Do You Know the Difference Between These 6 Illinois Stinging Pests?

Do You Know the Difference Between These 6 Illinois Stinging Pests?

Summary: Stinging insects are most active in the summer, so it’s important to know the difference between the species. This blog examines the lifestyles of 6 stinging pests that are common in Illinois. Pointe Pest Control stops stinging pests with efficient solutions.

Nothing says “summer” like a buzzing swarm of stinging insects. These pests are energized by the heat, so they’re thriving in these high temperatures. We know that it’s best to steer clear of stinging insects, especially if you’re allergic to their venom. But how do you tell the difference between each species? It’s all about the 3 A’s: appearance, attitude, and accommodations.

Let’s discuss the life and times of 6 stinging pests that we see every summer in Illinois, then find out how to prevent them from taking over your yard.

Yellow Jackets

Their Helpful Habit: Controlling the smaller pest population

Their Worst Habit: Being even angrier in the fall when their food sources are low

Yellow jackets have black and yellow stripes all over their smooth, shiny bodies. There can be thousands in one colony if it’s left alone long enough to grow. They help keep the pest population down by killing and feeding smaller bugs to their larvae. Yellow jackets are also called “meat bees” for their tendency to hover above meat and pet food.

Easily the angriest pests of them all, yellow jackets are extremely aggressive. Their underground nests are in old rodent burrows or in the lawn, so it’s unfortunately easy to disturb them. Yellow jackets can sting multiple times. These stings aren’t the worst of the bunch (we’ll get to those), but they aren’t pleasant either.

Mud Daubers

Their Helpful Habit: Greatly controlling the spider population

Their Worst Habit: Making ugly mud tubes on houses and buildings

Talk about an alien-looking pest! Mud daubers are the standouts on this list, thanks to their unique appearance and nesting habits. They’re about one inch long with a skinny waist and metallic black or blue coloring. These are solitary wasps, so they live with their own family instead of a colony. They live in small mud tubes crafted on the sides of houses, sheds, and eaves.

The great news about mud daubers is that they aren’t defensive at all. If their mud tube is destroyed, they’ll just start a new one. The ones who should really fear mud daubers are spiders. These wasps paralyze each spider before feeding it to their young, who drink the arachnid’s innards. Once their young become adults, they move out and start their own families.

Baldfaced Hornets

Their Helpful Habit: Slightly controlling the smaller pest population

Their Worst Habit: Delivering extremely painful stings

These hornets got their name from their strikingly pale faces that are contrasted by their mostly black coloring. When these pests are left alone, they are some of the most relaxed insects out there. They just mind their business by expanding their football-sized nests that are found in trees. Their colonies are smaller since they have hundreds of members instead of the usual thousands.

However, things take a turn when their nest is disturbed. Baldfaced hornets are very territorial and will switch into defense mode at the drop of a hat. They deliver multiple venomous stings to their enemies, and these stings are reported to be some of the most painful of the bunch. If you see baldfaced hornets, it’s best to let them “bee” (pun intended).

Bumblebees

Their Helpful Habit: Pollinating plants and flowers with buzz pollination

Their Worst Habit: Defending their underground nests

They don’t have much competition, but bumblebees are one of the cutest pests ever. They’re covered in black and yellow fuzz and are clearly larger than honeybees. Bumblebees live in underground nests, often found in compost piles or old rodent burrows. They’re more active at dusk and dawn in the summer in order to avoid the hot temperatures.

Bumblebees are great pollinators, but they have a unique process. Buzz pollination is when the bee flaps its wings (130 beats a second!) near a flower to make it vibrate enough to release pollen. This also helps the plants, so it’s a win-win. Since bumblebees don’t swarm, it’s not awful if they’re disturbed. They can sting us multiple times, so it’s still not a great idea to annoy them.

