Blog
How to Prevent A Bee Sting
7/19/13
A common summertime pest that can pose a problem for home or business owners are stinging insects. Stinging insects belong to the insect order Hymenoptera and includes wasps and bees. Although some of these are beneficial (wasps and bees are pollinators for plants and flowers), they can also be a problem because of their ability to sting. They are especially dangerous for anyone that has an allergy to a bee sting or a wasp sting. Someone that has an allergy to the sting of these insects may swell up when stung, or their airways can constrict and their breathing may become labored. A bee or wasp sting can even prove fatal for someone with an allergy, which is why it’s so important for someone with an allergy to avoid these stings.
If you have an allergy to the sting of bees or other stinging insects or you know someone who does, here are some tips to prevent bee stings while outdoors this summer.
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Avoid wearing floral perfumes or sprays while spending time outside. Bees and wasps may be attracted to the scent of you instead of the flowers nearby.
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Stay away from areas with flowers or flowering plants, because bees and wasps feed on the nectar in flowers, which means you may find more of these insects around flower or vegetable gardens.
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Wear white while spending time outdoors and avoid wearing brightly colored clothing or even floral prints. If you look like a brightly colored flower, you may attract stinging insects.
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Don’t walk around outside without shoes on. Because some wasps build their nests in the ground, you could chance stepping on a nest or some of the wasps that are protecting the nest.
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If you should see a bee or wasp, stand still and don’t become frantic. If you start flailing your arms and running around, you could cause the bee or wasp to become aggressive.
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Avoid wearing loose fitting clothes when spending time outdoors. If you’re wearing something very loose fitting, bees or wasps could accidentally fly up into your clothes and you could get stung as they try to become free of your clothing.
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Certain sugary foods and drinks can attract bees and wasps, so if you’re having a picnic, be sure to cover up sugary foods or don’t bring them in the first place.
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If you are aware of a bees nest or wasp nest on your property, contact a professional to have the nest removed; don’t try to do it on your own!
These sting prevention tips should go a long way in helping you avoid being stung this summer. If you have a sting allergy or just don’t like the pain associated with a bee or wasp sting, stay very aware of your surroundings while outdoors so that you don’t accidentally come into contact with a stinging insect. And if you have a stinging insect nest on your property, a professional pest control technician should be contacted to remove the nest safely. DIY nest removal or nest extermination sprays are not recommended, even if you don’t have a bee sting allergy. DIY sprays can be dangerous for you and the people around you if applied or mixed improperly. They can also anger a hive, causing you to be the focus of wasp or bee aggression.
The best way to prevent bee and wasp stings this summer is prevention; if you contact a pest control professional at the beginning of the summer season, they can inspect your property for stinging insect nests and then perform treatments to help make sure your property stays free of these insects all summer long.
For more information on stinging insect control for your home in OH, MI, IN, KY, Western PA and West Virginia, contact the professionals at Rose Pest Solutions. Rose has been offering effective stinging insect control to homes and businesses in their service area since 1860 and they are ready to help you make your yard a safe area for anyone with sting allergies or just anyone that wants to enjoy their backyard without the threat of stinging insects buzzing around.