How to Identify and Remove a Wasp Nest

How to Identify and Remove a Wasp Nest

Wasp nests are often thought of as papery, bulbous-looking hives that you’ll see hanging in trees or attached to the sides of homes. Nests can vary in appearance, however, depending on the species of wasp creating it. From yellow jackets to hornets, each has its own method for making a nest.

Finding a wasp nest on your home—inside or out—can cause a fright, especially if your discovery results in a sting or two. Fortunately, getting rid of these pests and making your home a peaceful space again is possible.

WHAT DOES A WASP NEST LOOK LIKE? 

Wasp nests look different depending on the species of wasp that constructed the nest. Most appear to be like paper balloons; they are spherical or cylindrical and have a swirl-like pattern outside. Some versions of these nests have a single hole. Some have multiple small slits where insects come in and out. Others look completely sealed. A few look like pipes, and others are open with many holes to the outside. 

While natural nests made with mud, tree debris, or plants may look gray or brown, it’s also possible for a wasp nest to be very colorful. This can happen if the wasps chewed up colored newspapers or colorful plants to use as building materials for the nest. 

As far as size goes, some wasp nests are small enough for just a single wasp. Others are huge, looking like large basketballs up in a tree or piñatas hanging from a home’s eaves. 

If you’re unsure if a wasp nest is what you’re looking at, look around for flying insects (from a protected distance, of course). You may be able to identify the insect rather than the nest since many nests do look similar. Keep in mind that if you’re worried about wasps, you don’t have to identify them before you contact us at Moxie Pest Control. We’ll come take a look and let you know what kind of nest you’re dealing with (as well as if it’s active). We can also remove it and take preventative measures to keep these stinging insects from returning. 

TYPES OF WASP NESTS

Identifying the kind of pest you’re dealing with might be simpler if you can take a photo of the insect itself, but for your own protection, checking out the nest from afar is often a better choice. If you can see the nest without getting too close or disturbing its inhabitants, you may be able to determine the type of species by looking at the nest and how it’s structured.

PAPER WASP 

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Paper wasps (Polistes spp.) use the fibers of dead wood and plants to make nests that stick together with their saliva. The nests look like brown or gray paper. Sometimes, these nests can become colorful if the wasps use paper fibers from newspapers or other kinds of colorful paper debris.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND IT? 

Nests are common in residential areas. Paper wasps build their nests in the shrubbery around homes, on houses, in trees, and even in windowpanes. 

OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS

Paper wasps are found all over the United States.

MUD DAUBER 

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Open pipe mud daubers (Trypoxylon politum) make nests that look like pipes. When the nest is inactive, it will have many holes. When active, it will have only a few, and bees will be around them. The wasp’s nest is made solely of mud.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND IT?

Look on the sides of houses or sheds to see if there is mud. At first, it might just look like a single mud streak. If so, a nest could be in the process of being built. Check under the eaves of your home, against bricks, and behind shutters for these pesky wasps. 

OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS

Mud daubers are found all over the United States. You might see mud daubers at work after it rains when mud is aplenty. Or, if you have a sprinkler system, they may make a habit of being in the area after a recent watering.

YELLOWJACKET 

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Yellowjackets (Vespula spp.) are aggressive wasps that live in nests in and above the ground.

Nests are usually underground, but those above ground are made from wood fiber. They have horizontal combs inside. After those combs are developed, the entire hive is covered in an envelope (a paper-like shell) with a single hole at the bottom. 

WHERE CAN YOU FIND IT? 

Yellowjacket nests are common around the eaves of homes, on tree branches, in some kinds of shrubbery, and in wood, such as in tree roots or railroad ties used in gardens. Yellowjackets will swarm aggressively if disturbed and are often out in significant numbers around their home during the daytime.

OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS

A single queen builds the entire nest annually. If you can catch the queen in action, you can wipe out the entire colony before it begins.

CICADA KILLER 

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Cicada killers (Sphecius speciosus) are solitary wasps. They build their homes along sidewalk edges or in light-textured soils, trees with cicadas, and flower beds. 

WHERE CAN YOU FIND IT? 

