African Killer Bee Look the same as the European honeybee, though unnoticeable smaller in size, African honeybees are very aggressive, territorial, and may nest in awkward places. They defend their hive in large numbers; can stay aggressive for days after being disturbed. African bees are extremely aggravated by loud noises, and vibrations. In addition, they are highly provoked by certain smells such as fresh cut grass and bananas. Bald Faced Hornet These hornets usually inhabit woodland edges but are active throughout the Ozarks. They build nests in shrubs, trees and lawns. When they build these paper nests in home attics or wall voids they can be damaging to the structure of the house. Adults are extremely protective of the nest and will sting repeatedly and painfully if disturbed. Bald-faced hornets also chew wood to build small, pendant nests out of gray pulp. They are most active from the month of May through the month of September. Many people are allergic to stinging insects like the hornet and a sting can cause severe swelling or potentially be fatal. Bumble Bee
Found living in nests of 15 to 100 in cavities in the ground, under sheds, or other random places usually low to the ground. Bumblebees are seasonal, after summer only the queen survives, starting a new colony in the spring. They are known to defend their hive very aggressively and can sting multiple times. Like many types of bees, the bumble bee species is declining. Carpenter Bee Male carpenter bees are solid black, they also cannot sting. The females are tan in color and sting quite well. Carpenter bees are sometimes mistaken for Bumble Bees; however carpenter bees are shiny with less hair. Their flight is faster than a bumblebee s, and is also a more jerky flight, very similar to a hummingbird. Carpenter bees are solitary bees burrowing holes the size of a dime or penny into wood patio covers, eaves, and other places. Average size is one inch in length. Cicada Killer Wasp
Cicada killers do not feed on plants. The larvae feed primarily on paralyzed cicadas. The adult wasps feed on flower nectar. In spite of its formidable size and burrowing habit, this wasp is unusually docile and harmless. Although capable of inflicting a painful sting, the female cicada killer wasp is usually difficult to provoke. Mating males are aggressive and more easily disturbed, but cannot sting. Only females can, which are usually not seen unless a nest is disturbed. An unsightly mound of soil surrounds the burrow of each cicada killer. Since colonies of burrows are common, infested lawns usually contain several mounds that can smother the grass. However, since cicada killers prefer to nest in areas of sparse vegetation, it is likely that infested turf was already unthrifty when the wasps arrived. They rarely burrow in thick, vigorous turf. Burrows are most commonly found in ornamental beds or under trees or tall foliage plants where there are areas of bare soil. The cicada killer wasp overwinters as a larva within a cocoon in a burrow in the soil. Pupation occurs in the spring. Adults begin emerging in June and emergence continues throughout the summer. The adult female feeds, mates, and digs burrows for several weeks before preying on cicadas. A vertical or slightly angled burrow 6 to 10 inches deep and about 1/2 inch in diameter with broadly oval cells perpendicular to the main tunnel is excavated. The excess soil thrown out of the burrow forms a regular, U- shaped mound at the entrance. Once cells have been constructed, the search for cicadas begins. Canvassing tree trunks and lower limbs, the wasp stings its prey, turns the victim on its back, straddles it, and drags it or glides with it to the burrow. Each cell is furnished with at least one cicada (sometimes two or three) and a single egg before being sealed off. The egg hatches two or three days later and the larva feeds four to ten days, until only the cicada's outer shell remains. During the fall, the larva spins a silken case and prepares to overwinter. Only one generation occurs each year. This large wasp has a rusty red head and
thorax, russet colored wings, and a black and yellow striped abdomen. A length of 11/2 inches is not uncommon. The larvae are legless, white grubs and are found in burrows in the soil. Honey Bee Honeybees live year round, their size ranging from ½ to ¾. They can be observed as a giant swarm migrating, or as 5 to 20 buzzing around an eve, chimney, or other structural openings. New honeybee swarms consist of 4,000 to 6,000 bees. An active hive generally has 10,000 to 50,000 bees and 20 to 80 lbs. of honey. Respectively, there is no such thing as a small hive. Honeybees have barbed stingers, if a bee stings a person or an animal, the bee will lose its stinger and die. The average life span of a single honeybee is about 6 weeks in the summer and 4 months in the winter. DO NOT KILL! We recommend finding a local Bee Keeper who will often remove Bee hives free of charge. Mud Dauber Sometimes called dirt daubers, the mud dauber species seldom sting and are not protective of their nests. Mud daubers typically attach under all
