Ask the Expert: Stinging Insects

Anna Hansen, Technical Services Support Specialist, MGK

What are some of the biggest challenges with stinging insects?

Stinging insects come with a unique set of challenges. Customers often request emergency service for anything resembling bees or wasps due to fear of being stung. A pest management professional doesn’t want to be stung any more than a customer does, making personal safety a top priority.

Typically, we recommend stinging insect applications at dusk or dawn, when insects are least active. However, that timing doesn’t always work in a technician’s busy schedule. Many applications must be made while balancing on a ladder, adding another layer of complexity and safety concern to a stinging insect treatment. To treat stinging insects as safely and effectively as possible, keep the following tips in mind:

1. Take slow, steady breaths and maintain your composure. The calmer your movements, the more likely you are to act safely, and the less likely you are to agitate the insects.
2. Don’t neglect proper PPE, including a bee suit, gloves, and eye protection. This added step may feel like a hassle, but as the saying goes—better to have it and not need it.
3. Leverage tools that help you to keep your distance. Extendable dusters and powerful aerosols are examples of tools that allow you to treat from afar. 

What should I look for in a product when treating stinging insects?

Your approach to treating stinging insects should vary depending on the species, their level of aggression, and nest location. Product selection is a key part of that approach. Instead of relying on any one product or formulation, select the product most appropriate for your specific situation. When choosing a product to face a horde of potentially angry stinging insects, some features to consider include: 

• Power—the ability to spray from a distance
• Accuracy—the ability to hit the target without wasting product
• Knockdown—the ability to take out the target quickly, often within seconds

Residual is an additional feature to consider for ongoing control. Whatever attracted the original queen to nest in that location is likely to attract future queens. Select a product that will kill off any foragers returning to the nest and prevent future queens from establishing a new nest in that location. 

What stinging insect product would you recommend? 

Onslaught® PowerShot is the newest addition to the trusted Onslaught family, known for reliable perimeter control. Like its family, Onslaught PowerShot delivers effective control, filling multiple needs within one product. The lightweight, ready-to-use aerosol can be used one-handed, leaving the other free to hold onto a ladder. Accurate applications from a distance provide another layer of safety for technicians.

Another key benefit of this aerosol is the reduced risk of staining due to its water-based formulation. Oil-based formulations have an increased risk of staining, especially on older siding. Lower the risk of customer complaints and costly repairs by reaching for a water-based formulation like Onslaught PowerShot. You can also use this aerosol to treat other tough pests, including scorpions. Always read the label and apply according to the label instructions. 

Stinging insects are scary pests, and scared customers can be more difficult to communicate with. Combine your knowledge of pest biology with tools like the rapid, effective treatment of Onslaught PowerShot to build trust with your customers and address their—and your—safety concerns.