Wasps
Wasps are stinging insects that build paper or mud nests on eaves, shutters, fences and in the ground around South Florida homes. Paper wasps and yellowjackets defend their nests and can sting more than once, while mud daubers rarely sting at all, so identifying the wasp, and making sure it is not a colony of Africanized honey bees, comes before any attempt to remove a nest.
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What Are Wasps?
Wasps are stinging insects related to bees and ants. Most have slender bodies, a narrow waist and two pairs of wings. Some, like paper wasps and yellowjackets, are social: they live in colonies with a queen and workers and defend their nest aggressively. Others, like mud daubers, are solitary: each female builds her own nest and rarely stings.
Wasps are also useful. University of Florida entomologists describe paper wasps as voracious predators of caterpillars, including armyworms and hornworms that attack gardens and lawns, and they visit flowers for nectar. Yellowjackets help control insects that attack ornamental and food plants, and mud daubers hunt spiders. The problem starts when a nest is built where people live, work and play.
South Florida gives wasps a long season. Social wasp colonies are started in spring by a single queen and grow through summer and fall as new workers hatch. Our warm climate, heavy summer rains and abundant insects provide plenty of food, and the region’s homes provide plenty of nest sites: eaves, soffits, hurricane shutters, screened pool cages, lanais, light fixtures, fences, palms and irrigated lawns from Miami-Dade and Broward to Palm Beach and the Keys.
How to Identify Wasps
- Paper wasps are long and slender, usually reddish brown with white or yellow rings, about 2/3 to 1 3/8 inches long. Their nest is a single, open, circular comb of paper cells hanging from a narrow stalk.
- Yellowjackets have yellow and black markings (the baldfaced hornet, a yellowjacket too, is black and white). Most nest underground, and you often only see them flying in and out of a hole in the lawn.
- Mud daubers are slender solitary wasps, such as the black and yellow mud dauber and the blue metallic mud dauber, that build nests of mud on walls and eaves.
- Honey bees, including Africanized honey bees, usually nest inside cavities such as walls, meter boxes and hollow trees rather than in open paper nests.
Wasps vs. Africanized Honey Bees
Africanized honey bees are not wasps, but they often nest in the same places, and the difference matters. UF/IFAS notes that “any place where you have seen a paper wasp nest could house an Africanized honey bee colony.” Africanized and European honey bees look nearly identical and can only be told apart with laboratory tools. If you see bees going in and out of a wall, meter box or cavity, treat it as a honey bee colony and keep your distance.
Wasp Species in South Florida
Paper Wasps
Paper wasps (Polistes spp.) build a single, circular comb of open paper cells hanging from a stalk, on eaves, porches, window frames, fences, shutters and attic rafters. Workers chew wood and mix it with saliva to make the paper. They hunt caterpillars and can sting repeatedly to defend the nest, so most stings happen when someone bumps a nest by accident.
Yellowjackets
Florida has two yellowjackets, the eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) and the southern yellowjacket (Vespula squamosa). Both build enclosed paper nests, usually underground, with colonies of hundreds to thousands of wasps. The southern yellowjacket also builds aerial nests, and UF/IFAS has recorded them in palm material. They are drawn to sweets, fruit and garbage.
Baldfaced Hornet
The baldfaced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) is black and white and is actually a type of yellowjacket. It builds large, enclosed paper nests above ground, often a foot or more across. Like other yellowjackets, it defends its nest and can sting more than once.
Mud Daubers
Mud daubers build mud nests on eaves, walls, sheds and bridges. The black and yellow mud dauber (Sceliphron caementarium) makes clusters of mud cells, the organ pipe mud dauber (Trypoxylon politum) builds long mud tubes, and the blue mud dauber (Chalybion californicum) often reuses old nests. Each cell is stocked with paralyzed spiders. They rarely sting.
Africanized Honey Bees
Not a wasp, but often confused with one. Africanized honey bees are established in Florida and nest in water meter boxes, electrical boxes, downspouts, sheds, attics, under mobile homes and in tree cavities. They respond to disturbance quickly, sometimes more than 50 feet from the nest, and can chase people a long way. Honey bee colonies should be handled by professionals.
