Yellowjackets, Hornets or Wasps? How to Tell What's Nesting on Your Property
Every summer in Western New York, stinging insects build nests near doors, decks and play areas. Knowing which one you have helps you decide what to do next and how careful to be.
How do I tell yellowjackets, hornets and wasps apart?
| Insect | Look | Nest | Typical behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper wasp | Slender, long dangling legs in flight, brown or black with yellow or red marks | Open, umbrella-shaped comb, cells visible, under eaves, railings, grills | Usually not aggressive unless the nest is disturbed |
| Yellowjacket | Compact, bright yellow and black bands, fast side-to-side flight | Enclosed paper nest, usually underground or inside walls, sheds or attics | Defensive near the nest; drawn to food and drinks in late summer |
| Bald-faced hornet | Black and white, larger than a yellowjacket | Large, enclosed gray football-shaped paper nest in trees, shrubs or on buildings | Very defensive of the nest |
| European hornet | Large, brown and yellow | Hollow trees, wall voids, attics | Active at night too; attracted to lights |
| Honeybee | Fuzzy, golden-brown, rounder body | Wax comb in hollow trees or walls; swarms hang in a cluster | Gentle away from the hive; important pollinators |
Penn State Extension has helpful fact sheets with photos for the eastern yellowjacket, the bald-faced hornet and the European hornet. One surprise from those sheets: the bald-faced hornet isn't a true hornet at all. It's an aerial yellowjacket, and the European hornet is the only true hornet in North America.
Where do stinging insects usually nest?
- Under eaves, soffits and porch ceilings: paper wasps
- In the ground, often in old rodent burrows, under shrubs or along landscaping: yellowjackets
- Inside wall voids through gaps in siding or around vents: yellowjackets and European hornets
- In trees and shrubs: bald-faced hornets
- In sheds, playhouses, grills and outdoor furniture: paper wasps and yellowjackets
Why shouldn't I pour gasoline on or burn a ground nest?
It's dangerous and it often doesn't work. Gasoline and fire can start a yard or house fire, contaminate soil and groundwater, and seriously injure you. Flooding a nest with water or pouring chemicals in the hole usually doesn't reach the whole colony, which can be deep and spread out. Both approaches tend to send out a cloud of angry yellowjackets.
Don't block the entrance either. Penn State Extension warns that plugging the opening of a wall nest can cause yellowjackets to chew through interior drywall and into your home. Wall and attic nests are best left to a professional.
What time of day is safest to deal with a nest?
Wasps and hornets are least active in the evening and early morning, when most of the colony is inside the nest and the insects are slower. That's when professionals often treat. If you're watching a nest to figure out where the entrance is, do it from a safe distance in the middle of the day, and don't stand in the flight path.
What should I do if they're honeybees?
Honeybees are valuable pollinators. If you see a swarm, a ball of bees hanging from a branch or fence, it usually moves on within a day or two. A local beekeeper may be glad to collect it. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and local beekeeping clubs can help you find one.
If honeybees have built a colony inside a wall, it often takes a specialist to remove the comb and honey, which can otherwise attract pests and cause damage.
What if someone is allergic to stings?
If someone has a known sting allergy, or if anyone has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or feels faint after a sting, seek medical care right away. Keep people with known allergies away from nest areas until the nest has been treated.
When should I call a professional?
Consider calling if:
- The nest is in the ground, inside a wall, or high up
- It's a hornet or yellowjacket nest near a door, deck or play area
- Someone in the home has a sting allergy
- You've tried store-bought spray and the activity continues
Stinging insect FAQs
Are yellowjackets more aggressive in late summer?
Yes. By late summer, colonies are at their largest and food is harder to find, so yellowjackets forage more around food, drinks and garbage, and defend their nests more aggressively.
Will a wasp nest go away on its own?
Paper wasp and yellowjacket colonies die off after the first hard freezes in fall, and only new queens overwinter. Old nests usually aren't reused. If a nest is in a high-traffic spot in summer, waiting isn't always practical.
Can I knock down a wasp nest myself?
Small, early paper wasp nests are sometimes knocked down by homeowners, but there's a real risk of being stung. Ground nests, wall nests and hornet nests are best left to a professional.
What does a bald-faced hornet nest look like?
It's a large, gray, papery nest shaped like a football or teardrop, often hanging in a tree, shrub or under an overhang, with a single entrance near the bottom.
How fast can you come out?
We usually schedule stinging insect visits within 1–3 days. If anyone has a severe reaction to a sting, seek medical care first.
Book a stinging insect visit
Gernatt Pest Solutions treats wasp, yellowjacket and hornet nests across Western New York. Our technician holds dual NYSDEC 7A and 7F certification. Estimates are free, and we usually schedule within 1–3 days.
Call (716) 605-5676 or email info@gernattpestsolutions.com.