kinds of eaves, porches, and walls; they are commonly identified by their hard mud nests which are abandoned late autumn. Mud daubers have a very compressed alien like look with their skinny needle like waist; they are also called thread waist wasps. Some mud daubers prey on black widow spiders. There are many types and colors of Mud Daubers. The thin waist is the easiest way to identify them, unlike a Wasp that has a thick waist. Paper Wasp There are many species of paper wasps in the US. Paper wasps average 3/4 to 1 1/2 long; yellow and black in appearance. Nests are made of grayish brown papery material. Paper wasp nests are relatively small containing 4 to 30 wasps per nest not, to be confused with hornets which build much larger hives and can be similar in size. Paper wasps are often found hanging under the eaves, but can also be found in attics, trees, as well as other structures. Paper wasps attack when aggravated and have a painful sting; they can also sting multiple times and do not loose there stinger. Occasionally these wasps are found inside the house. This happens when a nest is living in the attic and there is perhaps a bit of light entering the attic from a wall vent or ceiling fixture. In this case the wasp goes to the light thinking it leads back outside but ends up in the house. At this point the wasp will typically fly around near the windows looking for an exit. Wasps are much more comfortable navigating inside of a house than
honeybees are, as honeybees simply go straight to the window and buzz until exhausted. Scorpions Scorpions make up a small order of arthropods closely related to spiders. They have eight legs, a combined head and thorax called a cephalothorax, and a segmented abdomen. At the front of their bodies is a pair of large pincer-like appendages, which they use for catching prey. Their abdomens are segmented with an elongated tail ending in a stinger, usually carried curved up and over the body. Several species of scorpions are found in the United States, with most inhabiting drier habitats in the South and Southwest. The only naturally occurring species in Missouri is the striped scorpion. Adult striped scorpions are 2.5 inches long, yellowish tan with two broad, darkened longitudinal bands on the top of the abdomen. The female produces living young, which she carries on her back for five to 15 days until they leave and become independent. After three to four years, the young reach maturity and may live two to five years as adults. Scorpions hide during the day and are active at night. Although usually found in drier habitats, they require moisture and may be attracted to moist areas. They tend to live under boards, stones or other objects; or beneath loose bark on trees and logs. They generally do not like extremely high temperatures and, during the summer, may enter the living areas of a home seeking relief from heat and dryness. When they come indoors, they are most often found in crawl spaces and attics. Scorpions can survive well in terrariums and make interesting pets. They
feed on spiders and soft-bodied insects. Small prey may be eaten immediately; larger prey are stung and then eaten after they stop moving. All scorpions have venom glands located in the bulbous last segment of the abdomen, which also bears a stinger. Scorpions rarely sting humans except when pinned against the skin. The sting of the striped scorpion usually results in pain, swelling and redness at the sting site, which lasts for a few hours and has been described as similar to a bee or wasp sting. A sting does not usually require medical attention. Some species of scorpions, found only in southern Arizona and Mexico, have been responsible for human deaths. Yellow Jackets Often mistaken for honeybees, yellow jackets are a bit smaller in size, and are also brighter yellow as to the more orange color of honeybees. Yellow jackets may have a rapid side to side flight pattern prior to landing. They are scavengers eating meats and sweets and often found in parks or disrupting parties, picnics or other park events. Yellow jackets are sometimes called meat wasps, meat bees, or hornets. They have a stinger without barbs and can sting repeatedly without dying. Yellow jacket stings most often cause a swelling reaction followed by itching for a couple days. They are very aggressive defenders and are generally found nesting in holes in the ground; though occasionally nest in wall voids and attics. Seasonally, yellow jacket colony s reach a size of 4,000 and 5,000 workers and a nest of 10,000 and 15,000 cells in August and early September. Like all wasps, yellow jackets abandoned their nest by late autumn. It s generally considered unwise to try to remove a yellow jackets nest yourself.