A wasp nest on the porch ceiling, in a tree or under the air conditioner, and constant buzzing at the door: wasps near the home or farm are a real worry, because the sting is painful and can be dangerous for anyone who is allergic.
This guide explains how to tell wasps from bees and hornets, where they build nests, how to deal with them safely, and when never to approach the nest.
First rule: never approach the nest by day or throw stones at it. Wasps attack in groups when provoked.
Common mistake: killing only the visible wasps and leaving the nest, so the numbers return within days.
Best time to treat: in the evening or before dawn, when all the wasps are inside the nest and less active.
Note: do not treat bees with insecticide. They are useful pollinators and sometimes protected, and beekeepers can be asked to relocate them.
Allergy: anyone allergic to stings should stay away from the nest, and any swelling of the face or difficulty breathing needs emergency care immediately.
How do you tell wasps from bees and hornets?
- Bees: a hairy, relatively round body, calm unless provoked, usually stinging once and then dying. They are useful pollinators.
- Paper wasps: a slim body with a narrow waist and long legs dangling in flight, building open hanging nests shaped like an umbrella.
- Hornets and large wasps: larger and more aggressive, building closed nests or nests in cavities.
- Hoverflies: they look like wasps but do not sting.
Where do wasps build nests?
- Under ceilings, porches, shades and around air conditioners.
- In trees and dense shrubs.
- Inside walls, voids, curtain boxes and meter boxes.
- In the ground, for some species.
- Near water and food, such as farms, palms and gardens.
Are wasps dangerous?
- The sting is painful and causes swelling and redness.
- It can cause a severe allergic reaction in some people, which is an emergency.
- They attack in groups when the nest is approached or shaken.
- They disturb outdoor seating and open kitchens and feed on fruit.
- They can damage garden and farm fruit.
What should you do when you see a nest?
- Move away and note the location: from a safe distance, and watch wasp activity in the morning and evening.
- Keep children and animals away from the place and warn people around you.
- Judge the size and height: a small nest near the ground is easier than a large one high up or inside a wall.
- Prepare protection: thick long clothing, gloves, face and eye cover, and a clear escape route.
- Treat in the evening: with a suitable product registered for this use, sprayed on the nest from a distance according to the label, then move away immediately.
- Do not remove the nest at once: wait a day or two until activity has stopped, then remove it and dispose of it.
- Keep watching the site: wasps may rebuild in the same place.
When should you not treat the nest yourself?
- If the nest is inside a wall or false ceiling, or somewhere high that cannot be reached safely.
- If the nest is large or there are many wasps.
- If a member of the household is allergic.
- If the nest is a bees' nest and not a wasps' nest.
In these cases, visit your nearest Orkida branch with a photo of the nest and the place, and we will point you to the right product and the safe way to handle it.
How to stop nests being built
- Check porches, shades and air-conditioner edges early in spring.
- Seal gaps and cracks in walls and ceilings.
- Close garbage bins and clean up fruit and sweet drink residue.
- Remove small new nests before they grow.
- Trim trees close to the building.
- Do not leave open water sources near seating areas.
Common mistakes
- Approaching the nest by day.
- Spraying the nest without protection and from close range.
- Removing the nest before making sure the wasps are dead.
- Blocking the nest entrance in a wall, so the wasps look for an exit inside the house.
- Trying to burn the nest.
- Confusing a bees' nest with a wasps' nest.
Products from the Orkida Store
We start by identifying the species and avoiding bees, then treat in the evening with full protection. We advise following the label dose and the safety interval.
- K-Othrine Partix insecticide for bed bugs, ants, cockroaches, and beetles, 1 L: from Envu (formerly Bayer); a residual deltamethrin spray whose label mentions use outside buildings against wasps in their hanging nests.
- Exit 100 EW Cypermethrin 10% Insecticide 1 L: from Arysta; cypermethrin for flying and crawling insects, outdoors and indoors.
Frequently asked questions
Should I kill bees if they enter my home?
No. Bees are useful pollinators, and it is best to have them relocated by beekeepers.
Why do wasps come back to the same place?
Because the place is safe and near food. The smell of the old nest may remain, so clean the surfaces and seal gaps.
Do wasps sting at night?
Rarely, but they attack if the nest is disturbed at any time.
What should I do after a sting?
Remove the stinger if there is one, wash the area, apply a cold compress, and go to emergency care if the face swells or breathing is hard.
Does smoke drive wasps away?
It is not advised. It can agitate them and endanger the house.
When is wasp season?
Their activity rises in the warm months, and new nests appear in spring.
If you are not sure about the type of nest, or it is in a hard-to-reach place, visit your nearest Orkida branch with a photo and we will point you to the right product.