Identification: Look similar to bumble bees with slimmer bodies and less hair. Its mostly known for a species that builds large nests with up to 320 cells. More than Over one-half of them can also be found in Texas. Many people try to get rid of this species of Gall wasps. The distinct characteristic about this is that the wasps are the first asexual when emerging in December to January. With an orange-reddish body and contrasting black wings, the Red Paper Wasps are medium-to-large wasps. The female Hunters Little Paper Wasps work together to create a colony. They might not even appear blue from a distance but are bluish-black. Genus Pelecinus Family Pelecinidae Body length up to 7 centimeters. The Great Black Digger wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus) is a pollinator species for plants such as milkweeds. The Great Black Wasps are not bothersome and wont disturb humans on their own. The Horntail Wasps might look threatening because of their tail that appears to be a potential stinging threat. These shelters arent as good-looking as others from other wasp species as they are primarily made from dirt. Behavior: They hide in cracks and crevices during the winter, then build nests in the spring out of bits of wood. The Great Black Digger Wasp is another very common species. Although both sexes have similar markings, they look different otherwise. Often confused with bees, Texas wasps have a smooth body without any hairs as they dont collect pollen. As one of the smallest wasps in Texas, the Hunters Little Paper Wasp (Polistes dorsalis) still has a lot of significance. The Dark Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus) lives in colonies and habitats dominated by a clear hierarchy. A common flower the Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp is seen around is Queen Annes lace. The third hierarchy is comprised of male wasps.
Mud daubersMud daubers are a large species of wasps build their distinctive nests out of mud. However, they have a compact body and abdomen, orange antennae, and are non-aggressive in nature. These multi-colored wasps first arrived in North America in the 1800s, although they are now found in abundance in the eastern parts of the United States. In residential areas, look for their round nests on tree branches. They have strong legs and a quick stinger, which they use to immobilize the cicadas. Size: inch to inch long Put weather stripping around windows and doors and replace damaged screens. Neither a bee nor an ant, wasps are small, winged insects that have quite a diverse family of about 30,000 recognized species. They sting once behind the head and twice in the abdomen of the insects. Identification: Slender and black with wings folded lengthwise when at rest But they also eat other insects. These wasps are often seen in pairs. These nests or colonies can reach thousands of insects. Prevention: When you see burrows from cicada killer wasps, try drenching the areas with lots of water. Fortunately the bright red coloration makes it easy to spot. When you spot the American Pelecinid Wasps for the first time, you might find them to be otherworldly, for they are quite different from the other wasp species. Fix holes along the roofline and place caps on chimneys. The first step to figuring out how best to get rid of a wasps nest or cloud of hornets is to identify what kind of stinging insect youre dealing with. The intensity of the building effort is typically high. Mud pots need to be large enough to accommodate an egg as well as a living caterpillar as a food source for larvae.
The adults have a defensive mechanism of curling up when they feel threatened and cannot escape. This wasp (Polistes annularis) is known for its love of dark places. Genus Polistes Family Vespidae Body length 1.8-2.2 centimeters. About two dozen paper wasp species have been documented in the United States. One hundred and twenty five species have been documented. 2022 EnviroCon Termite & Pest Control. Genus Leucospis Family Leucospidae Body length 1.3-1.7 centimeters. Paper waspsPaper wasps are large wasps that have pinched waist and six long, thin legs that dangle below their bodies when in flight. Seal up holes and crevices in your homes exterior and interior. The Guinea Paper Wasps build nests near the building or in buildings. Ground waspsGround wasps are usually identified by their nests that are located in the ground. 
Most species of wasps hunt and feed on a variety of garden insects and spiders. They have black wings and antennae, with yellow feet and black legs. There are multiple steps you can take to prevent wasps and stinging insects from nesting near or in your home. But the Great Black Digger is one of the few common milkweed pollinators.
