Wasps In Colorado Are Already Buzzing About

In recent weeks, we’ve received several reports of wasp activity in Fort Collins including a nest under a deck and one built on a whole-house fan. It’s not just Fort Collin residents that are experiencing wasp problems though, homeowners in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Loveland as well as throughout Northern Colorado are already noticing these stinging insects on their properties too and since summer hasn’t even officially arrived, this particular pest problem is only going to get worse.

The difference between bees and wasps

In the years we’ve been providing pest control in Colorado, we’ve realized that there is a bit of confusion surrounding stinging insects. Since it’s very common to lump all stinging insects into one category – bees- we thought it made sense to provide a bit of clarity. 

While both bees and wasps play a vital role in pollinating plants, they differ in appearance, habits, and even how many times they can sting.

• Bees are burlier and hairier than wasps which are slenderer and have less hair. 
• Rather than eating other insects or spiders like wasps, bees primarily feed on pollen and nectar. We should note that while wasps do feed on bugs, they will also scavenge for sweets and other food sources.
• Both bees and wasps are capable of stinging and do so to defend against aggressors. The difference between the two lies in how many times they can sting.  Bees, with the exception of bumble bees, are only able to sting once in their lifetime because when they do their barbed stingers stay in their victims. Wasps, on the other hand, are capable of stinging multiple times because they don’t usually lose their stingers.

Common types of wasps in Colorado

The most common types of wasps in Colorado include:

• Baldfaced hornets
• Western yellow jackets
• Western paper wasps
• Mud daubers

Are wasps aggressive?

According to Colorado State University, the majority of “bee stings” in Colorado come from encounters with yellow jackets followed by paper wasps.   Yellow jackets are quite aggressive and will sting to defend their nest. Unfortunately, they will also sting without provocation. Yellow jackets are known to attack in swarms if their nest is threatened.

Paper wasps, though not as bad as yellow jackets, are notorious for their aggression. Typically, though they need a reason to go on the attack. Stings usually occur if paper wasps feel threatened or if their nests are bothered.

Though their name suggests otherwise, baldfaced hornets are another type of wasp in Colorado that, if you aggravate their nest(s), will go on the attack.

Mud daubers are solitary wasps that have the ability to sting but are not known for their ferociousness.

What to do if you find a wasp nest on your property

If you uncover a wasp nest under the deck, in a hole in the lawn, or elsewhere on your property, contact EnviroPest for help. Serving Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, and communities throughout NoCo since 1965, EnviroPest’s team of highly trained and fully licensed pest control pros will remove the wasp nest and eliminate the threat these stinging insects pose to health and also property.

How to prevent wasps and other pests from taking over

For ongoing protection against wasps and other common house-infesting pests in our service area, we highly recommend signing up for one of our company’s home pest control plans. Year-round service, coverage for 30+ pests, and free emergency service are just a few of the benefits of choosing EnviroPest!