Yellowjackets surge in Michigan’s southeast, experts say cause is trophallaxis

Yellowjackets have become a common pest in Michigan, stinging and biting residents during summer and fall. A noticeable rise in their numbers has prompted residents to ask why they are being stung more often. Experts say the increase is linked to trophallaxis, a process that allows yellowjackets to transfer food and bodily fluids among themselves.

Dion DeGennaro, president of Sergio’s Pest Control in West Bloomfield, explained that when bee colonies die off in late summer and early fall, yellowjackets lose their main food source—bee larvae—and rely on humans for sustenance. He noted that southeastern Michigan has seen larger numbers of the insect, and that yellowjackets build nests in gaps in bricks, on siding, and in bushes.

Sarah Hughson, an arthropod diagnostician at Michigan State University, says yellowjackets peak in late summer and early fall, becoming more aggressive due to stress from declining food sources. Farrin Forsberg, a resident of Okemos, reported a sharp increase in yellowjackets around his house and an anaphylactic shock after being stung. DeGennaro recommends calling a professional to handle the problem and suggests avoiding small holes in yards while mowing and planting gardens.

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