Wasps in Arizona: Paper Wasp and Yellowjacket Nests Around Your Home
Short answer: the wasps on Phoenix-area homes are mostly paper wasps under eaves and patio covers, plus yellowjackets nesting in the ground or a wall. Leave the nest alone by day and don't spray what might be bees.
Which Wasps Nest on Arizona Homes
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension names the two that matter around houses. Paper wasps have long hind legs and a narrow waist, and build papery nests under eaves and in other sheltered spots on buildings. Western yellowjackets usually nest in the ground, often in an abandoned burrow, and sometimes in crawlspaces or wall voids. Yellowjackets are drawn to meat, sweet drinks, desserts and open trash cans, and can crawl into a soda can.
Both are social and defend the nest: UA Extension says they get aggressive when the nest is approached or disturbed, paper wasps may dive-bomb, and both can sting more than once. Stings are painful and can be life-threatening for people who are allergic.
Where Wasps Build Nests on Phoenix-Area Houses
- Under eaves, patio covers and porch ceilings.
- On block-wall caps, gates and play sets.
- Inside meter boxes, irrigation boxes, grill covers and light fixtures.
- In the ground along lawns and planters, or in a wall void with wasps going in and out of one crack (yellowjackets).
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Wasp Nest or Bee Hive? Check Before Anyone Sprays
A paper wasp nest is an open comb you can see, about the size of a palm, hanging from one stalk. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension says all wild honey bees in Arizona are considered Africanized to some extent, and an established colony lives out of sight inside a wall, roof, irrigation box or meter box with bees streaming through one opening. UA Extension does not recommend spraying bee swarms or colonies: an established colony may be highly defensive and respond in large numbers. If you see bees, read bee removal and keep kids and pets away.
Can You Remove a Wasp Nest Yourself?
For a small paper wasp nest you can reach, UA Extension's advice is:
- Wait for dark, when the wasps are back on the nest.
- Skip the flashlight. Wasps will follow the beam to whoever is holding it.
- Use an aerosol labeled for wasps that sprays from a distance, and follow the label.
- Take the nest down once the wasps are dead, and wash the spot with a strong jet of water so the smell doesn't draw a new nest.
- Ground nests: treat yellowjacket entrances early in the morning or evening, then leave them alone for a few days.
Call instead of doing it yourself if anyone in the house is allergic to stings, the nest is high on a roofline or inside a wall, you see yellowjackets coming out of the house, or you aren't sure it's wasps. A nest that isn't near a door or play area can also just be left until winter: UA Extension says each nest is used for one season.
Wasp Nest Removal in Phoenix: How the Visit Works
A wasp nest removal visit treats and takes down the nest, then treats the eaves, patio covers and other sheltered spots where wasps like to rebuild so a new nest doesn't go up in the same place. A paper wasp nest can usually be handled in one visit; a honey bee colony in a wall is a separate hive removal, quoted per job. Tell us where the nest is through the form, or call, and we'll tell you which visit you need and what it costs. See bee and wasp removal and pest control cost.
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Wasp Questions from Arizona Homeowners
What kind of wasps are in Arizona?
Around Phoenix-area homes the two that cause trouble are paper wasps, which hang open papery nests under eaves and patio covers, and yellowjackets, which usually nest in the ground in an old burrow and sometimes in crawlspaces or wall voids (University of Arizona Cooperative Extension).
Are Arizona paper wasps dangerous?
They are not aggressive away from the nest, but UA Extension says paper wasps and yellowjackets defend the nest when it is approached or disturbed, paper wasps may dive-bomb, and both can sting more than once. Stings are painful and can be life-threatening for people who are allergic.
Do wasps reuse the same nest?
No. UA Extension says paper wasps and yellowjackets use a nest for one season, though a new nest may go up right next to an old one. A nest that is not near a door, play set or walkway can be left alone and taken down in winter.
Is it bees or wasps?
Paper wasps are slender with long hanging legs and build an open, umbrella-shaped comb you can see. Honey bees are fuzzier, and an established colony lives hidden inside a wall, irrigation box or roof with bees streaming in and out of one opening. If you're not sure, don't spray it: tell us where it is and we'll sort out which visit you need.
What should I do if I get stung by a wasp?
Move away from the nest first. For questions about a sting, call the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at 1-800-222-1222. UA Extension notes stings can be life-threatening for people who are allergic, and allergic people should carry their prescribed emergency treatment; call 911 for any severe reaction.