Wasps and yellow jackets in Valley homes
Paper wasps and yellow jackets both build nests around Valley homes, but they're not the same problem. Paper wasps hang a small open nest under an eave and are usually manageable, yellow jackets nest in the ground or a wall void and get noticeably more aggressive as summer turns to fall. Either one can turn a backyard unusable fast.
Wasps and yellow jacketsHow to tell it's this one
- Paper wasps build small umbrella shaped nests with visible hexagon cells under eaves and patio covers
- Yellow jackets nest in the ground or wall voids and defend the entrance aggressively if you get close
- A slim, narrow waisted body compared to the rounder shape of a bee
- Heavy traffic at a small hole in the lawn is a strong sign of a ground nest
- Aggressive, unprovoked chasing, especially late summer, points to yellow jackets rather than paper wasps
Where it hides in Valley homes
- Under eaves and patio covers
- Ground nests hidden in lawns
- Inside wall voids and attic vents
- Under deck boards and inside dense shrubs
When it shows up
From our own route records, month by month.
What to do right now
- 1Stay away from the nest and keep kids and pets clear of that part of the yard
- 2Cover trash cans and food outdoors, yellow jackets are drawn to it hard in late summer
- 3Don't run a mower or trimmer near a ground nest
- 4Note the exact nest location for us, ground nests especially can be hard to spot from a distance
How Facility handles wasps and yellow jackets
We identify which species you actually have, that changes where the nest is and how we approach it, then treat the nest to label rather than just knocking it down. Ground nests get extra attention since yellow jackets will defend the entrance hard once disturbed. Because activity peaks late summer into fall, we recommend getting a nest treated as soon as you spot it rather than waiting, backed by our 30 day guarantee.
Wasps and yellow jackets questions
Why are yellow jackets so aggressive in the fall?
As summer turns to fall, yellow jacket colonies reach their largest size and natural food sources start to run short, which makes them far more defensive around the nest and more likely to show up uninvited at outdoor food and trash. That combination is why late summer stings spike hard across the Valley.
What's the difference between a wasp and a yellow jacket?
Paper wasps have a slim, narrow waisted body and build a small open nest with visible hexagon cells hanging under an eave. Yellow jackets are a type of wasp too, but they nest in the ground or inside wall voids and are noticeably more aggressive when their nest entrance is disturbed.
Is it safe to spray a wasp nest myself?
It can be, for a small, accessible paper wasp nest, but ground nesting yellow jackets are a different situation entirely, they'll defend the entrance in numbers and often catch people off guard from underground. If you're not sure which one you have, it's safer to have it identified and treated professionally.
Why do yellow jackets show up at outdoor food and trash?
Yellow jackets shift toward scavenging sugar and protein from human food sources in late summer as their natural food supply thins out, which is why they show up so persistently around trash cans, sodas and barbecues. Keeping food and trash covered outdoors cuts down on how many they draw in.
How do I find a yellow jacket nest in my lawn?
Watch for a small hole in the ground with steady, direct in and out traffic, especially on a warm afternoon, that's usually the entrance to a ground nest. Ground nests can be easy to miss from a distance, so if you've been stung without seeing an obvious nest, let us locate it.
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