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Wasp, Hornet, and Stinging Insect Control in Macon, Columbus, and South Georgia

A few hornets around the entry hole of a paper hornets nest that will be treated and removed by a pest control company.

There are more than 100,000 species of wasps in the world, and dozens that occasionally become pests in Georgia. But a small number of species account for the great bulk of stinging insect calls, and those are the ones that appear on this page.

We probably should mention at this point that although wasps and bees are related, they're not not the same. Wasps and bees belong to the same taxonomic order (Hymenoptera, which also includes all ants), but different families. In and around Macon, most of the stinging insect calls we respond to are for hornets or other wasps, not bees.

More so than for most insects, wasps and hornets are not good jobs for do-it-yourselfers. Yes, you can purchase hornet spray from your local hardware store. The problem is, you only get one chance to aim it right. If your aim is off... well, a whole colony of angry hornets coming at you at full speed is not part of a happy day.

In addition, many wasp and hornet jobs require special equipment. Most of the time this includes a protective wasp suit (kind of like a bee suit, but heavier-duty). It may also include long ladders, or even lift trucks for some jobs.

Long story short, you're probably better off not attempting wasp control yourself, and you especially shouldn't attempt hornet control yourself. Call us instead. It's what we do.

Bald-faced Hornets

Baldfaced hornets nest in a tree

A bald-faced hornets' nest in a tree

Bald-faced hornets are stocky wasps that are mainly black in color, with white or yellow markings. They live in colonies that can reach several thousand individuals in number, and live in nests built of paper. The nests have a corrugated-like structure inside where they raise their young, and it's covered by another layer of paper that gives the outside an oblong appearance.

Hornets' nests are usually attached to or suspended from trees, buildings, power lines, utility poles, and other objects. They can vary in height from eye-level (and sometimes lower) to very high in the air.

The entry hole to to a hornets' nest is usually on the very bottom, and two or three "sentries" guard the hole at all times. The number of hornets in the nest varies depending on the time of day, but there are always enough inside to defend the colony. If the sentries decide that something near the nest is a threat, they signal to the rest of the colony; and all the wasps inside the nest, and those close by the nest, will attack whatever the threat is.

Once they attack, hornets are mercilessly aggressive. Perhaps worse yet, they're unpredictable. There's no telling when they may decide that someone is a threat. Perhaps some sentries are more paranoid than others. But for whatever reason, it's not at all unusual for a hornet colony that previously ignored people nearby to suddenly decide to attack those people.

European Hornets

Top view of a European hornet

European hornets are common in Macon and throughout Georgia

There's another specie of hornet that's pretty common in and around the Macon area and throughout South Georgia. European hornets are a bit larger than bald-faced hornets and have a much brighter, more distinctive orange and black coloration. They also have a very loud, frightening buzz that sounds kind of like a small airplane just flew by your ear; and their droppings have a horrible, foul-smelling stench.

European hornets usually don't build exposed nests like bald-faced hornets do. They like building their nests in protected areas like hollow trees, attics, sheds, and other voids. In fact, when European hornets get into homes, it's usually the smell that alerts the homeowner to the problem, not a visible nest.

The buzzing and the foul smell of their droppings may be part of the European hornet's defense mechanism, because they're quite a bit less aggressive than bald-faced hornets. They'll still attack if you get too close to the nest, making them a poor choice for a DIY job; but usually if you keep your distance, they'll leave you alone. The smell is usually the reason why customers want these hornets removed; and indeed, if the problem isn't solved, the smell will just get worse as the colony grows.

Yellow Jackets

Yellow jacket wasp

Yellow jacket wasps are common in Macon and throughout Georgia

There are quite a few wasps that are called "yellow jackets," either correctly or otherwise. It's really more an informal descriptive term that's applied to a lot of different wasps with predominantly yellow coloration, than a particular specie of wasp.

The wasps that we Georgians refer to as yellow jackets are usually various wasps of the genus Vespula. One of the most common is Vespula germanica, shown on the right, which is also known as the European wasp or the the German yellow jacket.

Like European hornets, yellow jackets don't like building exposed nests. They build paper nests in void areas, and if those areas are tight, will build the nests in the shape of the void. If they have more room, they usually build one side of the nest flat against a vertical surface of the void (for example, flat against an attic wall), and then build the nest out from there in a roughly round shape.

Some of the places where yellow jackets build nests include attics, wall and ceiling voids, sheds, old cars, hollow trees, and roof soffits. The entry holes may be very close to or very far from the nest, and usually they have more than one. This makes finding the nest difficult -- for most companies, anyway. When we're not sure where the nest is, we have newfangled gadgets like infrared cameras to help us. It's usually preferable to find and directly treat the nest in order to prevent wasps from escaping into the living area.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps on a nest

There are many species of paper wasps common in and around Macon

If you thought there were a lot of different wasps called "yellow jackets," that's nothing compared to the number of wasps we call "paper wasps." As with yellow jackets, paper wasps are not a particular insect so much as an informal group of wasps that build their nests out of paper. That narrows it down to a few thousand species, but only a handful are commonly found in Georgia.

Paper wasps tend to build their nests in semi-protected areas that are exposed to the outdoors, but shielded from rain. They're commonly found under soffits, around door and window frames, under patio umbrellas and porch roofs, on playground equipment, inside hollow metal fence posts, and in other similar places.

Depending on the specie, paper wasps may be social, solitary, or something in between (several solitary wasps building nests adjacent to each other in a loosely-social manner). Their sizes and colors also vary: Paper wasps vary in size from about one-half inch to almost two inches, and may be black, yellow, brown, orange, red, or multicolored. Like we said, it's really an informal grouping, not a particular wasp.