Cicada killers dig tunnels to create a home for their young, so you may notice soil being displaced if they’re making a home in your yard. It’s common to find cicada killers making homes in sandy areas. 

OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS

Keeping soil or sand wet and turning it regularly can help discourage cicada killers from calling your property their home. If their needs are met where they are, they will stay and thrive, so you have to make the habitat uninhabitable for them.

BALD-FACED HORNET 

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

The bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) is related to the yellowjacket. They build suspended nests above ground. Their nests are gray and paperlike. Unlike other kinds of paper-nesting insects, bald-faced hornets fully enclose the nest and enter through small openings that aren’t readily apparent. 

WHERE CAN YOU FIND IT? 

The nests of the bald-faced hornets can be a foot or more in total diameter. They are usually 10–12 feet off the ground. They’re commonly found on houses, utility poles, overhangs, and sheds. 

OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS

You’ll find bald-faced hornets all over the United States. They will be flying around the nest (as well as nearby) if you have a nest in your area.

Bald-faced hornets rest at night, so most professionals will remove nests closer to sunrise or sunset.

EUROPEAN HORNET 

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

European hornets (Vespa crabro Linnaeus) are also known as brown or giant hornets and make nests with or without a brown, papery envelope, depending on location.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND IT? 

Nests are normally made in areas like hollow trees, in wall voids, on porches, and in attics. Only nests that aren’t covered will have a papery exterior. 

OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS

European hornets are found in only 31 states ranging from the eastern seaboard to eastern North/South Dakota. They live as far south as New Orleans.

Keep in mind that there are imitators out in the wild. Other insects, such as the hoverfly, may try to imitate bees and wasps. Some will sneak into wasp nests and lay eggs, so they inhabit the same space as the wasps at the same time. Other times, hoverflies will take over an abandoned nest. 

So although there’s a wasp nest around your home, it might not house the pests you expect. Our field experts will come to your home and identify whether the nest is active as well as what’s active inside. Then we can discuss ways to eliminate the pest so that you can have peace of mind without risking stings.

HOW DO I GET RID OF A WASP NEST?

Wasps can be aggressive insects, which is why we don’t advise that anyone try to remove a nest on their own. Our team of field experts is specially trained and equipped to get rid of nests. 

Since wasps are most active during the day, we’ll often schedule removal in the early morning or late in the day. This ensures there will be more wasps in the nest at that time, and, ideally, they will be more docile than during the height of their activity in the daytime. 

Repeat Nest Builders: Wasps use pheromones, chemical messengers that travel through the air, to communicate and coordinate behaviors with other wasps. The use of pheromones makes it more likely for wasps to return to the same area to build a nest in the future. 

After our professional team removes the nest, we encourage homeowners to keep the area clean and give us a call if wasps return. That’s one of the reasons we include free, unlimited warranty services—the sooner we can take care of any new nests, the better. 

SHOULD I LEAVE A WASP NEST?

Since we know wasps can be aggressive, it’s important to consult an expert. Wasps sometimes kill pollinators (like honeybees) and can damage your house. On top of that, you may have to avoid parts of your property when they’re present, taking away your enjoyment of your home.

Wasps that don’t seem to pose a threat might seem like they can remain where they are, but remember that colonies can grow when left unaddressed. It’s particularly important to take action if the nest has aggressive wasps or if you, a family member, or your pet has been stung.

If you have an allergy to wasp stings, we recommend calling us to have the nest removed as soon as possible. We’ll also discuss preventative measures to keep the pests from returning. 

LET US HANDLE YOUR WASP PROBLEM

At Moxie Pest Control, we know that wasps can be a real problem for our neighbors. Not only are they frightening and potentially dangerous, but they can also damage property and make some parts of your yard or home unusable when they’re active. Whether you can identify the nest you’ve seen or not, give us a call. We’ll chat about your options and help you pick the right solution for your situation.

SOURCES

Author Bio

Courtney Enzor has worked in the pest control industry for about a decade. From helping you build a fly trap to giving you the best tips for identifying various bugs, she loves answering all your pest-related questions and sharing her pest-related expertise through writing. At the end of the day, she hopes her content will help people avoid mishaps and keep families happy and healthy!

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