Hornet & Wasp Frequently Asked Questions

Honey bees and wasps have distinct physical characteristics. Honey bees are generally hairy and have a more robust body, ranging in color from golden brown to almost black. They have a rounded abdomen and are known for their role in pollination. Wasps, on the other hand, have a slender, smooth body with a narrow waist. They can be brightly colored, often sporting yellow and black patterns. Wasps are usually more aggressive and are commonly associated with building nests around homes. If you're unsure, it's best to contact a professional to identify and handle bee or wasp-related issues. 

A wasp nest near your home can pose risks, especially if the wasps feel threatened or provoked. Wasps are known to sting multiple times, and some individuals may experience severe allergic reactions. If you discover a wasp nest, it's crucial not to disturb it or attempt DIY removal. Contact a professional pest control company that specializes in wasp nest removal, like At Ease Pest Solutions. We have the necessary equipment and expertise to handle the situation safely. Professional technicians will assess the nest, use appropriate treatments, and take measures to prevent wasps from returning.  

Not all bees and wasps can sting, and their behavior toward humans can vary. Bees and wasps belong to the order of flying insects named Hymenoptera, which contains a diverse range of species with different characteristics.

Among bees, the female worker honeybees and bumblebees can sting to defend their hive. However, honeybees can sting only once, as their stinger gets detached, leading to their death. Bumblebees, which have smooth stingers, can sting multiple times. Male bees, known as drones, lack stingers altogether.

In the case of wasps, most species can sting. Female wasps use their stingers for defense and to paralyze their prey. Male wasps do not possess stingers. While some wasps are aggressive, like yellow jackets, others, like paper and mud dauber wasps, are less likely to sting unless provoked.

It's essential to approach these insects with caution and respect and seek professional help for responsible removal if they become a nuisance or threaten human health.

Yes, hornets and wasps do have a season. They are most active during June, July, and August. They are warm-weather pests that prefer temperatures around 75ºF. They become more sluggish as temperatures drop, and at 32ºF, they begin to die off and ultimately cannot survive the winter. They don't hibernate, with one exception: a mated queen attempts to hibernate and may seek a warm shelter like your home to spend the winter. It is also possible for wasps or hornets to infest the interior of your home, such as an attic or loft. If that happens, you might see some as late as December.

Hornets and wasps are opportunists. Most choose to nest in areas that have abundant food sources nearby. It helps if you can minimize those sources. Keep trash cans, recycling bins, and compost bins tightly lidded. Be mindful of exposed garbage, pet food, and fruits and vegetables. If you notice nests, spraying those areas with scents they dislike, such as mint, clove, eucalyptus, and vinegar, can also help. Lastly, studies show that painting porches and eaves a light blue "haint" color naturally discourages them from nesting. The theory being that they confuse the color with water and sky.

The Asian Giant Hornet, more commonly referred to as the Murder Hornet, has been found in the United States. However, verified sightings of this fearsome pest have only occurred in the country's northwest region so far, specifically in Washington State. You may recall that there were some recent news stories in North Carolina about possible sightings; however, none of those were substantiated. However, scientific studies indicate that this insect could potentially thrive in other parts of the country, including the east coast if they were to spread. We need to stay diligent and be on the lookout for these pests, as they are known to decimate vital honeybee populations.

Wasps prefer to build their nests near food sources, so keep trash containers tightly covered and away from your house. Keep ripe or rotten fruit and berries picked and keep hummingbird feeders off of your porch and out in your yard or trees. Keep your attic and crawlspaces properly closed with mesh over ventilation spaces and make sure there are no cracks or holes wasps can use to get inside to build nests. When planning landscaping, use some plants that repel wasps, like basil, mint, or geranium. As part of your landscaping, also make sure to fill in holes in your yard, grassy spaces, or concrete surfaces. Avoid leaving debris around like pipes or old grills that wasps can use for nesting spaces.

Wasps have a life cycle that repeats annually, with the highest activity occurring in the early summer, normally June and July in our area. The annual cycle starts around April when queen wasps emerge from their long winter hibernation. Queens start small nests and begin laying eggs that have been fertilized since the previous fall season. As the eggs hatch into new workers, they begin building larger nests and become highly active as the weather gets hot. As the weather turns cool again around October, worker wasps and the current year’s queens begin to die off, and female reproductive wasps mate and become the queens that emerge the following spring.

Like other insects, wasps are most attracted to their preferred food sources. They eat other insects and bugs and also feed on sweet plant nectar. Sugary and sweet human food and waste, therefore, bring them in quickly, and exposed food waste in or around garbage receptacles is highly attractive. They also can be strongly attracted to the fruit, fresh meats, sodas, sweet tea, beer, and anything else sweet-tasting that we enjoy when cooking and eating outdoors.

Wasps also seek out suitable places to build their nests near food. They can take over old underground rodent burrows and nest in thick shrubs, bushes, and trees. Wasps can also nest in hollow trees and inside interior wall spaces they can reach and in attics and overhangs. 

Our moderate and seasonal climate is home to several native wasp species. The most commonly found wasps in North Carolina are paper wasps and yellowjackets. 

Paper wasps are brownish and have a very thin waist with narrow wings that fold upwards when they are not flying. They can repeatedly sting when disturbed near their recognizable papery nests with honeycomb-shaped cells.

Yellowjackets are black and yellow with black spots along both sides of their abdomens. Their coloring resembles honeybees, but they are not hairy and have a smaller and more wasp-like body. These stinging insects become highly aggressive when their nests are disturbed and can swarm in groups when threatened.

Hornets are part of the same insect family as the wasps and yellowjackets we find in our area. The native hornet species we have here is the European Hornet. These hornets look very much like yellowjackets in their coloring and shape but are a good bit larger. Like yellowjackets, hornets build papery nests inside hollow trees, attics, sheds, and wall spaces. They are not usually as aggressive as yellowjackets by attacking in swarms, but they can defend their nest or foods they are actively eating. They differ from other stinging insects in that they fly both day and night and are sometimes attracted to outdoor lighting.

First aid is important for wasp or hornet stings and is fairly simple. Remove stingers as soon as possible. If these detach and lodge in the skin, they can continue releasing venom. Wash the sting site with soap and water and apply hydrocortisone cream. Pack some ice in a towel and apply it for about 20 minutes per hour until the pain subsides. An antihistamine can help relieve mild swelling, and ibuprofen or acetaminophen can provide pain relief.  

In addition to pain and itching, stings cause allergic reactions in some people. These stings sometimes require professional medical attention, depending on the severity of the reaction. If significant swelling or difficulty breathing occurs following stings, seek immediate medical attention.