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Quick answer: Paper wasps are slender, long-legged wasps that build open, umbrella-shaped combs under eaves, railings, and overhangs. They are less aggressive than yellowjackets but will sting to defend the nest. Small nests can sometimes be handled carefully; nests near doorways, high traffic, or anyone with an allergy are best treated by a professional.
What do paper wasps look like?
Paper wasps are slender wasps with long legs that dangle in flight, brownish to black with yellow or reddish markings and a pinched waist. Their signature is the nest: an open, umbrella-shaped comb of visible hexagonal cells hanging from a single stalk.
Signs of paper wasps
You will see the exposed papery comb under an eave, railing, or overhang, with a few adults tending it. Activity increases through summer as the colony grows.
Biology and behavior
A single overwintered queen starts the nest in spring, and workers expand it through the season. Paper wasps are beneficial predators of caterpillars and other insects and are relatively docile, but they defend the nest and can sting repeatedly.
How to deal with paper wasps
Nests away from human activity can be left alone given their benefit. For nests near doors, walkways, or play areas, a small reachable nest can sometimes be treated at night with proper protection when wasps are least active. High, large, or awkwardly placed nests are best treated by a professional.
When to call a professional
If the nest is large, high, near an entrance, or if anyone in the home has a sting allergy, professional removal is the safest choice.
A Brooklyn-based, NYSDEC-registered company (Reg. #15140) led by Jorge Bedoya, an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). For pests in your home or building, NYE provides IPM-based, low-exposure control matched to the exact pest and verified with a follow-up. ACE-led work comes with a client portal of service reports and photos, fully bilingual service, and no long-term contract.
Paper Wasp FAQ
How do I identify a paper wasp?
Paper wasps are slender with long dangling legs in flight, brownish or black with yellow or reddish markings, and a narrow waist. Their nest is an open, upside-down umbrella of hexagonal cells.
Are paper wasps aggressive?
They are generally less aggressive than yellowjackets and often ignore people at a distance, but they will sting to defend the nest, and they can sting more than once.
How do you remove a paper wasp nest?
A small, reachable nest can sometimes be treated carefully at night when wasps are least active, using proper protection. Larger nests, high locations, or nests near entrances are safer for a professional to handle.
Where do paper wasps build nests?
Under eaves, soffits, porch ceilings, railings, deck rails, grills, and inside light fixtures and mailboxes — sheltered spots with an overhang.
Are paper wasps beneficial?
Yes, they prey on caterpillars and other insects, so nests away from human activity can be left alone; only nests in high-traffic areas typically need removal.
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