If it seems like wasps have suddenly appeared overnight, you’re not imagining things.

Every summer, I receive a sharp increase in calls around this time of year as nests become large enough for homeowners to finally notice them.
The little golf ball-sized nest you barely noticed a week ago can quickly become the size of a basketball—or even larger—as the colony grows through the summer.
Understanding what’s happening inside the nest helps explain why wasps seem to become more active as the season progresses.

Not All Wasps Build the Same Kind of Nest

The two stinging insects I deal with most often are paper wasps and yellowjackets.
Although they’re related, they behave quite differently.
Paper wasps usually build the familiar open, umbrella-shaped nests beneath roof overhangs, porch ceilings, sheds, decks, and other protected areas. Their nests remain exposed, making them relatively easy to identify.
Yellowjackets, on the other hand, often hide their nests. They may build inside:
-Wall voids
-Roof spaces
-Crawlspaces
-Ground burrows
-Landscape voids
-Other concealed locations

Ground nests are almost always yellowjackets—not paper wasps.

Why They Become So Active Later in the Summer

Throughout spring and early summer, the colony is focused on raising worker wasps.
Those workers spend their days gathering food and expanding the nest.

As August approaches, however, the colony begins shifting its priorities.
Instead of producing more workers, the nest starts producing the next generation of queens that will survive the winter. At the same time, many of the existing workers have fewer colony duties to perform.
That’s one reason yellowjackets often become noticeably more aggressive during late summer—right when families are spending more time outdoors, grilling, gardening, and enjoying their yards.

Can DIY Treatment Work?

Sometimes.
An aerosol wasp spray from your local hardware store can often eliminate a small, exposed paper wasp nest when used carefully and according to the label.
An enclosed yellowjacket nest is a very different situation.
Because the colony is hidden inside a wall, attic, or underground void, spraying the visible entrance usually has little effect on the thousands of wasps protected deeper inside the nest.
By the time you’ve purchased protective clothing, equipment you’ll likely never use again, and several products trying to solve the problem yourself, professional treatment often becomes the more practical option.

What About Wasp Traps?

Wasp traps can absolutely help reduce the number of wasps around a property.
However, it’s important to understand what they’re doing… They attract wasps.
That means they should be placed away from patios, decks, play areas, and other places where people gather.
Many manufacturers recommend placing traps at least 20 to 30 feet away from activity areas, and farther away is often even better if your property allows it.
Traps can reduce pressure on a colony, but they’re rarely enough to eliminate a well-established nest by themselves.

Will Fake Wasp Nests Keep Them Away?

This is one of the most common products I see advertised.
The idea is that wasps supposedly won’t build near another colony.
Unfortunately, real-world experience tells a different story.
I’ve been to plenty of homes with multiple active nests only a few feet apart.
If those fake nests truly worked, my job during wasp season would be a lot easier.

Do Wasps Reuse Their Nests?

No.
Both paper wasps and yellowjackets abandon their nests each fall.
The colony dies, and only newly mated queens survive the winter.
That doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.
If a location proved to be a good nesting site this year, there’s a good chance a new queen will choose the same general area next spring.

Can You Prevent Them?

To some extent.
Early-season preventative treatments around common nesting areas can reduce the likelihood of new colonies becoming established.
Even then, nature doesn’t always cooperate.
No treatment can honestly guarantee that a determined queen won’t decide your home looks like the perfect place to start a new colony.
That’s why inspection remains just as important as treatment.

The Bottom Line
Most wasp problems are easiest to solve when the nests are still small.
By late summer, colonies can contain hundreds—or even thousands—of insects, making treatment much more difficult and increasing the chances of unpleasant encounters.
If you’ve noticed increasing wasp activity around your home, don’t wait until that golf ball-sized nest becomes a basketball hanging over your front door.
Tahoma Specialty Pest Services can identify the species, locate hidden nests, and recommend the safest and most effective solution for your property

Tahoma Specialty Pest Services
Protecting Homes. Respecting Wildlife.

🌐 tahomapest.com
📞 509-978-7830

Spokane • Inland Northwest.

#Spokane #yellowjackets #summerpests #wasps