Why Hornets Build Nests Hidden in Billerica Trees

What Draws Hornets to Yards in Billerica?

As the summer season in Billerica begins to fade, residents may begin to notice signs of hornet activity that had previously gone unnoticed. Bald-faced hornets are known to build their nests among sturdy trees, utilizing the foliage as a way to camouflage their nest and help protect the colony. Unfortunately, many residents overlook the signs of colony growth and are left surprised as the fall season reveals a basketball-sized nest that suddenly appeared. 

During the spring in Billerica, the queen hornet will begin to build her nest in protected areas to avoid wind, predators, and rainfall. The dense tree leaves and branches help to disguise the beginnings of a hornet’s nest, allowing the colony to grow for months before the fall season reveals its location. Red Oaks, Sugar Maples, and Birch trees are among popular locations for hornet nest activity. These trees help to provide the proper structure and branch locations needed for these heavy nests to properly sustain their weight. When highly elevated locations become unavailable, hornets will use dense shrubbery, hedges, and boxwoods to build their nests instead which increases the likelihood of human contact.

By the time a nest is noticed, the colony has likely already reached its peak size. As a result, nest removal becomes increasingly dangerous as the protective workers seek to defend their home and their queen. For example, bald-faced hornets create a 10- to 25-foot perimeter around their nest, and can become triggered by everyday maintenance tasks such as mowing the lawn, branch pruning, or trimming leaves. These vibrations alert the colony, leading to unexpected swarms of hornet defense.

Why Hornet Nest Removal is Hazardous in Billerica

If you’re noticing the signs of hornet activity around trees or shrubs in your yard in Billerica, it might be tempting to take matters into your own hands. There are plenty of YouTube videos and tutorials on the best time of day, product, or method for removing a hornet’s nest, but they come at a cost. Residents who choose to climb ladders, use gases to disorient wasps, or bag a nest can become severely injured through hornet attacks or unfortunate falls. The combination of elevation and quick-response from hornets can quickly turn a seemingly simple removal into a dangerous attack, ultimately disorienting residents to the point of losing balance or sustaining multiple stings and injuries. 

If a nest is far enough away from common areas, play spaces, or regular yard work, it’s best to allow the nest to naturally become dormant as winter temperatures make it uninhabitable. 

Professional Hornet Control Services in Billerica

Mosquito Squad Plus is proud to offer comprehensive hornet control services to residents of Billerica. Our team will begin with a thorough property assessment to take note of current hornet activity and note areas of further risk. This allows us to create a tailored plan that is designed for your specific home and needs.

Our baseline treatment, Barrier Treatment Plus, helps to reduce and control mosquitoes, spiders, and other common pests which draw hornets to Billerica homes. This potent insecticide binds to the surface in order to create a barrier of defense that repels pest activity and disrupts the cycle of breeding. Yard Defender helps to strengthen this treatment through a combination of liquid and granular products. Our trained technicians will use these EPA-registered products to target areas where pest harborage is common, and can help to conduct hornet nest removal depending on the structure of your designated plan.

For Reliable Hornet Control in Billerica, MA Near You

Dealing with hornet activity at your Billerica home? Call Mosquito Squad Plus of Chelmsford Cambridge at (978) 381-4028 or contact us online for a free quote.