Is it a yellowjacket, paper wasp, mud dauber or honey bee?
It matters, because each one behaves differently. UC IPM says yellowjackets are 1/2 to 1 inch long with bright yellow and black stripes and barely visible waists, and they scavenge human food. Paper wasps have long, slender waists and build open, umbrella-shaped nests under eaves. Mud daubers are thread-waisted, build small hard mud nests and rarely sting. Honey bees are hairier and less brightly striped.
The Sacramento-Yolo district says the western yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica) and the German yellowjacket (Vespula germanica) are common in the Sacramento region, along with the European paper wasp, which has orange-tipped antennae and, the district says, is more easily provoked than other wasps.
Why are yellowjackets worse in late summer?
Colonies are at their biggest and hungriest. UC IPM says a yellowjacket colony started by one queen in spring can reach 1,500 to 15,000 wasps. Defensive behavior increases as the season goes on, and by late summer workers crave sugar and scavenge at barbecues, trash cans, pet dishes and fallen fruit. Colonies normally last only one season, though some survive very mild winters.
Can the vector control district remove a yellowjacket nest?
Often, yes. The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District says its technicians may spray, destroy or relocate nests found in the ground, trees or walls of homes. It can't do structural pest control, so it won't treat a nest that has gone into the structure of a building or nests on upper levels of multi-story buildings.
In Placer County, the Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District responds to reports of heavy yellowjacket activity and says most nests there are underground. Elsewhere, UC IPM suggests calling the Mosquito & Vector Control Association of California at (916) 440-0826 to find out whether your local district removes nests.
When do you need a private exterminator for wasps?
Call a pest control company when a nest is inside a wall, attic or soffit, on a second story or higher, or right next to a door used by someone allergic to stings. Repeated paper wasp nests under eaves and nests the district can't reach are also private jobs. Treating a nest inside a wall often means drilling small holes to apply insecticide, which Fixr's 2025 national guide prices at $350 to $875.
Should you remove a wasp nest yourself?
UC IPM says the easiest and safest choice is professional help. If you do it yourself, wear protective clothing on your body, hands and head, work at night when wasps are in the nest, and use a product labeled for yellowjacket nests that shoots a long stream. Even then, stings are likely, and underground nests can extend far from the visible hole.
Some jobs are simpler. Early in the season, knocking down a newly started paper wasp nest makes the queen move on. Mud dauber nests can be removed in winter without spraying. Lure and water traps reduce foraging yellowjackets around a patio, but UC IPM says they don't eliminate large populations.
What should you do if you're stung?
Wash the sting with soap and cold water. The Sacramento-Yolo district says anyone with multiple stings or a known allergy should get immediate medical care without waiting for symptoms. UC IPM warns that many stings at once can damage the kidneys. Call 911 if someone has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or feels faint.
| Insect | Looks like | Nest | Temper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowjacket | Bright yellow and black, barely visible waist | Underground, in wall voids, or enclosed gray paper nest | Defends nest hard; scavenges food |
| Paper wasp | Long slender waist, legs dangle in flight | Open, umbrella-shaped comb under eaves | Usually mild; European paper wasp stings more readily |
| Mud dauber | Black and yellow, thread-thin waist | Small hard mud tubes on walls and ceilings | Rarely stings |
| Honey bee | Hairier, less bright stripes | Cavities in trees or walls | Unlikely to sting unless trapped or stepped on |
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Frequently asked questions
How much does wasp nest removal cost?
Do yellowjacket traps work?
Should I plug the hole a yellowjacket nest uses?
Sources
- Pest Notes: Yellowjackets and Other Social Wasps (Publication 7450) — UC Statewide IPM Program
- Service Around Your Home (service requests, mosquitofish, yellowjacket control, dead birds) — Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District
- Yellowjackets and Paper Wasps — Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District
- Yellowjackets — Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District
- Wasp Nest Removal Cost (updated January 31, 2025) — Fixr
- How Much Does Pest Control Cost? (2026 Pricing), updated 03/12/2026 — This Old House