Your Ultimate Guide to Bees and Wasps Commonly Encountered During Late Summer

Spending summer outdoors in Washington may also mean dealing with tons of bugs and pests while you walk, but you don’t have to be bothered because it helps to learn more about the most common bugs and pests so you’re prepared for the upcoming season. Bees and wasps are usually encountered during late summer in Washington when they’re more active and most abundant. Bees and wasps have a vital role most especially as pest predators and as pollinators. Before going outdoors, it is important to increase awareness and understanding about the differences between bees and wasps helps in identifying and controlling potential problems and preventing unwanted sting.

One of the most common species of insects found in Washington is aphids, which are usually found in fruit trees. These bugs don’t really harm the fruit itself, although it can reduce the fruit size and it can also damage the longevity of the fruit tree. There are fewer fruits harmed with the presence of other beneficial insects such as beetles, parasitic wasps, and syrphid flies by stinging and laying their eggs on aphids. In order to remove aphids from your fruit trees, you can attract these beneficial insects by planting specific flowers, and some legumes and asters under your fruit tree. Silverfish are also commonly found in Washington, which is wingless and nocturnal bugs, sticking in dark and warm areas of the house, and can live for months even without food. You can also find in yards and gardens Buffalo Treehoppers which are small, color green, harmless and with wings and bison-like heads. In Washington, you’ll find the largest type of ants in North America, and you need to be careful with them because they have very jaws for biting humans, eating bugs and shaving timber. Giant water bugs are very big and color dark brown, living in muddy water.

Bumble bee and honey bee are the most commonly found bees in Washington, feeding on pollen and nectar. Bumble bees can sting multiple times unlike honey bees which only sting once because of their barbed stinger lodging in the skin causing tearing of their bodies and their death, but bees rarely sting unless they are severely provoked because of their passive nature. Do not attract bees and wasps by avoiding wearing flower-patterned and bright-colored clothing; avoiding wearing colognes, lotions, perfumes, and hair products; keeping food and drinks covered when eating outdoors; and cleaning and disposing food and garbage appropriately. You just need to keep still and stay calm when a wasp or bee is flying around to prevent being attacked because swatting may just cause it to sting.

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