Wasps & Hornets: Identification and Control Guide

Safely identify and deal with wasp and hornet nests around your home and yard.

Wasps & Hornets: Identification and Control Guide

About Wasps & Hornets

Wasps and hornets are stinging insects that become significant pests when they nest on or near homes. Unlike honey bees, most wasps and hornets can sting multiple times and will do so readily when threatened. For the approximately 3% of the population with venom allergies, wasp stings can be life-threatening. For everyone else, stings are painful but rarely dangerous unless you receive a large number simultaneously.

Wasps are also beneficial — they’re important predators of caterpillars, flies, and other insects, and some species are important pollinators. Control is warranted when nests pose a hazard, not simply because wasps are present.

Identification

Yellow jackets — The most aggressive common species. About ½ inch, bright yellow and black banded abdomen. Build papery nests in cavities: underground, in wall voids, under decks. Strongly attracted to food and sweet drinks at outdoor gatherings.

Paper wasps — Slender, 1 inch, with a distinctive narrow waist. Brown with yellow or red markings. Build open, umbrella-shaped nests under eaves, on fences, and in shrubs. Less aggressive than yellow jackets but will sting if the nest is disturbed.

Bald-faced hornets — Large (¾ inch), black with white face markings. Build large, enclosed papery nests in trees, shrubs, and on buildings. Highly defensive and will attack with little provocation.

European hornets — The largest common wasp in the US, about 1 inch. Brown with yellow striping. Active at night, attracted to lights. Nest in tree hollows and wall voids.

Mud daubers — Solitary, non-aggressive wasps that build small mud nests. Rarely sting. Beneficial as they capture spiders.

Signs of wasp/hornet activity:

  • Visible nest construction (papery material, mud tubes)
  • High traffic of wasps flying in and out of a single point
  • Wasp activity around sweet foods and drinks outdoors

Prevention Tips

  1. Seal entry points — In late fall, seal gaps in siding, eaves, rooflines, and around utility penetrations to prevent queens from overwintering
  2. Cover food and drinks outdoors — Yellow jackets are strongly attracted to sweet beverages and meat
  3. Keep trash sealed — Secure lids on outdoor trash cans
  4. Remove old nests — Old nests won’t be reused by the same colony, but may attract new queens in spring. Remove after winter when nests are empty
  5. Inspect early — Check eaves, overhangs, and wall joints for early nest construction each spring

Treatment

Treat at night when wasps are in the nest and most torpid. Wear protective clothing. Have an escape route planned.

For aerial nests: Use a jet-spray aerosol wasp killer from a safe distance (15-20 feet). Apply directly into the nest opening.

For underground nests: Apply dust or liquid drench into the nest opening at night.

For wall void nests: Apply dust through the entry point or consult a professional if you can’t access the void.

When to Call a Professional

  • Large nests (basketball-sized or larger)
  • Nests in inaccessible wall voids
  • Anyone in household has a venom allergy
  • Previous treatment attempts failed

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