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IN PAKISTAN
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Peak Season Alert: Learn How Yellow Paper Wasps Pose Human Health Hazards
By: Ahmad Mujtaba
This isn’t just another insect—it’s an airborne threat with venom in its sting. And in peak season, it multiplies fast. This summer, are you prepared? Yellow paper wasps (Polistes versicolor) are subtropical social wasp, locally known as peela bhar, dainbu or tambouri in Pakistan. These stinging insects that build open papery nests under ceilings, balconies, roofs, and machinery.
In this blog, you’ll exclusively come to know about its mode of damage, lifecycle and effective strategies to control it, specially designed to promote awareness by the TPL experts.
How do They Look like…?
- Medium-sized wasp, nearly 15-20 mm in length with bright yellow body.
- Queens are the same size as They may look larger in flight due to long drooping/dangling legs.
- Antennae are orange-yellow in
- The longer antennae of male paper wasps tend to have curved tips.
What do Yellow Paper Wasps Eat….?
- The adults mainly feed on sugary foods for energy especially plant nectar & pollen.
- Yellow paper wasps tend to hunt insects as well such as spiders, caterpillars, webworms and honeydew.
Yellow Paper Wasp Lifecycle:
- Eggs are laid in open cells of the paper
- Larvae hatch within a few days and are fed by worker
- Pupation occurs in capped cells and the cycle completes in 3–4 weeks depending upon the
- Paper wasp queens begin their nests in spring when the weather becomes warm.
Wasps Nesting:
Paper wasps make their nests by chewing up wood and plant material, then mixing it with saliva. Following that, they use this paper paste to construct the nest where they reside. Typically, the nest is made up of a series of individual cells into which the queen lays an egg, and the larva grows, then pupation occurs. The adults rest on the outside of the nest.
Mud dauber and potter wasps are solitary species. The females build individual cells made of mud, into which she lays a single egg. She then collects prey which she pushes into each cell to provide food for the larva. The shape and structure of these nests can also be used to identify the species.
Mud dauber wasps tend to have a messy nest with mud coating.
A colony may have 200–300 individuals during peak season.
Colonies reach their maximum size and aggression during the summer months (May–August).
Controlling Yellow Paper Wasps | What TPL Suggests!
The best way to prevent unpleasant encounters with social wasps is to avoid them. If you know where they are, try not to go near their nesting places. Wasps can become very defensive when their nest is disturbed. TPL experts recommend the following steps:
- Conduct physical inspection of high-risk zones during early nesting season.
- Seal entry points, cracks, and voids in buildings to prevent re-nesting.
- Avoid direct Wasps sting, when they feel threatened.
- Wasp traps and baits can also be used for
- Apply insecticides such as Delt in sheltered nesting
What are the solutions for injuries caused by Yellow paper wasp?
If stung by yellow paper wasp, immediate measures include washing the affected area with soap and water. This will prevent infection and apply a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling. Avoid scratching the sting area of the body in order to lessen the risk of infection.
The ones with severe reactions should seek professional advice immediately. It’s also important to keep the area clean and monitor for signs of severe allergic reaction during the recovery period.
Still have Queries? TPL (PVT) pest control services are there for you just a call away!
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