Wasps & Hornets

How to identify wasps & hornets

Paper wasps build open, umbrella-shaped nests of grayish paper under eaves, porch ceilings and railings. Yellowjackets are black and yellow, aggressive near the nest, and often nest in the ground or inside wall voids. Mud daubers are slender and build tube-shaped mud nests on walls and ceilings, and rarely sting.

Signs you may have a problem

• Paper nests under eaves, soffits, decks and playsets
• Steady wasp traffic into a gap in siding or a hole in the ground
• Mud tubes on walls, ceilings and outbuildings
• Wasps gathering around trash cans and outdoor eating areas

Why it matters

Stings hurt, and they can be dangerous for anyone with an allergy. Nests grow all summer, so a small nest in May can be a busy one by August. Knocking down nests and treating the spots wasps return to is part of every regular exterior service.

Common in: Wichita, Derby, Andover, Newton, Haysville, El Dorado, Hutchinson, McPherson, Arkansas City, and across Central Kansas.