There are five types of bee's or wasps common in the Chicago area. They are:
Yellow Jackets |
This is a black wasp with yellow markings on its body and abdomen. Yellow Jackets are extremely aggressive and will attack with little or no provocation. They are attracted to bright colors and many fragrances contained in perfumes or after shave lotions. Favorite nesting sites are wall voids or abandoned animal burrows in the ground. A mature nest will contain 500 or more workers.
Protective clothing is recommended when treating a nesting site. Injection of an insecticidal dust directly into the nesting site is required to eliminate the colony. A pressurized tank must be used to deliver the dust to the nesting site. Costs will range from $95.00 for a ground level treatment to $125.00 for treatments requiring the use of a ladder. A seasonal guarantee is provided on all yellow jacket elimination services.
|
 |
Bald Faced Hornets
The Bald faced Hornet is a black wasp with white lines across its abdomen. This wasp is also very aggressive when provoked. Bald Faced Hornets build their nests on structures or hang them from the branch of a bush or tree. The nest is a grayish paper nest that often is said to look like a 16" softball or in some cases a basket ball. The protective paper envelope contains two or three levels of egg chambers inside and numerous(150 to 300)workers. These nests must be approached with caution.
Protective clothing is recommended when treating a nest. As with Yellow Jackets, a Bald Faced Hornets nest must be injected with an insecticidal dust or treated with wasp freeze to be effectively eliminated. The price range is identical to that of the Yellow Jackets as is the guarantee.
|
 |
Umbrella Wasp
This is a brown wasp with yellow stripes across its abdomen. It is not very aggressive. Umbrella wasps suspend their nests from wooden members of patio rails, undersides of wooden decks, inside roof vents or other sheltered areas. The nest consists of a single exposed layer of egg chambers attached by a thin pillar to the nesting site. There are seldom more than 5 to 10 workers present at any time.
This wasp is best treated with a liquid residual insecticide or a "wasp freeze" applied from an aerosol can. Cost of treatment will range from $80.00 to $90.00 and guarantee will be for the season.
|
 |
Mud Dauber
These wasps are so called because they construct their nests from mud in the shape of a tube. Each tube contains a single chamber housing a single egg. The nest is attached to the walls of buildings in protected areas. There are usually several chambers in the same area. The female mud dauber collects spiders which she stings to paralyze then places in the nest with the egg. The nest is then sealed. If the mud tubes have holes in them that means the wasp has exited the nest. This wasp is not aggressive unless disturbed. Control is usually not necessary unless the resident requires it due to fear of sting insects. Cost of treatment will be in the $95-$115 range, and treatment will be guaranteed for the season.
|
 |
Bumble Bee
This is a very large black bee with yellow line across its abdomen. The Bumble Bee is the least aggressive of the bees and wasps we have discussed. This bee is furry in appearance. The Bumble Bee builds its nest in the ground and is most often observed entering and leaving from under cement slabs such as patios or steps. The Bumble Bee builds its nest as close to flowering plants as possible. The nest is packed with grass and is from 12 to 18 inches below ground. Often times the Bumble Bee will use abandoned animal burrows as a nesting site. There will be between 15 and 25 workers in a mature Bumble Bee nest.
In order to eliminate Bumble Bees insecticidal dust must be injected under pressure into the nesting site. Liquid insecticides are rarely effective in eliminating this bee. The cost of Bumble Bee elimination is $95.00 and a seasonal guarantee is provided |