Mud daubers also prey on spiders that live around the house. To learn more about those, see our spider guide.
Signs of a Wasp Problem
- Wasps flying repeatedly to the same spot under eaves, a shutter, a light fixture or a fence
- Gray or tan paper combs with open, six-sided cells under overhangs
- Wasps flying low over the lawn and going in and out of a hole in the ground
- Enclosed gray paper nests in trees, shrubs, palms or on buildings
- Mud tubes or clusters of mud cells on walls, eaves, garages and sheds
- Wasps chewing on wooden fences, decks or furniture, collecting fiber for paper
- Yellowjackets swarming garbage cans, fallen fruit and outdoor drinks
- Bees going in and out of a wall, meter box, irrigation box or downspout
Why Wasps Are a Problem
Stings. Paper wasps and yellowjackets can sting as often as they find a target, unlike honey bee workers, which die after one sting. UF/IFAS explains that an injured yellowjacket releases an alarm pheromone that brings the colony out to defend the nest. Most stings happen when someone disturbs a nest by mowing, trimming hedges, opening shutters or reaching under a railing.
Allergic reactions. For most people a sting is painful but local. Some people have severe reactions. UF/IFAS and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services advise getting emergency care or calling 911 for trouble breathing, throat or chest tightness or fainting, and seeing a doctor after many stings or if you know you are allergic.
Africanized honey bees. UF/IFAS reports that Africanized honey bees respond to disturbance quickly, sometimes more than 50 feet from the nest, and may send hundreds of defenders, compared with a handful from a European honey bee colony. Each Africanized bee sting actually carries less venom than a European bee’s; the large number of stings is what makes attacks serious.
Nests in the wrong place. Nests near doors, pool cages, play areas, balconies and building entrances put families, guests, tenants and customers at risk. Restaurants, hotels and condos with outdoor seating are especially affected when yellowjackets come for food and drinks.
Where Wasps Hide in South Florida Homes and Businesses
- Eaves, soffits and overhangs. The most common place for paper wasp nests.
- Hurricane shutters and window frames. Shutters left in place or stored in the garage are favorite nest sites.
- Light fixtures, mailboxes and grills. Sheltered spots that stay dry in the rain.
- Pool cages, lanais and screened porches. Frames and corners give paper wasps shelter.
- Lawns and landscaping. Yellowjackets nest underground, especially in quiet corners of the yard.
- Palms and shrubs. Southern yellowjackets and hornets may build aerial nests in palm material and dense vegetation.
- Meter boxes, wall voids and attics. Possible sites for honey bee colonies as well as wasps.
- Commercial buildings. Signs, awnings, loading docks, parking garages and balconies at offices, hotels and condos.
When Wasps Are Most Active in South Florida
| Season | Wasp activity | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (March to May) | Queens that mated the previous fall start new nests; nests are small and easy to spot | Check eaves, shutters and light fixtures and deal with small nests early. |
| Summer (June to August) | Colonies grow quickly as workers hatch; more wasps around eaves and lawns | Look for ground nests before mowing and trimming hedges. |
| Fall (September to November) | Colonies have been growing all season; yellowjackets forage for sweets, fruit and garbage | Keep garbage cans closed, pick up fallen fruit and cover drinks outdoors. |
| Winter (December to February) | UF/IFAS notes that yellowjacket colonies die off in winter except for new queens, which overwinter | Remove old nests and seal gaps before spring. |
| Spring, summer and fall | Honey bee swarms look for new nest sites | Stay away from swarms and call a professional; close gaps larger than 1/8 inch. |
How to Prevent Wasps
- Inspect regularly. Check eaves, shutters, light fixtures, mailboxes, grills and pool cage frames every few weeks during spring and summer, when nests are small.
- Seal openings. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recommends closing wall, chimney and plumbing gaps larger than 1/8 inch and covering rain spouts and vents with 1/8-inch hardware cloth to keep honey bees out. The same work denies wasps protected voids.
- Cover meter and irrigation boxes and check them before opening.
- Control food sources. Keep garbage cans closed, rinse recycling, pick up fallen fruit and do not leave sweet drinks or pet food outside.
