Stinging Pest Removal

Stinging Pest Removal in NYC

A wasp or hornet nest by your door, on the fire escape, or inside a wall is not a problem to poke at with a store-bought can — that is exactly how people end up with multiple stings. New York Exterminating removes stinging-insect nests safely, controls the whole colony, and identifies the insect first so honeybees get relocated rather than killed. The work is led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) trained on stinging insects and licensed in structural pest control, with 24/7 emergency response across the five boroughs.

Wasp, hornet, yellowjacket, or honeybee?

The first decision is what you actually have, because the right response differs sharply. Yellowjackets, paper wasps, and hornets (bald-faced and European) are aggressive nest-defenders that sting repeatedly — these we treat and remove. Honeybees are valuable pollinators, and when it is a genuine honeybee colony the correct, responsible move is relocation by a beekeeper, not extermination. People also confuse harmless lookalikes — large solitary cicada killers and wood-boring carpenter bees — for dangerous wasps. We confirm the species (a clear photo usually does it) and handle each appropriately, so you never pay to exterminate a beneficial colony or under-react to an aggressive one.

Why DIY nest removal goes wrong — especially in NYC

Disturbing a nest provokes the colony to defend in numbers, and that is when stings happen. It is worse in the city: nests under eaves and cornices, on shared fire escapes and ledges, and inside wall voids are common, and sealing a wall nest’s entrance drives trapped wasps inward into the living space. In attached buildings a single nest on a shared structure threatens several units. Professional removal controls the entire colony at the source and removes the accessible nest so it cannot be reoccupied — safely, and without turning a back deck or fire escape into a swarm.

Our process

1. Identify. We confirm wasp vs. hornet vs. honeybee and assess the risk and location.

2. Treat the colony. We control the colony at the nest or void entry — the whole population, not just the surface.

3. Remove the nest. We remove the accessible nest so it cannot be reoccupied or attract other pests.

4. Prevent. We point out what drew them to the spot and how to discourage a new nest — or arrange beekeeper relocation for honeybees.

Related services: General Pest Control and contact us for 24/7 emergency help.

Quick answers

Do you offer emergency service?

Yes — 24/7 response, prioritizing nests in high-traffic areas and situations where someone has been stung or is allergic.

Will you relocate honeybees instead of killing them?

Yes — a true honeybee colony is relocated by a beekeeper whenever possible, not exterminated.

Can you confirm from a photo?

Often yes — email a clear photo and we can usually tell you the species and urgency before arriving.

Stinging Pest FAQs

Is a wasp or hornet nest an emergency?

It can be. A nest by a doorway, on a fire escape, near where children or pets play, or anywhere someone has already been stung is urgent — especially if anyone in the building has a sting allergy, where one sting can be life-threatening. Yellowjackets and hornets also defend their nests aggressively in groups. If the nest is in a high-traffic spot or someone is allergic, do not wait — call and we will prioritize it.

Should I knock the nest down myself?

No. Disturbing a nest — spraying a store can, hitting it, or sealing the entrance — provokes the colony to defend all at once, which is how most multiple-sting incidents happen. Nests inside wall voids are especially dangerous to seal, because trapped wasps chew inward into the living space. Professional removal handles the entire colony safely and keeps you out of the swarm.

Is it wasps or bees? Does it matter?

It matters a lot. Wasps and hornets — yellowjackets, paper wasps, bald-faced and European hornets — are aggressive nest-defenders and are treated and removed. Honeybees are valuable pollinators, so whenever it is a true honeybee colony the right move is relocation by a beekeeper, not extermination. We identify the insect first and handle it accordingly — a photo often tells us what you have before we arrive.

Where do stinging insects nest around NYC buildings?

Under eaves, soffits, and roof overhangs; on fire escapes, balconies, and window ledges; inside wall voids and attics; in shrubs and trees; and in the ground for some yellowjackets. In dense neighborhoods a nest on a shared fire escape or cornice affects several units at once, so we treat the whole colony, not just the visible nest.

Do you offer same-day or emergency service?

Yes. Stinging insects are one of our most common urgent calls in summer, and we offer 24/7 response across the five boroughs, prioritizing nests in high-traffic areas and any situation where someone has been stung or is allergic.

Will you remove the nest or just spray it?

We control the colony and remove the accessible nest so it cannot be reoccupied or attract other pests. For nests inside wall voids we treat the colony at the entry and make sure it is fully knocked down. We also point out what attracted them and how to keep the spot from being chosen again next season.

New York Exterminating, Inc.
1115 E 13th St, Brooklyn, NY 11230
ACE-Certified · Licensed in Structural & Food-Establishment Pest Control · 24/7 response across the five boroughs

Every job is led by an Associate Certified Entomologist. Meet Jorge Bedoya, ACE — the NYC Exterminator »