If you feel like a small buzzing, winged acrobat is present every time you step into the heavy Oklahoma heat…you aren’t imagining things! Stinging insects are all around this time of year. Their colonies reach peak populations in mid- to late summer, coincident with sweltering summer temperatures. Talk about a “double whammy!”

These airborne nuisances don’t appear overnight. The process begins each spring…often in April…when queens of different species build humble nests in out-of-the-way locations. Through May and June these nests grow into complex insect societies governed by their own structure. 

By July the colonies literally buzz with activity. Their presence becomes more noticeable and influential in the natural world. Fully matured insect hordes can become a formidable foe.

Insect populations are at their greatest when high temperatures set in, a fact that often causes trouble for anything and anyone around them. Water evaporates and food supplies dwindle at the exact time colonies need maximum resources. As life-sustaining basics become difficult to find, insects range farther from their colonies, staking new claims as they go. They also become more protective of resources within territories already claimed. 

Unfortunately, summer stingers don’t recognize human land rights. It’s entirely possible the territory they claim overlaps yours. Knowing who’s on your property—and when to back away—is key to keeping your backyard safe and sting-free.

The Usual Suspects

Flying stinging insect species fall into several categories. Some are large, some are more colorful, and their threat levels vary wildly depending on how social they are. Here are a few types common to central Oklahoma along with tips about what to watch for.

1. Yellow jackets (Aggressive Scavengers)

• How they Look: Stocky, bright yellow and black bands, about the size of a honeybee but sleek and hairless.
• Threat Level: High. Yellow jackets build large nests underground, inside hollow logs, or within home wall voids. Because their nests are hidden so well, homeowners can inadvertently step on them or trigger them with lawnmowers, causing an outburst of fierce, coordinated attacks. They love sugar and need protein so can often be found buzzing soft drink cans and trash bins.

2. Paper Wasps (Eave Dwellers)

• How they Look: Slender, long legs, tinted brown, red, or black with yellow accents.
• Threat Level: Moderate. Paper wasps construct those unmistakable open-faced, umbrella-shaped paper nests under roof overhangs, door frames, and porch ceilings. They are mostly docile while foraging but will sting aggressively if they think you’re getting too close to their home turf.

3. Mud Daubers & Cicada Killers (Solitary Giants)

• How they Look: Mud daubers feature an impossibly thin “thread-waist”. Cicada killers are massive (up to 1.5 inches) and look like giant hornets.
• Threat Level: Low. Despite their intimidating size, these are solitary wasps. They do not build massive colonies or guard nests in groups. They usually ignore humans unless stepped on or trapped against your skin.

How to Discourage Backyard Nesters

You don’t have to cede control to pests. Just a few simple steps can make your yard much less inviting to vermin (and increase curb appeal in the process!)

• Manage the Trash: Keep tight-fitting lids on outdoor garbage cans and rinse out recyclable aluminum cans. If possible, power wash the inside of your garbage cans to remove embedded gunk and reduce attractiveness to both insects and animals.
• Eliminate Water Sources: Stinging insects need water to survive. You may not want to drain your pool during the summer, but other prospective problems can be addressed. By repairing outdoor faucets, fixing leaky connections in garden hoses, managing water in birdbaths, and draining areas where water collects you can discourage pests from establishing a supply chain that begins in your yard.
• Fill Ground Holes: Inspect your lawn for abandoned burrows and vacant holes. Soil-nesting insects such as yellow jackets view these as ready-to-occupy homes.
• Seal the Exterior: Check soffits, window screens, and spaces around doors. Seal up cracks before a small foraging party turns your attic or wall into a giant hive.

When to call a pro: If you find any kind of nest hidden inside a wall void, or discover an underground yellow jacket colony, do not try to eliminate it with an over-the-counter spray. Spraying the entrance to a wall void often forces the colony inside, into your dwelling spaces. And a yellow jacket swarm is easily able to overwhelm anyone holding an aerosol can as contents are discharged.

Instead, you should contact us to consult about actions that can safely be taken. We are able to safely track, treat, and remove nests without turning your house or yard into hazardous no-go zones.

The same is true for infestations on your property. We’re able to deal with dangerous colonies and bring safety back to your yard. Contact us at (405) 679-8729 if these or other critters have become a nuisance around your place.