Pest Library
Stinging Insects
Stinging insects are most active from late spring through early fall. Here's how to tell them apart, where they nest, and how to stay safe.
On this page: Yellow jacket · Paper wasp · Hornet · Carpenter bee
Need help now? See our stinging insect control service.
Nests, safety, and removal
Yellow jackets nest in the ground, in wall voids and under decks. Paper wasps build open, umbrella-shaped nests under eaves. Hornets build big, football-shaped paper nests in trees, shrubs and sometimes attics. Carpenter bees drill round holes into bare wood.
Stay safe: keep kids and pets away, don't swat at them, and never plug a hole or try to knock down a nest yourself, which can make them attack. If someone is allergic or gets stung many times, get medical help right away.
We remove nests safely with professional protective gear and the right treatment for each insect, and we treat wall voids so they don't come out inside the house.
Yellow jacket
Quick ID
- About 1/2 inch
- Bright yellow and black bands, smooth and shiny, not fuzzy
- Look-alike: honeybees, which are fuzzy and golden brown
Signs of a problem
- Steady traffic in and out of a hole in the ground, wall or deck
- Wasps around trash, drinks and picnics in late summer
- A chewing or buzzing sound inside a wall
How Pestworx handles it
We locate the nest entrance, treat the nest, and come back if needed. We never plug a wall nest without treating it first.
Prevention tips
- Keep trash cans covered
- Cover drinks and food outside
- Fill holes in the yard and seal gaps in siding
Paper wasp
Quick ID
- About 3/4 to 1 inch, slender
- Brown with yellow or reddish markings, long dangling legs in flight
- Open, umbrella-shaped nest with visible cells
Signs of a problem
- Nests under eaves, porch ceilings, railings and grills
- Wasps hovering around the roofline
- Nests inside mailboxes and light fixtures
How Pestworx handles it
We treat and remove the nests and treat common nesting spots so they're less likely to rebuild.
Prevention tips
- Check eaves and porches in spring when nests are small
- Seal gaps in soffits and siding
- Keep sweet foods covered outside
Hornet
Quick ID
- Large: about 1 to 1 1/2 inches
- European hornets are brown and yellow. Bald-faced hornets (actually a kind of yellow jacket) are black and white
- Big, gray, football-shaped paper nest
Signs of a problem
- A large paper nest in a tree, shrub, under the eaves or in an attic
- Hornets buzzing around lights at night (European hornets)
- Bark stripped from shrubs and branches
How Pestworx handles it
Hornet nests can hold hundreds of insects and can be very defensive, so we treat and remove them with full protective gear.
Prevention tips
- Keep an eye on trees and shrubs near doors and play areas
- Don't mow or trim near a known nest
- Call us instead of spraying it yourself
Carpenter bee
Quick ID
- About 3/4 to 1 inch, looks like a bumblebee
- Shiny, bare black abdomen (bumblebees are fuzzy all over)
- Males hover and dive-bomb but can't sting. Females rarely sting
Signs of a problem
- Perfectly round, 1/2-inch holes in decks, fascia, railings and eaves
- Coarse sawdust under the holes
- Yellow-brown stains below holes and woodpeckers drilling after the larvae
How Pestworx handles it
We treat the active holes, then the holes can be sealed. We also recommend painting or staining bare wood.
Prevention tips
- Paint or stain bare wood surfaces
- Fill old holes in fall after treatment
- Use treated or composite wood when replacing boards
Seeing stinging insects? Get a free inspection
Call (888) 511-9460 or request a quote online and we will find out what you are dealing with. New customers get $50 off their first service with a 12-month plan.
We serve homes and businesses in Camden, Burlington, Mercer and Gloucester counties in New Jersey, and Bucks and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania.
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New residential and commercial customers only. Requires a 12-month service agreement. Can't be combined with other offers. Mention this offer when you call or request a quote.More from the Pest Library
