Wasps, Bees, And Stinging Insects

All of us in the Omaha, Bellevue and Council Bluffs metro areas know the fears and dangers of Wasps, Bees and Stinging Insects.

Omaha Pest Control is here to rid your home and business of those frightening pests in Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Sooner or Later:

Many of us will have the unpleasant experience of being stung by a bee or wasp. Most insect stings occur during late summer and fall when stinging insects are most abundant. Generally, these insects will not sting unless stepped on, touched, or annoyed. Most stinging wasps and bees are beneficial and should be preserved unless they pose a direct hazard to humans. Some, including the honey bee, are important pollinators essential for the propagation of plants, including many agriculturally important crops. Honey bees also produce honey and beeswax. Most wasps and hornets are efficient predators and help regulate destructive insect populations that might otherwise adversely affect our health, homes, livestock, or crops.

Despite Their Many Benefits:

Stinging insects may sometimes pose a hazard and it may become necessary to control them. Insect stings probably injure more people each year than all other venomous animals combined. Fortunately, recovery from most stings is rapid and occurs within several days. Only the females are capable of stinging because the stinger is actually a modified ovipositor or egg-laying tube. Originally, the stinger served to deposit eggs in protected areas or into the bodies of insect prey. Later, venom glands evolved and the stinger began to be used as a weapon to paralyze prey and defend the nest.

Symptoms and Treatment of Stings:

Insect stings are normally characterized by moderate to severe pain, localized reddening and swelling, and occasionally even mild headache and fever. Treatment involves disinfecting the wounded area with soap and water. Meat tenderizer, which contains an enzyme that breaks down the venom, and/or a baking soda paste also may be applied to the sting site to help relieve pain. Several over-the-counter remedies also are available. In allergic individuals, insect stings can cause a life-threatening systemic reaction that can rapidly lead to anaphylactic shock. Symptoms in these individuals usually appear within minutes after the sting. Localized swelling can be extensive with a hives-like condition occurring over the body. There also may be a choking sensation accompanied by difficult breathing and blueness in the lips and extremities. This may be followed by nausea, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. A physician should be consulted immediately if any of these symptoms appear after an insect sting.

See Omaha Pest Control’s Library:               https://omahapestcontrol.com/pest-library/#stinging-insects

Omaha Pest Control has years of experience dealing with bees, wasps and other stinging insects. Call us to remove your worries.