Yes, this happens a lot. Mailboxes are dry and sheltered, which means wasps often attach to the roof of the box or in the back corner.
It's bad enough to reach in the mailbox and find bills. Finding wasps is worse, though. Paper wasps are the ones most likely to do this because they like protected overhead spots. A mailbox does the job.
Colonies follow a pretty predictable calendar. The queen starts the nest on her own in the spring. When this happens, it’s small and easy to miss. Through the summer, the colony grows, and by August, a mailbox can hold a few dozen wasps. The problem is that you have to reach into the box daily with your hand. That’s not fun if there are wasps inside.
Paper wasps are not the most aggressive wasps. But they’ll still put up a fight if they feel their nest is in danger. Reaching into the box counts.
If this is a known issue where you live, check the box before you reach in, especially from May onward. Open it and stand to the side. Look up at the roof of the box. Traffic in and out of the mailbox on a warm afternoon is the clearest sign, along with a small gray papery disc on a stalk.
If it's early in the season, you can often get away with knocking down a small wasp nest if there are no wasps present. But if a colony is established or you're allergic to wasps, don't try this. Also avoid spraying into a mailbox at close range with your face at the opening. Once the nest is gone, treating the interior surface can discourage the queen from setting up shop in the same place.
If wasps are nesting around your mailbox or your home, Mosquito Squad of Southern Westchester can help. Mosquito Squad locates and removes stinging insect nests and treats the spots where they build. This will help you protect your family from the nests you reach into without looking.