A worker wasp of the species lives up to 16 days while the queen lives up to 6 times longer. They are not aggressive in nature and tend to ignore the human company. Most male Eastern Cicada-killer wasps quickly investigate possible threats to the female or possible males looking to mate with the female. The wasp has to kill one cockroach for each egg it lays. The body of these wasps is entirely steely blue or black in color, including their wings. A dominant female or multiple dominant female wasps are responsible for laying eggs inside the colony. The Metric Paper Wasp (Polistes metricus) is instantly recognizable by its rusty-red body. Just as their name suggests, the Common Thread-waisted Wasps can be recognized by their characteristic narrow waist. Theyll eat many other insects, as well as garbage and leftover food. However, the second, thicker stinger is actually an ovipositor through which they lay eggs. We have used EnviroCon Termite and Pest for over two years now and are always extremely satisfied with their product and service. They have three pairs of orangish legs and translucent wings tinged with orange. Guide To The Types of Wasps In Texas - Identification and Prevention. Genus Eumenes Family Vespidae Body length 0.9-1.9 centimeters. The wasp is also shown to prepare food for winter, particularly by storing honey in advance. By fall, the colony beings to die off during the cold weather, leaving the queen to overwinter and being anew when the weather turns. This solitary wasp (Sphecius speciosus) is instantly recognizable given its large size. All of the Texas species either follow the red and black abdomen pattern or the all black wasp pattern. Many of these colonies are run by multiple females while others are run by a queen female, a role typically given to the largest female in the colony. Otherwise both have the traditional black and yellow body coloration associated with yellowjackets. The female lays eggs in mud nests where she deposits several spiders as prey for the emerging wasps.
The European Hornets are the largest species of eusocial wasps that are endemic to Europe. These shelters are often rebuilt and repurposed from one season to another. These wasps have a minuscule body that is colored in the classic yellow and black. They are not aggressive and rarely sting humans. In this manner, these wasps are parasitic to a large number of wasps and bee species. If you follow these tips, youll maximize your chances of avoiding a wasp infestation. With well over ten thousand wasp species documented in the United States, the states large land mass and centralized location means it attracts wasp species from most corners of the United States. They have thin, wiry antennae, short black legs attached to a black body. Ten of the eleven species have been documented in Texas. 
Keep a healthy, lush lawn to avoid giving them anything to burrow into. While some of them are endemic to North America, others have been introduced from another continent. The Hyperparasitic Wasps are named so because they have hosted that, although insects are parasitic in nature themselves. In contrast with their dark body, they have bright orange wings with a blackish view on its edge. The female Weevil Wasps create cell-like structures in their nest, where they keep the paralyzed beetles they hunt so that the larvae from their eggs can feed on them.
Its not unusual to see a female Coarse-backed Red Paper wasp reach a length of 21.5mm. As their name suggests, they live in wool-like shelters. But prefer trees are red oaks and scarlet oaks. The first set of wings are much larger in comparison to the other one. The Metallic Bluish-green Cuckoo Wasp (Chrysis angolensis) is a species of parasitic wasps in Texas and a few other US areas. Its largely found in Texas and areas of New Mexico, California, and Mexico. Only the females sting. Both sexes appear alike except for the tail-like structure possessed only by females. Therefore, its best to watch them from a safe distance. Wasps are attracted to Dallas homes and other properties that provide plenty of places to nest or sources of food. Interestingly, common parasite wasps which may be found inside the nest are also activated during this pheromone release signaling possible common communication techniques. Hi, I am Elise McDonald, a wildlife blogger, and author. Genus Ectemnius Family Crabrodinae Body length 0.8-1 centimeter. Mud daubers can grow to between 1-1/2 and 2 inches long. Genus Chrysis Family Chysisididae Body length 0.5-0.8 centimeters. These wasps (Vespula squamosa) are known for their Texas and Central American distribution. Here are the most common Texas wasps and what makes them different. Most other wasps cant do these as they dont have small hair follicles on their lower body. Their burrow on the ground looks very much like the den of any small rodent. Thankfully, not everything is bigger in Texas, including wasps, yellow jackets, and other stinging insects. The population of the Eastern Yellowjackets can be divided into three groups: males, workers, and the queen. Its no secret, especially because of their loud singing, there are literally cicadas somewhere in Texas every summer season. A person who is allergic to their venom may experience anaphylaxis, which can be potentially life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Like other paper wasps, theres a lot of wood and plant fiber used in the