Quick facts
- Size
- About 1/2 to 3/4 inch, European hornets up to 1 inch
- Looks like
- Black and yellow or black and white, narrow waist
- Peak season
- August and September
- Where in Michigan
- Statewide, around eaves, decks, sheds and lawns
- Main risk
- Painful stings, allergic reactions in some people
- Risk level
- Moderate
Signs you have wasps and hornets
- Wasps flying in and out of a hole in the ground or wall
- Gray paper nests under eaves, decks or in trees
- Umbrella-shaped open combs under railings or soffits
- Wasps gathering around trash, picnic food or fallen fruit
- Chewing sounds inside a wall void
Common wasps and hornets in Michigan
Yellowjackets nest in the ground, in wall voids and in old rodent burrows. By late summer, a colony can have thousands of workers. They are the ones that crash picnics, dive into soda cans and sting when someone mows over the nest. A steady line of wasps going in and out of one spot in the lawn or siding almost always means yellowjackets.
Paper wasps build open, umbrella-shaped combs under eaves, deck railings and grill lids. They are less aggressive unless the nest is bumped. Bald-faced hornets build gray, football-sized paper nests in trees and shrubs and defend them hard. European hornets are large and brown, nest in hollow trees and walls, and often fly at night toward porch lights.
Mud daubers build tube-shaped mud nests on garage walls, siding and under eaves. They hunt spiders, rarely sting, and are mostly a cosmetic nuisance. Scraping old mud nests off in spring is usually all they need. The nests are mud, not paper, so a putty knife and a hose take care of them. Females work alone and do not defend a nest the way yellowjackets do.
Why wasps get worse in late summer
Colonies start in spring with one queen. By August, the population peaks and workers switch from hunting insects to looking for sugar, which is why they swarm trash cans, fruit trees, cider mills and soda cans. They also get more defensive as the colony nears its end, so stings around Labor Day are common.
The first hard frost in fall kills off the workers. Only newly mated queens survive the winter, hiding under bark, in woodpiles, or in attics and wall voids. Old nests are not reused, so a nest you find in November does not need treatment. You can knock it down once it is cold and the nest is empty.
Nest removal safety
Treat nests at dusk or after dark, when wasps are inside and less active. Wear long sleeves, gloves and eye protection, and do not shine a flashlight straight at the nest. Use a product labeled for wasps and hornets and follow the label. Never plug a ground or wall nest entrance before treating it, since yellowjackets may chew through drywall into the house.
If you are allergic to stings, have had a severe reaction before, or the nest is large, high or inside a wall, do not do it yourself. Honey bees are a different case and are valuable pollinators. If you see a honey bee swarm, contact a local beekeeper, who may remove it for free. Keep bats in mind too, since both can use the same attic gaps.
What you can do yourself
- 1Knock down small paper wasp nests early in spring before they grow.
- 2Use a wasp and hornet spray labeled for the job, at dusk, following the label.
- 3Keep trash cans closed and pick up fallen fruit.
- 4Seal gaps in siding and soffits where wasps enter wall voids.
- 5Cover drinks outdoors in late summer and check cans before sipping.
When to call a licensed pro
- Someone in the household is allergic to stings.
- The nest is in the ground, a wall void or attic.
- A bald-faced hornet nest is large or hard to reach.
- Wasps are coming into living spaces.
What wasps and hornets treatment costs in Michigan
$100 to $350per nest
Typical Michigan ranges, not quotes. Price depends on the type of nest, where it is, how high it is, and whether more than one nest is treated on the same visit.
Typical ranges, not quotes. See the full Michigan pest control cost guide.
Wasps and hornets: common questions
When do wasps go away in Michigan?
Workers die after the first hard frost, usually in October across most of the state and earlier up north. New queens overwinter in sheltered spots and start fresh nests the next spring, so seal gaps over the winter.
Are there murder hornets in Michigan?
The northern giant hornet, once nicknamed the murder hornet, has not been found in Michigan. The large hornet people usually mistake for it is the European hornet, which is big and brown but far less dramatic.
Should I remove a wasp nest myself?
Small paper wasp nests are often fine to handle at dusk with a labeled spray. Leave yellowjacket ground nests, wall nests and large bald-faced hornet nests to a pro, especially if anyone in the house is allergic.
What should I do if I'm stung?
Move away from the nest, wash the sting and use a cold pack. Seek emergency care right away for swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, hives spreading over the body, or dizziness.
How much does wasp nest removal cost?
Most single nests cost $100 to $350, with wall voids and high nests on the upper end. See our pest control cost guide for how this compares to other services.