What’s The Buzz?
By Greg Baumann, National Pest Management Association
As the summer months rapidly approach, property and facility managers must begin taking proactive measures to prevent the presence of stinging insects within their condominium communities. Stinging pests send more than 500,000 people to the emergency room each year. Further, these insects can cause significant property damage, which often has serious financial implications for condominium communities.
Property and facility managers must have a solid understanding of the risks associated with stinging insects prior to taking any preventative or reactive measures. Two of the most common stinging insects are carpenter bees and yellowjackets, which are addressed more fully below:
Carpenter Bees
Although considered stinging insects, carpenter bees are most often viewed by pest professionals as wood-destroying pests. They build their nests by drilling perfectly round tunnels into soft, bare woods. Natural colored sawdust is often present near the nest entrance and these tunnels can severely compromise the support structure of a building over time. Carpenter bees, which look like typical bumble bees, sting human beings only when provoked.
Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets live in large colonies and their nests, which are shaped like an inverted teardrop, are often found in areas such as eaves and attics. While their venom is no more dangerous than other stinging insects, they are far more aggressive when disturbed and tend to sting repeatedly. This behavior adds to the potential for greater skin irritation or a serious allergic reaction.
Proactive and Reactive Measures to Stinging Insects
Condominium community managers often view pest prevention as a daunting task because of the many ways in which their homeowners unknowingly attract stinging insects. Carpenter bees and yellowjackets are attracted to fragranced candles, perfumes and the food and drinks commonly served at barbecues. Oftentimes, it is the homeowner who thwarts a property or facility manager’s best efforts to pest-proof their condominium community.
If a community finds itself facing an infestation of stinging insects, property and facility managers should contact a licensed pest professional. These pests are aggressive in nature and often sting as a way to protect their colonies or larvae from human beings who attempt to remedy an infestation on their own. A pest professional can provide a level of expertise and knowledge of technology that can best rid your property of these stinging insects and prevents future infestations.
Selecting a Pest Professional to Address Stinging Insects
The selection of a pest professional to assist in pest proofing your property or in treating an infestation is an important decision and should not be made on price alone. The recommendations provided below will help facility managers to better understand their options and allow them to make a decision that best serves their condominium community:
Educate Yourself
Pestworld.org, a comprehensive site, sponsored by the National Pest Management Association, addresses all pest-related areas, including stinging insects. It provides pest facts sheets, public service announcements and a zip code locator to find local professionals.
Ask Questions
It is always helpful to contact other condominium communities for recommendations of pest control companies they have previously used. “Word of mouth” references are likely honest evaluations. You want to find a person with whom you feel comfortable working. Regardless of the situation, do not rush your decision. You are paying for professional knowledge - hire a person whose judgment you can trust.
Buy Value, Not Price
If a sizable amount of money is involved in treating an infestation by stinging insects, feel free to solicit bids from several pest management firms. If a guarantee is given to you, always know what it covers, how long it lasts and what you must do to keep it in force. Keep in mind that this is a health and safety decision - the value of the service should outweigh all other factors.
A Final Thought
The well-being of your property’s community must always be a consideration, especially when prioritizing which proactive health and safety measures must be executed. This is why pest prevention and pest treatment should be rooted in collaborative efforts with a pest professional. A demonstrative commitment to working with a pest professional illustrates to your community that their health and safety is of the utmost importance to condominium management.
Greg Baumann is the Vice President Technical Services and Senior Scientist for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). The NPMA, a non-profit organization with more than 5, 000 members, was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry’s commitment to the protection of public health, food and property, reflected in the continuing education of the pest control professional and the dissemination of timely information to homeowners and businesses. For further information, visit pestworld.org.