creation of colonies. The wasps are known for stinging insects 3 times. The highest number of wasps or the peak population times for Metric Paper Wasp colonies are in early June and early July. Their body is generally hairless, although it is covered with their wings when theyre not in flight. However, this doesnt mean that they dont possess stingers. For example, the the Texas paper wasp (Polistes apachus) in the picture is a Southwest species and found mostly in West Texas. Other female wasps can use these burrows to lay their eggs as well. These are common around oak trees and oak forests. The female Scoliid Wasps hunt for the tunnels built by the Beetle grubs, sting the grubs to paralyze them, and then lay their eggs near their rear end. I have used this company and have had the same representative for 30+years. The best way to recognize these wasps is by their orange abdomen and two bright yellow spots present close to their waist. Its first segment is the thinnest. They can be considered beneficial insects because, depending on the species, they feed on pests such as grasshoppers and caterpillars. However, it is generally believed that these wasps are harmless. Wasps living throughout northeastern Texas are most active and most aggressive in late summer and fall when they are out in large numbers foraging for food, which is the time of year you are most likely to come into contact with wasps. Most species prey on related species, such as cicadas, spiders, or caterpillars.
There are literally thousands of wasp species in the state. The European Paper Wasps are a large species of wasp endemic to Europe. Genus Vespa Family Vespidae Body length 2.5-3.5 centimeters. The first picture shows the very commo Great Golden Digger Wasp, with the red and black abdomen. According to research cited by Texas A&M, at least 84 species are possibly considered to be velvet ants and occur in Texas. Wasps often see your movement as threatening--so when you see a wasp and understandably want to run away, that only makes the wasp more likely to chase and sting you. Eliminate water sources by fixing leaky pipes and fixtures. Over ten thousand species of Ichneumon wasps along, are documented in the United States. Male wasps are a few millimeters shorter. Size: About 1 inch Prevention: Spray wasp protection sprays on threatened areas, hang up a decoy wasps nest, avoid leaving food out. These wasps display a strong sexual dimorphism. They carry pollen on their abdomen.
Its believed these wasps release a special type of pheromone only when theres a potential predator around the colony which needs to be killed. Water particles are collected and mixed with dirt in a process that can last up to a few hours. The female wasps look for caterpillars which are brought back to the eggs burrows inside the ground. The wasp is also known as one of the few natural predators of the poisonous Black Widow spider. This species grows to a size of up to 20mm. Or conversely, if you see a black wasp in the yard carrying some grass, its probably going to build its nest. Nearctic Blue Mud-dauber wasps live in solitude. Behavior: Known for catching and feeding crickets to its offspring. The Cow Killer (Dasymutilla occidentalis) shown in the picture, is one of the larger species.
However, the wasps caught insect is seen as prey by birds. Identification: Black or dark brown with colorful yellow abdomen markings. Paper wasps place their nests up off of the ground in door frames, in trees, on utility poles, and under decks. Its one of the smaller species and common along the southern border of the United States. The female builds her nests to lay eggs in. While Cicada Killers are not dangerous wasps, their above average size (1 1/2 inches) can cause a stir. But these wasps are also some of the most resilient in the state as they can survive difficult cold weather climates in the winter. It has sufficient distinct characteristics to be easily identified. All of them have slight differences in their appearances. They build finger-like nests out of mud, usually inside sheds or barns. They mainly eat nectar and caterpillars. Its the all black wasp. The Apache Paper Wasp (Polistes apachus) has a brown-yellow body. Check your roof for holes, cracks, or loose shingles to avoid letting wasps in to nest in your attic or crawl spaces. This species also reproduces more than others. Dolichovespula yellowjackets build aerial nests. They often appear indoors, most commonly in late summer and fall. Growing up to two inches in length, it ranks among the largest wasps found in the United States. The females also have an ovipositor that curves downwards instead of standing straight. They use their mouths to remove wood fiber from pieces of wood or from plants which are repurposed into building materials for the nest. These wasps grow to a maximum size of 20mm. Although these wasps are called squarehead, the head of the Squarehead Wasps can be best described as a rounded cube. They are black in color but some may have a metallic blue sheen. Wasps. These wasps are raised to consume the Grasshoppers and Crickets, and not what the other wasp species feed on. Although both sexes have the same glossy black body, the males have a short abdomen, bulging legs, and a swollen tip that they use to sting. However, it is not actually a tail but instead a long ovipositor, a tube through which they deposit their eggs safely in the trunks of trees.
