Stinging Insects

Stinging insects are a common concern for Michigan homeowners, especially during the warmer months. While many species are beneficial in the environment, some become aggressive, build nests close to human activity, or pose a safety risk. Proper identification is critical, as control methods vary widely depending on the species involved.

Below are the most common stinging insects encountered around homes in Michigan.

Yellowjackets

Overview
Yellowjackets are one of the most aggressive stinging insects in Michigan and a frequent cause of stings around homes.

Behavior
They build nests underground, in wall voids, or inside structural cavities. Yellowjackets aggressively defend their nests and become more hostile in late summer and early fall.

How to Identify Them
Yellowjackets are yellow and black with smooth bodies and rapid flight. They are commonly seen around garbage, food, and outdoor gatherings.

Why They’re a Pest
Their aggression and tendency to nest near human activity make them a serious safety concern, especially for children and pets.

Bald-Faced Hornets

Overview
Bald-faced hornets are large, highly defensive stinging insects commonly found in Michigan.

Behavior
They build large, enclosed paper nests above ground in trees, shrubs, and on structures. They aggressively defend nests and will attack perceived threats.

How to Identify Them
They are black with white markings and noticeably larger than yellowjackets. Their nests are gray, football-shaped, and highly visible.

Why They’re a Pest
Their size, aggression, and nest placement near homes create a significant sting risk.

Paper Wasps

Overview
Paper wasps are common around homes and are less aggressive than yellowjackets but still capable of stinging.

Behavior
They build open, umbrella-shaped nests under eaves, soffits, decks, and door frames. They defend nests if disturbed.

How to Identify Them
Paper wasps are slender with long legs and brown, reddish, or yellow coloring. Their open-cell nests are easy to recognize.

Why They’re a Pest
Nests near entrances and high-traffic areas increase the risk of accidental stings.

Ground-Nesting Wasps (Often Called “Ground Bees”)

Overview
Ground-nesting wasps are commonly misidentified as ground bees but are actually aggressive stinging wasps, most often a type of yellowjacket. These are among the most dangerous stinging insects encountered around Michigan homes.

Behavior
They build nests underground in lawns, mulch beds, and along foundations. Nests may be hidden with only a small entry hole visible. When disturbed by foot traffic, mowing, or landscaping, they can swarm and sting repeatedly.

How to Identify Them
Ground-nesting wasps are often mistaken for bees, but key identifiers include:

• Smooth, shiny bodies rather than fuzzy

• Rapid, aggressive flight when approached

• A visible hole in the ground with wasps entering and exiting

• Defensive behavior when the area is disturbed

Why They’re a Pest
These wasps pose a serious safety risk to homeowners, children, and pets. Because nests are hidden underground, people are often stung before realizing a nest is present. Professional treatment is strongly recommended due to their aggression and nesting location.
Mud Daubers

Overview
Mud daubers are solitary wasps commonly seen on the exterior of homes.

Behavior
They build small mud nests on siding, under eaves, and in garages. Mud daubers are not aggressive and rarely sting.

How to Identify Them
They are dark-colored with a narrow waist and build hardened mud tubes or clusters attached to surfaces.

Why They’re a Pest
They are primarily a nuisance due to staining and nest buildup rather than a safety threat.

Cicada Killers

Overview
Cicada killers are large wasps that often alarm homeowners due to their size.

Behavior
They nest in soil and are solitary by nature. Males are territorial but cannot sting; females rarely sting unless handled.

How to Identify Them
They are very large with black and yellow markings and are often seen flying low over lawns or bare soil.

Why They’re a Pest
Their size and nesting activity can be intimidating, though they pose minimal actual risk.

Carpenter Bees

Overview
Carpenter bees are common in Michigan and are often mistaken for bumble bees.

Behavior
They bore into untreated or weathered wood to create nesting tunnels. They are generally non-aggressive but can cause repeated wood damage over time.

How to Identify Them
Carpenter bees resemble bumble bees but have a shiny, hairless black abdomen, unlike bumble bees’ fuzzy bodies.

Why They’re a Pest
Their nesting activity can cause cosmetic and structural wood damage if left untreated.

Bumble Bees

Overview
Bumble bees are beneficial pollinators and are typically not a pest concern.

Behavior
They nest in the ground or protected cavities and are generally non-aggressive unless their nest is disturbed.

How to Identify Them
Bumble bees are large and fuzzy with rounded bodies and dense hair, especially on the abdomen.

Why They’re Usually Not a Concern
They play an important role in pollination and rarely sting unless provoked. Control is rarely necessary.

Honey Bees

Overview
Honey bees are essential pollinators and are protected due to their environmental importance.

Behavior
They form large colonies and may occasionally establish hives in structures.

How to Identify Them
Honey bees are golden-brown with fuzzy bodies and are less aggressive than wasps.

Why They Are Not Exterminated
Honey bees are not exterminated. If a hive is present, relocation by a local beekeeper or professional bee removal service is strongly recommended.

Not Sure What You’re Dealing With?

Correct identification is critical with stinging insects. If you’re unsure which species you’re seeing or whether treatment is necessary, use the contact form and we’ll help determine the safest and most appropriate solution.