Stinging & Biting Insects

Africanized ("Killer") Bees

Africanized "killer" bees looks so much like a regular honeybee that the only way to tell the two apart is by measuring their bodies. A dangerous stinging insect, Africanized bees have different wing measurements than honeybees.

Bald-faced Hornets

This atypically large black-and-white relative of the yellow jacket gets its common name from its largely black color but mostly white face. It is named a hornet because of its large size and aerial nest.

Blacklegged (Deer) Ticks

A notorious biting insect, the blacklegged tick is named for its dark legs, which are a contrast to its pale body. Blacklegged ticks are sometimes called deer ticks.

Bumble Bees

Bumble bees are beneficial insects because they pollinate crops and plants.

Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees look like typical bumblebees but often lack yellow stripes. They are solitary bees.

Chicken Mites (Bird Mites)

Chicken mites, also known as bird mites, get their common name because they live on the skin of a wide variety of birds, but especially chickens. They become structural pests when they migrate from bird nests into buildings and attack humans. They are found throughout the United States and worldwide.

European Hornet

This hornet (also called Giant hornet) gets its common name from its introduction from Europe into the New York area in the 1800's. European hornets are much larger than yellow jackets and unlike most stinging insects, can be active at night.

Flea

Fleas are parasites that feed on the blood of any warm-blooded body. The most common species is the cat flea, which often feasts on cats, dogs and humans.

Honey Bees

Honey bees are social insects found all over the world. They are an extremely important beneficial insect because of their role in pollination. Honey bees pollinate more than 100 crops in the U.S.

Mosquitoes

One of the best known summer pests, mosquitoes breed in stagnant water or soft soil and can develop from egg to adult in 10 to 14 days.

Open Pipe Mud Daubers

This group of wasps gets its common name from the fact that they construct their nest of mud. Mud daubers are found throughout the United States.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps get their common name from the paper-like material out of which they make their nests. Paper wasps are sometimes called umbrella wasps, after the shape of their distinctive nests. Various species are found throughout the United States.

Velvet ("Cow Killers") Ants

The common name of "velvet ant" is misleading because velvet ants are actually wasps. They get the velvet part of their name from the very fuzzy females, which are wingless and often brightly colored. Various species of cow killer ants are found throughout the United States.

Yellowjackets

There are several species of yellowjackets. These flying insects typically have a yellow and black head/face and patterned abdomen. Many say, the pattern resembles stripes. Signature to species, the abdomen pattern can help an entomologist or pest professional identify specific types of yellowjackets.