Back in July I asked on Nextdoor, “Anyone else’s yellow jackets out of control this summer?” Judging by the calls that followed, a lot of you said yes. So let’s go deeper on why stinging insects ramp up as summer goes on, how to spot a nest before you mow over it, and when it’s time to call someone instead of grabbing a can of spray.
Mid-Summer Is When Nests Hit Full Size
Yellow jacket colonies start small in spring. A single queen builds the first cells, raises her first workers, and the colony grows all season long. By mid-July in South Jersey those colonies are close to full size, which is why that’s when people start noticing them. The giveaway is steady traffic in and out of one spot. Watch for:
- A small hole in the lawn or garden bed with wasps going in and out (yellow jackets often nest in the ground)
- Activity at a gap in the soffit, siding or behind a shutter
- Wasps disappearing into a crack in a wall or around a window frame
- A gray, papery nest hanging in a shrub, tree or under the eaves (often bald-faced hornets)
If you see that pattern, you’ve found a nest.
Why They Get Testier in August and September
Here’s something people don’t realize: for most of the summer, yellow jackets are actually helping you. Rutgers Cooperative Extension calls them beneficial predators in spring and summer because they hunt caterpillars and other pest insects.
That changes late in the season. According to Rutgers, the shorter days of late summer signal yellow jackets and bald-faced hornets to raise new queens and males. Once that happens, the workers switch from hunting insects to looking for sugar: soda cans, fruit, juice boxes, the trash can by the grill. That’s why they become such a nuisance at cookouts in late summer and early fall. More wasps around your food plus a nest that’s grown all year adds up to more stings.
How to Avoid Getting Stung
Rutgers offers some practical tips that line up with what I’ve seen over the years:
- Don’t swat. Swatting is what triggers defensive stinging.
- Wear plain, light-colored clothing. Bright floral prints can make a wasp take a closer look.
- Skip perfume and use unscented deodorant when you’ll be around them.
- Keep drinks covered and check cans before you sip.
- Keep trash cans lidded and away from where people gather.
And please, if you know where a ground nest is, keep kids and pets away and don’t run the mower over it.
Watch Out for European Hornets, Too
If you’re seeing large, amber, honey-colored hornets, sometimes out foraging after dark or stripping bark off lilac or birch branches, those are probably European hornets. Rutgers notes they’re the largest true hornets in North America and can nest inside hollow trees or in wall voids of buildings. Their colonies can stay active into late October and early November before dying off, leaving only the queens to overwinter.
Rutgers also points out that plugging the entrance to a wall-void nest usually doesn’t work, because they’ll just chew a new way out, sometimes into your house. Their advice is to bring in a professional for nest removal. I agree.
Why I Don’t Recommend the Dusk Spray-Can Approach
I get it. You buy a can at the hardware store, wait until dark and go for it. The problem is you often can’t see how big the nest is or where else it opens up, especially with ground nests and nests inside walls. Miss, or only knock out part of it, and you’ve got a colony of angry wasps and a nest that’s still there.
When I take care of a nest, I start by finding where it actually is and how far it goes, then treat it with the right gear and eco-friendly products, applied carefully. I’ll also point out spots on your house that are likely to attract a nest again next year. You can learn more on our wasp and hornet nest removal page.
Planning an Outdoor Party?
If you’ve got a graduation, birthday or backyard wedding coming up, stinging insects and mosquitoes can crash the party. Our outdoor event spraying is built for exactly that, and it pairs well with our mosquito and tick control.
Give Me a Call
Found a nest, or not sure what you’re looking at? Call me at 856-599-9376, Monday through Saturday, 8 to 6. I’m happy to give advice even if you just have a question. Zero Pests is veteran-owned and serves Salem, Gloucester and Cumberland counties, including Glassboro and Swedesboro. NJ license #92354B.
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