- Check the lawn before mowing. Watch for wasps flying in and out of the ground.
- Repair screens on porches and pool cages.
- Wear protective clothing when trimming hedges or working in overgrown areas.
- Never disturb a nest you cannot reach easily. UF/IFAS warns that even at night, disturbing a nest causes instant activity.
How Toro Gets Rid of Wasps
- InspectionA Toro technician inspects the eaves, shutters, pool cage, landscaping, lawn and building openings to locate every active nest.
- IdentificationWe identify whether you have paper wasps, yellowjackets, mud daubers or a honey bee colony, because each one is handled differently and honey bees in Florida require professional handling.
- Targeted nest treatment and removalWe treat and remove wasp nests and address the openings and attractants that brought them, as part of our residential pest control service.
- Follow-upWe check for new nests on regular service visits. If the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
Property managers, hotels and restaurants can ask about our commercial pest control and lodging and hospitality programs. Toro Pest Management has protected South Florida since 1969, from Miami and Hialeah to Hollywood and Boca Raton. We respond within 24 hours, guaranteed, and the inspection is free. Call 305-594-4767. Hablamos Español.
Seeing signs of wasps? Get a free inspection and $25 off your first service.
Schedule Your Free InspectionWasps: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get rid of a wasp nest under my eaves?
Small paper wasp nests can sometimes be treated by a homeowner. UF/IFAS suggests using a wasp-labeled aerosol in the evening, when wasps are calm, and following the label. If the nest is large, hard to reach, inside a wall, in the ground, or anyone in the home is allergic to stings, UF/IFAS recommends calling a pest control professional instead.
What is the difference between a wasp and a bee?
Wasps such as paper wasps and yellowjackets build paper nests and hunt insects such as caterpillars to feed their young, while honey bees live in wax comb inside cavities and feed on nectar and pollen. Honey bee workers die after stinging once, while paper wasps and yellowjackets can sting again and again. Africanized honey bees look almost identical to European honey bees and need lab testing to tell apart.
Are mud daubers dangerous?
Not usually. According to UF/IFAS, mud daubers are docile, solitary wasps that rarely sting. They do not defend their nests, and they sting mainly when handled roughly. Their stings are not considered medically important. Females fill their mud cells with paralyzed spiders as food for their larvae, so mud daubers actually help reduce spiders around the house.
Why are there so many yellowjackets in my yard?
Yellowjackets usually nest underground, so a few wasps flying low and going in and out of a hole in the lawn often means a nest nearby. They are attracted to sugary foods, ripe fruit, soft drinks and garbage. Colonies can hold hundreds to thousands of wasps. Mowing over a hidden nest is a common way people get stung, so mark the spot and call a professional.
What should I do if I am attacked by bees or wasps?
Move away from the nest quickly in a straight line, cover your face and eyes, and get inside a building or car. Do not jump into water or hide in bushes, and do not swat. Scrape out honey bee stingers instead of squeezing them. Call 911 or seek emergency care right away for trouble breathing, throat or chest tightness, fainting or many stings.
Are there Africanized honey bees in South Florida?
Yes. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services states that Africanized honey bees are established in Florida, most likely arriving on cargo ships from Central and South America. They nest in water meter boxes, electrical boxes, downspouts, sheds, attics and other cavities. UF/IFAS notes they can defend their nest more than 50 feet away, so stay away from any honey bee colony.
When should I call a professional for wasps?
Call a professional when the nest is large, inside a wall, attic or the ground, high on a building, near a door or pool where people pass, or when anyone in the home is allergic to stings. Also call for any colony of honey bees. Under Florida rules, using pesticides on bees counts as pest control, and UF/IFAS recommends that nuisance honey bees be removed by a registered beekeeper or eradicated by a licensed pest control operator.
Related Pests
Pest Control Across South Florida
Toro treats wasps in homes and businesses throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, including:
- Miami
- Hialeah
- Doral
- Miami Beach
- Coral Gables
- Homestead
- Fort Lauderdale
- Hollywood
- Pembroke Pines
- Miramar
- Boca Raton
- West Palm Beach
Last updated: October 29, 2026
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