Fall has arrived, and while many people are enjoying the cooler temperatures, the seasonal shift can also bring an unwanted increase in pests seeking refuge in your home. While this time of year is well-known for heightened rodent and wildlife activity indoors, there’s another pest preparing to crash your holidays: wasps.
We typically think of wasps as a nuisance during summer, disrupting outdoor activities, but fall brings its own set of wasp-related challenges. For most wasps, fall is their prime season for reproduction. Male and queen wasps are produced and mate during this period, which leads to heightened wasp activity. As temperatures drop, fertilized queens search for warm shelter, often finding it in and around homes, where they’ll hibernate until spring. Once spring arrives, these queens emerge to build their nests—often in the same spots as the previous year. This means fall serves as the time when wasps scout out future nesting locations, and those choosing your home for their winter retreat can quickly become the kind of guests you regret hosting: the ones who overstay their welcome.
What Kind of Wasps are in Texas?
While Texas is home to a variety of wasp species, there are five types that are especially common in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. These are paper wasps, yellowjackets, hornets, cicada killers, and mud daubers. Each of these wasps has its own distinct look and behavior, but they can generally be grouped into two categories: social wasps and solitary wasps.
Social wasps are the most prominent group within the vespid family. They build communal nests that are actively defended by the colony. These wasps primarily use their stinger as a defensive weapon to protect their nests and fellow colony members. Paper wasps, yellowjackets, and hornets all belong to this group.
Solitary wasps, on the other hand, are usually found in much smaller numbers because they do not form communal nests. Without a colony to protect, these wasps are far less likely to sting humans. Instead, their stingers are primarily used to paralyze prey. Cicada killers and mud daubers are the most well-known solitary wasps in the region.
While both social and solitary wasps are capable of stinging, social wasps pose a significantly greater risk due to their defensive nature and close proximity to human activity.
What do Wasps Look Like?
Wasps come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, and they are often brighter and less hairy than bees, which makes them easy to distinguish.
Paper wasps measure between 3/4” and 1” in length and range in color from reddish-orange to dark brown, with distinct yellow markings on their bodies.
Yellowjackets are slightly smaller, ranging from 1/2” to 3/4” long, and are easily recognized by their alternating yellow and black stripes that cover their bodies.
Baldfaced hornets are about 3/4” long and feature a striking black-and-white color scheme, with a predominantly white head. These are the only true hornets found in Texas, though the term “hornet” is often misused to describe other types of wasps.
Cicada killers are among the largest wasps, growing up to 1.5” long. They have a red, rust-colored head, thorax, and wings, combined with bold yellow and black stripes on their abdomen.
Mud daubers are slender wasps measuring between 3/4” and 1” long. They can appear dull black with bright yellow markings or have an iridescent blue-black sheen. Their elongated, narrow waists make them easy to identify among other wasps.
What do Wasp Nests Look Like?
Wasp nests can be just as diverse as the wasps themselves, ranging in size from small to massive and appearing anywhere from underground to high up in the air.
Paper wasps build distinctively shaped nests using chewed wood fibers. These nests hang from a single filament and feature a single layer of hexagonal cells with the comb facing downward, resembling an upside-down umbrella. Typically, paper wasp nests are found in sheltered locations such as under house eaves, in attics, sheds, shrubs, or trees. A single nest can house approximately 30 adult wasps.
Yellowjackets construct their nests using a paper-like material made from chewed wood fibers. Their nests are fully enclosed, except for a single entrance hole, and can range in size from just a few inches to over 6 feet! Remarkably, a single nest can accommodate up to 20,000 wasps. These nests are commonly found in both underground and aerial locations, including gardens, flower beds, trees, eaves, and even within wall voids.
Baldfaced hornets build round or pear-shaped nests that range in color from gray to brown and feature a single entrance near the bottom. These nests can grow as large as 3 feet long and are typically found high above the ground in trees, though they can occasionally appear on eaves. A single nest can accommodate up to 400 wasps.
Cicada killers create their nests by digging galleries in lawns, where they lay eggs and provide food for their young. While relatively small, these nests can cause damage to lawns and gardens. Each nest typically houses just one adult wasp and its offspring.
Mud daubers construct small, tube-like nests using mud, as their name implies. These nests are often located under eaves or in attics. Each nest typically contains just one adult wasp and its offspring.
What do Wasps Eat?
While the exact diet varies by wasp species, most feed on insects and spiders. Some, like yellowjackets, also consume nectar and honeydew. This preference for sugary substances is why wasps are often drawn to sweets, making them particularly troublesome pests during outdoor activities and gatherings.
Are Wasps Dangerous?
Wasp stings are not only painful but can also be life-threatening. Typically, a sting causes sharp pain, redness, and localized swelling around the affected area. While these symptoms subside quickly for most people, others may experience a systemic allergic reaction, resulting in severe swelling and pain that can persist for days. In extreme cases, stings can trigger anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal reaction. Stings to the head, eyes, and neck are particularly dangerous, as are multiple stings occurring in quick succession.
How do you Prevent Wasps?
While it’s impossible to completely stop wasps from entering your property, there are steps you can take to make it less inviting for them to settle and build their nests.
- Maintain regular pest control services. Contact The Bug Dude at 1-800-310-BUGS (2847) to discuss a service plan that best suits your needs. Regular pest control helps keep insect populations around your home low, reducing food sources for wasps. It also increases the chances of a technician spotting and addressing a wasp nest before it becomes a bigger problem.
- Eliminate food sources around your home. This includes removing ripe or fallen fruits and relocating hummingbird feeders, which can attract wasps looking for sugary sustenance.
- Seal any visible cracks and crevices around porches, eaves, and other entry points that wasps could use to access your home.
- Ensure all garbage cans are tightly sealed to prevent wasps from being attracted to food scraps and sugary residues.
- Promptly clean up any food trash and spills from food or drinks during outdoor activities to avoid attracting wasps.
How do you Eliminate Wasps?
Wasps are highly defensive and at their most dangerous when they feel their nest is being threatened. For this reason, it’s always safest to call The Bug Dude at 1-800-310-BUGS (2847) to handle any wasp problems. Our trained technicians have the expertise and equipment to resolve the issue while keeping you and your family safe.
This fall, don’t let wasps ruin your holiday season by settling into your home. If you notice signs of wasp activity on or near your property, call Mid-Cities Pest Control, Inc., also known as TheBugDude.com, at 1-800-310-2847. Let us help you keep this season focused on an abundance of thanks—not an abundance of pests.
Further Reading:
“Paper Wasps, Yellowjackets and Solitary Wasps” – Glen C. Moore and Mike E. Merchant – AgriLIFE EXTENSION – Texas A&M System
“Mud Daubers” – Texas Apiary Inspection Service (TAIS) – Texas A&M AgriLIFE Research
“Cicada Killer Wasps” – Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist – University of Kentucky College of Agriculture
