Wasp Nests
A Quick Guide To Wasp Nests
Anyone who knows anything about wasps will tell you that it is not a good idea to mess with wasp nests. Not all wasps build traditional nests. There are basically two types of wasps, social and solitary. Social wasps are the ones that build nests.
Solitary wasps act on their own, building small nests in trees, along house eaves, or digging burrows in the ground. They don’t build traditional wasp nests, so they don’t have anything to defend. Therefore, they pose very little threat to people. It is quite uncommon to be stung by a species of solitary wasp.
The mud dauber is a type of solitary wasp that is commonly seen around the house. They build little mud nests tucked into corners and under eaves. This type of wasp is harmless and does not sting, so they rarely present any type of problem to people.
Social wasps are the most common residential wasps. Hornets, paper wasps and yellow jackets are all social wasps that frequently build wasp nests around homes. These are typically the wasps that sting, and that is always because they feel their nest is being threatened. A social wasp will only become aggressive in defense of the nest.
Hornets are the most dangerous wasp. Their nests are very large, are grayish brown in color and can look like an inverted tear drop. They are made of mud and other debris and usually hang high in a tree or from an attic ceiling, out of comfortable reach. That is part of what makes them so dangerous. The nests are hard to get to. Another danger factor is that there can be thousands of hornets inside the nest at any given time.
If an active hornet’s nest is disturbed, there is a good chance that a swarm of hornets will zoom out, mad as anything and ready to attack whoever is threatening their habitat. That is why it is highly recommended to seek help from a professional when removing a hornet’s nest from the house or a nearby tree.
Papers wasps and yellow jackets are not as dangerous as hornets, but they can and will still defend their nests. Like hornets, these wasps are especially hazardous when they come out in swarms to protect their home. That is a likely occurrence if someone is trying to remove the nest around the house, so this should always be done with great care and a specialist should be called in for very large or hard-to-reach nests.
If you do decide to remove a wasp nest on your own, it is best to do it at night when the wasps are less active. It is also highly recommended to wear protective clothing, paying special attention to protecting the eyes, throat and mouth, because those areas are highly sensitive to wasp stings.