Aug. 07--Bees and wasps are pollinators that benefit the environment -- a fact that might take out some of the sting of being named to a list of communities in the Chicago area with the most bees, wasps, yellow jackets, according to a pest control company.
The list of the top 10 communities with the most stinging insects was put together by Anderson Pest Solutions. It is based on the towns that had the most calls to the company requesting treatment for stinging insects.
Libertyville topped the list, with 18 percent of calls, Arlington Heights was at 17 percent, Lake Forest had 12 percent, Glenview came in at 10 percent, Vernon Hills was 9 percent, Downers Grove was 8 percent, Evanston was 7 percent, Gurnee was 7 percent, and Naperville and Palatine tied for last of the top ten, both at 6 percent.
Tom Dobrinska, technical director for Anderson, said a community's geographic size, and whether it has large houses or expansive yards, accounts for why it may have made the list.
"If you have a large house with a large surface area it provides a lot of resources where stinging insects can nest and hide," he said.
A community's location near open areas with vegetation also plays a role.
"Arlington Heights is right up against Busse Woods. It has numerous resources (for insects)," Dobrinska said.
To keep stinging insects from making your home theirs too, he suggests checking your house annually to make sure it doesn't have any deteriorating tuck pointing or cracks or holes that attract insects.
Acknowledging that insects aren't just pests, he also said when applying a chemical to eliminate a hive or nest it's important to target it and use as little as possible to keep it from spreading to flowers or gardens where other insects feed.
"You don't want to cause collateral damage," he said.
It might seem like a buzz kill to be named to the list, but it's not necessarily a bad thing.
Chris Prusa-VanVleet, assistant manager of perennials at The Growing Place in Naperville, said bees and wasps are pollinators that are crucial to a healthy garden -- and the environment overall.
"Without them we might as well kiss the earth goodbye," Prusa-VanVleet said. "What else would pollinate?"
amannion@tribpub.com