Paper Wasps

Their Helpful Habit: Controlling the smaller pest population

Their Worst Habit: Building their giant nests on houses and buildings

When you think of wasps, paper wasps are probably one of the first that comes to mind. They are dark brown with yellow stripes and dark wings. Their name is based on the papery nests they build out of chewed cellulose or plant material and saliva. These nests are usually attached to buildings or eaves, which makes it easy for us to accidentally disturb them.

If we leave them alone, paper wasps tend to leave us alone — but they won’t hesitate to sting us when it counts. These omnivores help control the pest population by feeding small bugs to their larvae. It’s no substitute for actual pest control, but it still helps. The workers die off before winter, so the queen is responsible for starting a new colony every spring.

Honeybees

Their Helpful Habit: Pollinating and creating delicious honey

Their Worst Habit: Infesting tree cavities

Finally, we’ve come to the least pest-like insect on the list. Honeybees aren’t treated by pest control companies (including Pointe) because they are such beneficial pollinators. Removal and relocation services are more appropriate. These bees die after stinging once because their barbed stingers get stuck in our skin. Otherwise, the workers only live for 5 to 6 weeks.

When they’re gathering nectar, honeybees collect more pollen because of their fuzzy legs. The honey-making process is fascinating since it relies on the hard work and foraging skills of the bees. They technically make honey as a winter food source, when all of the bees huddle in their hive. But don’t worry about enjoying their honey; these bees make 2 to 3 times more than they need!

How to Prevent Stinging Pests

Now that we know more about the usual suspects of stinging pest invasions, it’s time to move into the “solutions” stage. The key to preventing these pests is making your yard and house less inviting for their nests.

The most efficient ways to prevent stinging pests are:

• Maintain the yard — When everything is overgrown, stinging pests can hide more easily. Keep everything trimmed by regularly pruning the bushes, plants, and tree branches. Mow the lawn at least once a week and make sure it’s getting enough water.

• Check for nests consistently — While you’re outside, make it a habit to constantly check your house and yard for stinging pest nests. If you see multiple stinging pests buzzing around a specific area, there’s a good chance that a nest is nearby.

• Protect your drinks — Stinging pests, especially yellow jackets, love sweet drinks because they enjoy flower nectar. When you want to enjoy a sweet beverage outside, keep the bugs at bay by putting it in a lidded bottle or using a drink cover (found on Etsy or at craft stores).

• Remove entry points — Stinging pests are bad enough outdoors, but they’re even worse indoors. Inspect your house for cracks and gaps and seal these with waterproof caulk. Replace any weathered window and door screens with new mesh that’s free of rips.

• Guard your pet’s food — Yellow jackets are also called “meat bees” because they hover above protein-packed foods, like dry pet food. Store your dog or cat’s dry food in an airtight container. After they finish feeding, move their dish indoors if it’s not already there.

• Contact professional pest control — Long story short, stinging pest issues need to be solved by professionals. There’s too high of a risk of angering these pests if you try and fail to remove their nests. If you find an active nest on your property, contact the professionals.

Pointe Takes the Sting Out of Summer

Stinging pests can be intimidating, but you don’t have to fear these angry pests when you have Pointe Pest Control on speed dial. Our highly-trained technicians solve every stinging pest problem with the utmost care and efficiency. We have the proper safety equipment that allows us to get close enough to treat the pests without the risk of harm.

When it comes to stinging pests, you need long-term solutions that will actually keep them away for good. Leave the hassle of pest control to the pros. Contact us for a free quote on our efficient pest control services today!

Citations

10 facts about honey bees!. (n.d.). National Geographic Kids. Retrieved July 15, 2025, from https://www.natgeokids.com/au/discover/animals/insects/honey-bees/

A homeowner’s guide to 7 common wasps and bees in Illinois. (n.d.). Garella Pest Services. Retrieved July 15, 2025, from https://www.gpest.com/blog/common-wasps-bees-illinois

Harney, C. (2025, June 19). A simple guide to preventing stinging pests. Green Pest Services. Available at https://greenpestservices.net/simple-guide-to-preventing-stinging-pests/ (Accessed on July 15, 2025).