Stinging insects around the house
By August in southwest Michigan, yellow jacket colonies are at their biggest and most aggressive. They show up at every cookout, nest in the ground under the lawn, and build in wall voids and under decks. Paper wasps hang their umbrella-shaped nests under eaves and railings, mud daubers build mud tubes on siding and in garages, and carpenter bees bore perfectly round holes into fascia boards and decks.
Johnson Pest Control treats bees and wasps as part of our regular general pest control plans, and through an exterior-only summer service if that’s all you need.
What we treat
- Yellow jackets: black and yellow, nesting in the ground, wall voids and shrubs. They peak in late summer and are the main culprit at picnics.
- Paper wasps: long-legged wasps with open, papery nests under eaves, railings and play sets.
- Mud wasps (mud daubers): build tube-shaped mud nests on siding, in garages and in sheds. Usually not aggressive, but messy.
- Carpenter bees: large bees that look like bumblebees with shiny black abdomens. They drill into untreated or weathered wood and come back to the same holes year after year.
How we treat stinging insects
Our seasonal plans are timed to their life cycle:
- Spring visit (March-May): targets mud wasps and carpenter bees as they become active and start building.
- Summer visit (May-August): yellow jackets and other flying and stinging insects are especially targeted because they’re most active this time of year.
Our organic yard fogger also handles wasps and other nuisance insects as part of our mosquito, flea and tick program.
Plans and pricing
Exterior-only summer building spray (April-October): $99 per visit. A good fit if wasps and outdoor insects are your main problem.
Year-round general pest plans (interior and exterior, insects and rodents) start with a $165 initial visit, then:
- Organic Gold: $96.25 a visit, monthly, with unlimited free service calls between visits, so a new nest in mid-summer is covered
- Organic Silver: $99.25 a visit, 7 visits a year, 2 free service calls a year
- Organic Bronze: $112.93 a visit, quarterly, 1 free service call a year
No contract. Our plans are pay-as-you-go, and you can cancel anytime. A $50 cancellation fee applies.
Scheduling: on every plan, the first two visits are two weeks apart.
Need just one nest taken care of? Call for a quote on a one-time treatment. See the full price list.
Stay safe until we get there
- Don’t swat at or block a yellow jacket nest entrance. They defend it aggressively.
- Don’t pour gasoline or other chemicals into ground nests. It’s dangerous and often doesn’t work.
- Keep kids and pets away from the area, and note where the insects are flying in and out.
- If anyone in the house has a known sting allergy, tell us when you call.
Frequently asked questions
There’s a nest by my front door. How soon can you come?
Call us and we’ll get you on the schedule as soon as we can.
Will carpenter bees come back?
They often return to old holes. Treating in spring when they’re active, then filling or sealing the holes once they’re gone, gives the best results.
Is the treatment safe for my garden?
We use organic products and focus on the nest or problem area.
Get stinging insects under control
Call (269) 459-1788 or sign up online.