A paper wasp is a slender, brown-and-yellow stinging insect in the family Vespidae, named for the umbrella-shaped, papery nests it builds under eaves and other sheltered spots. Paper wasps are generally not aggressive, though they’ll defend a disturbed nest. And unlike honey bees, they're able to sting more than once. This guide walks through how to identify paper wasps, their behavior and habits, what a sting feels like, and how to handle a nest near your home.
What is a paper wasp?
Paper wasps belong to the family Vespidae, with slender bodies, narrow waists, and long legs. They build umbrella-shaped nests from chewed plant fiber, wood, and saliva. More than 20 species live in North America, including regional variants like the northern paper wasp, but they share the same basic look and habits. Colonies stay small compared to yellow jackets and include a queen, workers, and males. The queen lays the eggs, while workers build the nest, gather food, and tend the developing larvae.
What does a paper wasp look like?
Paper wasp identification comes down to a few clear features:
- Size: Adults are about 5/8 to 3/4 inch long.
- Color: Brown with yellow, and sometimes reddish, markings.
- Body: Slender, with a narrow waist and long legs that dangle in flight.
- Nest: An open, umbrella-shaped paper comb with visible cells.
The most common mix-up is a paper wasp vs. a yellow jacket. Paper wasps have longer bodies, thinner waists, and legs that hang down as they fly. A paper wasp nest hangs in the open like a paper lantern, while yellow jackets usually build enclosed nests underground or inside walls.
Behavior, habits, and signs of a paper wasp nest
Paper wasps prey on caterpillars and other soft-bodied insects for protein, qualifying them as beneficial insects. They also feed on nectar, pollen, and fruits for energy, and sometimes gather around outdoor food and sugary drinks. They’re not generally aggressive, but will defend a nest and can sting more than once if they feel threatened.
They favor sheltered spots: eaves, door and window frames, soffits, tree branches, and other protected areas.
“While uncommon, paper wasps sometimes build nests in undisturbed indoor spaces like attics or unused rooms,” said Isaac Rockwell, Aptive’s in-house entomologist. “Other spaces you may find wasps include crawl spaces, wall voids, chimneys, window and door frames and even ceiling voids.”
The clearest sign of a nest is the umbrella-shaped comb itself, along with wasps steadily coming and going around one sheltered area. Spotting that activity early makes a paper wasp nest easier to address.
Do paper wasps sting?
Yes, paper wasps can sting – and unlike honey bees, they can sting more than once. Even so, they typically only sting to defend their nest. A paper wasp sting usually causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. The discomfort may last a few hours or a few days.
If you’re stung, wash the area with soap and water, apply a cold compress, and try not to scratch it. For most people, the reaction stays mild. In rarer cases, some stings can cause a severe allergic reaction that needs immediate medical care, a reaction known as anaphylaxis – with symptoms such as difficulty breathing or swelling of the face or throat.
The content in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition. Do not delay seeking emergency care for severe allergic reactions such as difficulty breathing or swelling of the face or throat. Individual reactions to paper wasp stings may vary, and no guarantees are made regarding the effectiveness of any treatment described. Home remedies mentioned are not medically verified and may cause adverse reactions. Aptive Environmental LLC provides pest control services only and does not offer medical advice. The company is not liable for any damages or injuries resulting from the use of this information.
How to get rid of paper wasp nests
It’s important that you understand how to get rid of paper wasps safely before attempting removal. Over-the-counter paper wasp spray and traps tend to offer limited and temporary results. They’re less effective on established or hidden nests and can aggravate wasps, resulting in aggressive behavior. Never attempt to burn paper wasp nests as they’re extremely flammable and fire will likely increase the risk of stings. Nests tucked into wall voids are especially risky to handle yourself since a failed removal attempt can push the colony further into the structure of your home rather than out of it. Professional paper wasp control is a safer and more reliable option.
How to prevent paper wasps from building nests
A few habits help reduce the odds of a paper wasp nest being rebuilt:
- Inspect early and often: Check eaves, soffits, door and window frames, and other sheltered spots in early spring, when queens are just starting solo nests.
- Seal potential entry points: Close gaps around windows, doors, vents, and utility lines where paper wasps could nest inside a wall void or attic.
- Repair damaged screens: Fix or replace torn window and door screens so wasps can't get into porches, garages, or living spaces.
- Keep outdoor food and drinks covered: Uncovered sugary drinks, fruit, and pet food attract foraging paper wasps looking for an easy meal.
- Manage garden pests: Since paper wasps hunt caterpillars and soft-bodied insects, a yard with fewer of those pests gives them less reason to stick around.
- Trim back trees and shrubs: Keep branches away from the roofline and siding, since overgrown vegetation creates more sheltered, hard-to-spot nesting options close to the house.
- Remove old nests promptly: Paper wasps don't reuse last year's nest, but a dead one left in place can still attract new queens scouting the same general area.
- Consider a professional preventive treatment: A pest control service can apply a barrier treatment each spring to discourage nesting before it starts, which is especially useful if you've had repeat problems in the same spot.
When to call a professional for paper wasp control
Knowing how to identify a paper wasp nest and understand their behavior goes a long way toward avoiding stings, but sometimes help is needed. Call a professional for paper wasp control if a nest is large, sits somewhere hard to reach, keeps getting rebuilt after you've removed it, or if anyone in the home has a known sting allergy.
Aptive uses a combination of direct nest treatments and targeted removal techniques to address paper wasp activity around your home. And if pests come back, so do we at no extra cost.
Paper wasp FAQs
Q: What attracts paper wasps to my house?
Paper wasps are drawn to sheltered nesting spots like eaves, soffits, and door frames, along with easy food. Uncovered outdoor food, sugary drinks, and the insects they hunt in your garden can all keep them nearby. Reducing those food sources and sealing gaps helps make your home less inviting to paper wasps.
Q: Are paper wasps dangerous?
Paper wasps aren’t typically dangerous for most people. They tend to sting only when defending a nest, and a sting can cause short-lived pain and swelling. Reactions can be more serious for anyone with a sting allergy, so give active paper wasp nests space and treat any severe symptoms quickly.
Q: Do paper wasps have a queen?
Yes, each paper wasp colony starts with a single fertilized queen who survives winter in a sheltered spot like tree bark or a wall crevice, then builds a small starter nest alone each spring. Her first workers take over building, foraging, and nest defense while she focuses on laying eggs through summer.
Q: What do paper wasps do to help the environment?
Paper wasps play a useful role outdoors. They hunt caterpillars and other soft-bodied insects that damage plants, and they feed on nectar, offering light pollination as they go. They also act as a food source for birds and other animals that eat them and their larvae.
Q: Are red paper wasps more dangerous?
No, red paper wasps aren't more dangerous than other paper wasp species. They just carry more reddish coloring on an otherwise brown-and-yellow body, most often seen in species common in the southern U.S. Like other paper wasps, they sting mainly to defend a threatened nest rather than out of general aggression, so the same precautions apply.
