Wasps and hornets need protection from rain and wind, which is why they like to build under eaves and soffits, inside attics and wall voids, behind shutters, under decks and porch roofs, in gutters, and around door and window frames. Ground-nesting yellow jackets also build near the foundation.
Once you know where to look, it’s not hard to find wasp nests. The nests are almost always sheltered and out of the weather. And it’s better to find them on purpose than by accident.
Eaves, soffits, and roof overhangs are the classic paper wasp spot, with their open umbrella-shaped nests tucked up under the roofline. Attics, wall voids, and soffit cavities are where wasps and hornets slip in through small gaps to build hidden nests, sometimes only given away by insects streaming in and out of a single hole.
You can also often find wasp nests behind shutters and under loose siding. Shaded spots under decks, porch ceilings, and railings that always stay shaded are common for paper wasps and sometimes yellow jackets if you’re unlucky. Gutters and downspouts can also house wasps as well, as can small nooks around door and window frames, light fixtures, and even grills.
Yellow jackets usually nest underground, in abandoned rodent burrows, under shrubs, inside retaining walls, or in voids at the base of the house. A steady stream of wasps disappearing into a hole in the lawn or the foundation usually means a hidden colony down there. Higher up, baldfaced hornets hang their large, football-shaped gray paper nests in trees and shrubs, sometimes right against the structure.
If you see steady in-and-out wasp traffic into a place you can’t easily see, that is a clue that there’s usually a nest right out of sight. And if you find that to be the case, it’s worth reaching out to a pro. Taking down wasp nests on your own can be dangerous, even if you’re not allergic.
If you're tired of finding nests tucked all over the house, Mosquito Squad of Rhode Island can help. Mosquito Squad treats for wasps and hornets as part of its pest control service. This helps protect your family from pests that go indoors and also provides an up to 90% reduction in mosquito activity on a 21-day cycle through the season.
