Where Do Wasps Nest?

• Home›
• Articles›
• Where Do Wasps Nest?

Phoenix, Tucson, and Southern Arizona are home to various wasps. While these buzzing insects can be beneficial, they can also become a nuisance, especially when they build nests near where we live and relax. Knowing what attracts them to yards, where wasps like to nest, and how to deal with nests can help residents keep their homes and yards wasp-free.

Common wasps in Southern Arizona

Paper wasps
Paper wasps have long legs and slender bodies. Depending on the species, they are usually reddish-brown or yellow and black. Often mistaken for yellow jackets, they are generally less aggressive.

Western yellow jackets
Yellow jackets have distinctive yellow and black markings, defined waists, and long wings. Unlike paper wasps, which dangle their legs when they fly, western yellow jackets tuck their legs up under their bodies. Yellow jackets are very aggressive, especially in the autumn when their colonies are bursting, and natural resources are depleting.

Tarantula wasps
Tarantula wasps, also called tarantula hawks, are large, striking insects. They have glossy black or dark blue bodies with bright orange wings. They also have long legs with hooked claws. Despite their larger size and intimidating appearance, these wasps aren’t usually aggressive toward humans and only use their sting as a last resort.

When are wasps active in Southern Arizona?

Wasps become active in Southern Arizona in the spring as the weather warms up and reach their peak in late summer or early fall. Property owners should be watchful for these stinging insects as soon as they become active in the spring. Towards the end of summer and early fall, their numbers increase, and their natural food sources diminish; there is a greater chance of encountering them or being stung. Wasp activity decreases later in the fall as temperatures drop and colonies die off, leaving only fertilized queens to survive the winter and start new colonies in the spring.

What attracts wasps to Arizona yards?

Wasps are attracted to food sources, which include other insects, sugary foods, meat, and garbage, as well as nectar, pollen, and honeydew from aphids.

Leaky faucets, birdbaths, pools, and other water sources are especially attractive to wasps that are trying to in our desert-like climate.

Finally, if they find suitable shelter, wasps will reside in yards and homes. Continue reading to find out where wasps in our area will likely nest.

Where do wasps nest?

Where wasps nest depends on the species. Let’s break it down.

Paper wasps build nests from a material resembling paper by mixing chewed wood fibers with their saliva. This combo forms a grayish-colored papery substance that the wasps use to build open, umbrella-shaped nests with exposed cells.

Common paper wasp nesting sites include:

• Eaves and roof overhangs
• Tree branches
• Shrubs
• Porches
• Decks
• Sheds & other outbuildings
• Attics
• Garages
• Wall voids

Western yellow jackets construct nests that are usually enclosed and made of papery material like what is used by paper wasps. Each nest consists of multiple layers of cells that are not visible from the outside. The exterior of their nests may appear grayish or brownish, depending on the type of wood fibers they utilize.

Common western yellow jacket wasp nesting sites include:

• Abandoned rodent burrows
• Ground holes
• Wall voids
• Attics
• Decks
• Porches
• Sheds
• Bushes & shrubs

Tarantula wasps do not construct papery nests. Instead, each female locates an abandoned rodent burrow, captures and drags a tarantula to the site, and then lays eggs in the immobilized spider. These wasps will also use natural cavities in wood or hide their eggs and prey under piles of debris or loose material.

Can a wasp nest damage a house?

 If paper wasps and yellow jackets establish nests inside a structure, they can cause damage by chewing through materials to expand their nests. Their nests may also attract other pests. If their nests get moist from the nectar produced, it can lead to mold growth and other minor to more severe issues.

Because tarantula hawks build nests in burrows and other cavities, they typically do not impact homes or structures.

What to do if you find a wasp nest

If you notice a wasp nest in or attached to your home, near entrances, or other high-traffic areas, do not knock it down, as you could provoke wasps into giving chase and stinging. Remember, wasps can sting multiple times because they do not have barbs in their stingers like bees.

The wisest action is to contact a pest control company for aid. Trained and licensed pest control specialists have the tools and safety equipment to handle wasp nests without injury or other consequences.

At Northwest Exterminating, we offer home pest control services that include wasp treatments and eliminate and prevent common house-infesting pests, such as ants, spiders, and crickets. For relief from stinging wasps and other nuisance or potentially harmful pests, contact our locally operated pest control company today!