Most homeowners are bound to encounter pests making a home on their property at one point or another. While some are only cause for minimal concern, others warrant professional help from a pest control expert. Wasps and hornets can be particularly worrisome, especially if you’re allergic or have children. If you come across a nest around your home this spring, here’s what to do to ensure safe and effective removal—and when you should call in the cavalry to do it for you.

Is Professional Removal Necessary for Wasp & Hornet Nests?

Wasp Nest

Typically disc-shaped and located under the eaves of a home, wasp nests are fairly simple to get rid of with proper precautions, particularly when the construction has just begun. Insecticidal sprays can be used to minimize the risk of getting stung—look for a brand that features a powerful stream for distance and accuracy. The nest should be removed at nighttime when the wasps are less likely to be active. After the nest and its inhabitants have been dealt with, cover the nest with a garbage bag, detach it, and promptly seal the bag.

If you don’t discover the nest until it’s large and covered with wasps, exercise extreme caution if dealing with it yourself, even at night. Wear thick clothing with as little skin exposed as possible. For most people, this is a scenario that will tip the scale in favor of calling a professional pest control company.

Yellow Jacket Nest

Yellow jackets are often mistaken for bees, but they’re actually a type of wasp. Unlike other members of their genus, they typically build nests in the ground or inside walls, making them far more dangerous to deal with. While it’s possible to burn a nest that’s located in the ground, this isn’t recommended, as it’s often ineffective and poses fire hazards for your lawn and surrounding structures. Yellow jackets are also particularly aggressive and numerous in a nest. If any type of flying, stinging pest warrants help from your local pest control pros, it’s the yellow jacket.

Hornet Nest

Hornets are yet another type of wasp, and their nests are bigger and bulkier than those of their more common relatives. They’re sometimes found attached to houses, but they may also be located in trees on your property.

Because they often go unnoticed, they can become quite large. While smaller nests may be handled yourself with the removal process described above, a large or out-of-reach nest should be taken down by a pest control professional. When in doubt, remember to never underestimate hornets or wasps when their queens are threatened.

If you want to play it safe and have your insect nest eradicated without the risk of getting stung, Southeast Termite & Pest Control can help. Serving Knoxville, TN, these pest control experts have more than 50 years of experience and specialize in the prompt and effective removal of insect species. Learn more about common pests on their website or call (865) 925-3700 to schedule services for your home.