Common Areas for Wasp Nests

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Whether you’re a homeowner tending to your garden or a business owner managing your outdoor spaces, coming across wasps can be frightening and, in some cases, dangerous. While it’s normal to come across one or two every now and then, seeing them frequently might mean there’s a nest nearby. Locating it is the first step to ensuring your safety, so to help you out, the experts at Summit Pest Management have outlined some common areas where wasps build nests and how you can easily identify them.

What Do Wasp Nests Look Like?

Whether you’re a homeowner tending to your garden or a business owner managing outdoor spaces, identifying a wasp nest is crucial for safety and peace of mind. While it may look slightly different depending on the specific species you’re dealing with, here are a few common characteristics of wasp nests:

• Appearance: Wasp nests can vary in appearance depending on the species of wasp and the location of the nest. However, they typically have a papery or fibrous texture, resembling a gray or brownish spherical structure.
• Size: Wasp nests come in a range of sizes, from as small as a golf ball to as large as a basketball or even larger in some cases. The size often correlates with the number of wasps inhabiting the nest and the duration of its existence.
• Shape: Wasp nests typically exhibit a distinctive shape, commonly spherical or pear-shaped, although some may appear more irregular in form. The shape often reflects the construction method employed by the wasps and the materials available to them.

Different Types of Wasp Nests

Though wasp nests often share a few common characteristics, they may vary pretty significantly from species to species. Each type of wasp has different preferences and behaviors. Here are the most common types of wasps in the Pacific Northwest and what their nests look like:

• Mud Daubers: Construct tube-like nests out of mud, which they gather and transport to the nest site. These nests often resemble small, cylindrical structures attached to walls, rocks, or other surfaces. 
• Bald-Faced Hornets: build large, paper-like nests with a distinctive teardrop shape. These nests feature multiple layers of hexagonal cells enclosed by a papery envelope, which may be gray or brown in color. Most are found suspended from tree branches or other structures. 
• Paper Wasps: Construct open, umbrella-shaped nests out of paper-like material, which they create by chewing wood fibers and mixing them with saliva. These nests have a distinctive comb-like structure with exposed hexagonal cells. Similar to bald-faced hornets, these are often suspended under eaves or inside attics. 
• European Hornets: Build large, enclosed nests out of a paper-like material similar to that of bald-faced hornets. However, their nests tend to be more spherical in shape, with a single entrance hole at the bottom.

Wasp Nests Vs Bee Nests

While wasps and bees may seem similar at first glance, their nesting habits and structures differ in several key ways. Since wasps are often more aggressive, knowing which stinging insect you have is very important, and understanding these distinctions can help you determine if that nest belongs to bees or wasps:

• Construction Material: Wasps typically construct their nests from wood fibers mixed with saliva, resulting in a papery texture. In contrast, bees create their nests from wax secreted by glands on their bodies, forming intricate hexagonal cells.
• Shape: Wasp nests often have a spherical or pear-shaped appearance, while bee nests, particularly those of honeybees, tend to be more structured and geometric, with hexagonal cells arranged in layers.
• Location: Wasps tend to build their nests in sheltered locations, such as under eaves, in trees, or underground. Bee nests, on the other hand, may be found in various locations, including trees, bushes, and man-made structures, depending on the species.

Where Do Wasps Build Nests?

Understanding the preferred nesting sites of wasps can help you identify potential locations for their nests on your property. Wasps are adaptable creatures, capable of building nests in various environments, from natural settings to man-made structures. If you want to know where to check for wasp nests, start in these areas:

• Eaves of buildings
• Trees and bushes
• Attic spaces
• Wall voids
• Abandoned sheds
• Outdoor furniture
• Playground equipment
• Trellises

What to Do If You Have Wasps

If you spot a wasp nest on your property, avoid the area and keep a safe distance. Do not  approach or try to remove the nest on your own, as this could agitate the wasps and lead to painful stings. Since wasps may swarm when threatened and are capable of stinging multiple times, an angered nest could be very dangerous. 

 Instead of attempting to remove the nest yourself, call Summit Pest Management for help! We offer fast and reliable wasp nest removal services to help home and business owners when they need it most. Our team of experienced professionals utilizes safe and effective methods to remove nests safely while prioritizing your health and safety. Contact us today to get rid of your wasps fast!