Letter to the Editor - Wasps or yellowjackets

Just in the past week the Hill County Health and Planning Department has received three calls concerning hornets or wasps. This time of year the hornet or wasp population can increase dramatically and show up about everywhere.

Yellowjackets usually form a large paper like nest in a tree or more often find a hole in the side of a building or in the ground. They can become very aggressive and can sting a person several times.

A wasp tends to build a nest that hangs down from a board or limb and looks like a hanging light. Wasps can be two to three times larger than a hornet and just like a hornet they can sting a person several times.

To control both the wasps and hornets, enclosure traps, poison sprays or a large fly swatter can be used. The enclosure traps can be purchased at several stores and seem to work quite well. There are also several ways to make your own and directions can be found on the internet or by calling the Health and Planning Office.

Other bees to watch for are bumble bees and honey bees. Both of these tend to be easier to get along with and do a lot of good in our state including pollination and honey production. It is very important to know the difference.

If you have concerns about bees in your area, try to look at them closely and determine what type of bees you are seeing. The extension office or the Health and Planning Office can also help answer your questions.

Clay Vincent

Hill County Sanitarian