Genus Sphecius Family Crabronidae Body length 1.5-5 centimeters. Cicada killers prefer to build their nests in loose, sandy soil. However, if you try to touch or handle them, you can get stung. Additionally, paper wasps are commonly identified by their umbrella-shaped nests. Prevention: Seal any outside openings in your home as well as inside gaps and cracks. The Blue-winged Wasps are considered to be the friend of gardeners since they protect their flowers from the destructive insects, Japanese Beetles. While the formal list of Texas wasps might be buried in the bowels of an entomology department somewhere in the state, no comprehensive list exists can be easily found on the internet. Four Cicada Killer wasps have been documented in the United States. Sign up for one of our recurring pest control plans and get a FREE mosquito treatment valued at over $125. The males have a heavily banded body, while the queens are mostly yellow in color with black spots on the sides of their abdomen and a prominent diamond shape visible on their waist. A female assumes the dominance of these large nests. The eyes are a dead giveaway its not a yellowjacket. Wasps that arent part of the colony normally fly without a clear direction. The picture shows an Eastern Hornet Fly, with a remarkable ability to mimic yellowjackets. However, the cicadas are consumed by the larvae, and the adults mainly drink nectar from the flowering plants. Limit the number of flowering plants that are planted on your property. While mostly true, some native cicada species of Texas have yearly, two year and five year cycles.
make closed, football-like aerial nests on trees. Odds are they are Scoliid wasps. They can grow up to two inches in length. Mild handling will not lead to a sting. The Southern Yellowjacket wasp has also been seen eating dead animals. Keeping an eye out for nest building activity at the early stage represents the best control strategy. They are then born as both males and females but typically a lot smaller than the first generation of Gall wasps born earlier that year. They have black eyes, wings, and legs, while the rest of their body is either emerald, gold, or garnet in color. Like the Cuckoo birds, the Cuckoos wasps tend to lay their eggs in the nest of other bees. This parasitic wasp frequently curls up into a ball to avoid being eaten by predators.
They can be found throughout Texas, often in sandy soils. Ants are believed to be its biggest enemy. Similar to cicada killers, the females kill crickets and then lay eggs near the corpses so that the hatchling wasps will have food when they awaken. Amber-colored wings. Despite its size, the wasp isnt particularly aggressive towards humans. First, its believed its venom has antimicrobial action which recommends it for further scientific identification. These wasps are known for a limited diet. The wasps can be further identified by their black-red body with yellow stripes. At Addison Pest Control Of Texas, we are committed to providing each of our customers with superior pest control services to meet their individual needs. While the males possess only one stinger at the base of their body, the females are said to have two. Its name is derived from the Latin word of builder or builder of walls. While it is not common, wasps will sometimes build indoor nests and usually do so in attics, basements, chimneys, or wall voids. While this happens rarely, the sting is painful, often associated with the pain of the bald-faced hornet sting. They hunt caterpillars, which are the main diet of these wasps. Genus Taeniogonalos Family Trigonalidae Body length 0.6-0.8 centimeters. Behavior: They build large nests out of paper and saliva, which house hundreds of cells and hundreds to thousands of other yellow jackets. The female Great Golden Digger Wasps are known to be harassed by birds such as tanagers and robins while they are in flight with their prey, which is not seen with any other digger wasp species. For the most part, their common names describe their range. Their thighs and feet are black, with the legs in between being yellow. Finally, dont be fooled by the mimics. Although these wasps are not instinctively aggressive, they can sting if they feel threatened or handled. Our experienced and knowledgeable technicians always perform the most advanced, effective services.