throughout the county. People often put out traps for the yellowjackets, but actually they don’t deserve their reputation. Yellowjackets prey on bugs such as flies, mosquitoes and other troublesome insects.
The yellowjacket is actually a wasp. It has a close cousin in the county called a paper wasp. Just about everyone has had yellowjackets swarm around their backyard, especially when they are barbecuing meat. Occasionally a person is bitten by the yellowjacket. They are often called “meat bees” because they look like a bee and feed on meat.
According to scientists, yellowjackets are by far one of the most troublesome group of insects, especially ground- and cavity-nesting ones such as the western yellowjacket, which tend to defend their nests vigorously when disturbed. Defensive behavior increases as the season progresses and colony populations become larger while food becomes scarcer.
In summer and fall, foraging yellowjackets are primarily scavengers and they start to show up at picnics and barbecues, around garbage cans, at food dishes for dogs or cats placed outside and where ripe or overripe fruit is accessible. At certain times and places, the number of scavenger wasps can be quite large.
Paper wasps are often mistaken for yellowjackets, but they are much less defensive and rarely sting humans. They tend to shy away from human activity except when their nests are located near doors, windows or other high-traffic areas.
Colonies of yellowjackets are initiated by the queen. After emerging from hibernation when the winter ends, the fertilized queen searches for a nest site. When it locates a suitable site, a small nest is formed. The queen continues to forage for construction materials and food such as spiders and other insects as well as any meat until four to seven workers have emerged. At this point, the queen focuses solely on laying eggs and the nest continues to expand. Between August and September males and queens are produced, which then leave the nest and mate. The nest begins to decline around this time. The males eventually die and the inseminated queen begins diapause (hibernation). The inseminated queen is the only member of the colony to survive the winter.
Longevity of the workers varies with colony activity and development, with the lifespan of the earliest-born workers averaging 22 days and the latest-born workers around 40 days.
Commercial yellowjacket traps are common throughout the county. They normally can be identified by their yellow color. They are baited with a commercially produced bait. The yellowjacket flies into the trap and can’t get out. It’s not unusual to see several hundred yellow jackets in a single trap. The trick is to trap the queen. If she is trapped the hive will die. There is also a special pesticide spray that is available that kills a yellowjacket instantly.
Dozens of people are bitten by yellowjackets each year in Lake County. While most suffer only some pain and soreness, a few react so poorly that it can endanger their lives. A yellow jacket can bite several times because it doesn’t lose its stinger like a bee. There is a medicine that combats the yellowjacket venom and it’s applied through an Epipen or the generic equivalent. It is contained in a needle and injected into the person’s thigh. The problem with a Epipen is the cost. The brand name costs about $600 while the generic costs about $110. You also need a doctor’s prescription to purchase an Epipen.
Medical authorities advise you to seek medical help immediately if you have any reaction after being bitten. This act could save your life.
Jamie Scott, the director for Vector Control in Lake County, will be the featured guest on the Lake County Outdoors radio show Wednesday beginning at 10 a.m. on KPFZ 88.1 FM. She will be talking about yellowjackets and other wasps, and she will be available to answer your calls. Scott has a PhD in entomology and is an expert on all species of insects. The KPFZ call-in number is 263-3435.