As a group, paper wasps tend to be less aggressive than other wasps. Their stings are painful, but they don't usually attack unless you act aggressively toward them (for example, by swatting at them).

Cicada Killer Wasps

Cicada killer wasp

Cicada killers are large, solitary wasps that live in the soil and prey on cicadas.

Cicada killers are sometimes called "lawn wasps" because that's where people usually see them. They can be terrifying to some people because the males fly very aggressively and make a loud buzz. But it's all just bravado. They have no stingers, so the worst they can do is annoy you. The females have stingers, but they rarely sting.

The other way cicada killers can be an annoyance is by their sheer numbers. Over a period of a few years, the number of cicada killers in a lawn can increase to the hundreds. They also make holes in the lawn that are very unsightly. These holes quickly cover over with grass, however, once the cicada killer problem is solved.

The cicada killer is named for its unique life cycle. Females have a venom that paralyzed cicadas, which they then drag down into their holes. They lay eggs in the cicada; and when the eggs hatch a day or two later, the larvae eat the cicada from the inside out. Yeah, it's pretty gross. Nature's always beautiful, but it's not always pretty.

Digger Bees

Another soil-dwelling stinging insect that's common throughout Georgia is the digger bee, which is an actual bee, not a wasp. They can do major damage to lawns, as well as terrify people who live on the property or use the lawns. They're really not very aggressive, however, and usually don't sting unless they're threatened.

Stinging Insect Gallery

Here are some pictures of wasp, hornet, and other stinging insect work we've done.

A hornets nest about the size of a beach ball built onto the glass and the frame of a window on a house in Griffin Georgia.
Hornets\' nest on a window in Griffin
A paper wasp nest shaped a bit like a ball with several wasps walking on it hanging from the soffit panel of a house in Macon Georgia.
Paper wasp nest on the soffit of a Macon home
A paper wasp nest removed from the attic of a house in Perry Georgia is about a third the size of a work glove placed on the ground next to it.
Paper wasp nest removed from a house in Perry
A quarter inch gap around a four inch square post where it passes through the soffit panel over the porch allowed yellow jackets to build a nest in a house in Barnesville Georgia.
Yellow jacket gap around a post in Barnesville
About two dozen paper wasps on the slats of a wooden gable vent leading to the attic of a house in Griffin Georgia.
Paper wasps on a gable vent in Griffin
A hornets nest slightly bigger than a beach ball right under the peak of the roof of a house in Griffin Georgia.
Hornets nest high up on a house in Griffin
A huge hornets nest more than a foot wide sitting on the hood of a pickup truck after being removed from the outside of a house in Zebulon Georgia.
Hornets nest removed from a house in Zebulon
About a dozen wasps and their nest in the top of a semicircular gable vent at a house in Williamson Georgia.
Wasps in a gable vent at a house in Williamson
A hornets nest in two piece sitting on the tailgate of a pickup truck after being treated and removed from the outside of a house in Barnesville Georgia.
Hornets nest removed from a house in Barnesville
A hornets nest in a tree outside a house in Albany Georgia has been treated with insecticide powder and will be removed from the tree.
Hornets nest treatment outside a house in Albany
Male pest control technician holding a hornets nest that he removed from a house in Americus Georgia in his raised hand.
Hornets nest removed from a house in Americus
A large hornets nest about eighteen inches across in a tree outside a house in Cordele Georgia.
Hornets nest in a tree in Cordele
A hornets nest about the size of a beach ball hanging from the soffit of a house in Griffin Georgia.
Hornets nest on the soffit of a house in Griffin
A male pest control technician wearing a protective suit and head gear in preparation for removing a nest of hornets from a house in Macon Georgia.
Mason is suited up for hornet control in Macon
A hornet nest built around a branch being held by the stinging insect control technician who removed it from a house in Forsyth Georgia.
Hornet nest removed from a house in Forsyth
A nest of paper wasps about three inches across attached to the under side of the shingles under the rain gutter of a house in Griffin Georgia.
Paper wasp nest on a house in Griffin
A hornets nest built around and still attached to a branch resting on the windshield of a pest control truck after being removed from a house in Macon Georgia.
Hornets nest removed from a house in Macon
Man on a ladder using a bulb duster to treat a yellow jacket nest inside the soffit of a house in Macon Georgia.
Yellow jacket extermination in Macon
Hornets nest hanging from a beam under the corrugated roof of a storage building in Thomaston Georgia.
Hornets\' nest in a storage building in Thomaston
Hornets' nest attached to the soffit of a house in Americus Georgia that will be treated and removed from the house.
Hornets\' nest on a soffit in Americus
Large yellow jacket nest built along the top of the living room window inside a cabin in Macon Georgia.
Yellow jacket nest in a cabin in Macon
Small hole through a flap of paint on the soffit of a house in Columbus Georgia allowed yellow jackets to get into the attic of the house.
Yellow jacket hole into an attic in Columbus
Paper wasp nest on the hood of a car in Albany Georgia with three pupal wasps and five larval wasps outside the nest.
Paper wasp nest removed from a garage in Albany
Golf ball sized paper wasp nest needs to removed from the ceiling of a house in Columbus Georgia.
Paper wasp nest on a ceiling in a Columbus home
Large irregularly shaped yellow jackets nest on the top of the interior window frame in a cabin in Macon Georgia.
Yellow jackets wasp nest in a cabin in Macon
Paper wasps nest with about a dozen wasps crawling on it attached to the soffit panel of a house in Columbus Georgia.
Paper wasps nest on a house in Columbus
Inside of a paper yellow jackets nest removed from a house in Valdosta Georgia showing eggs and adult wasps.
Yellow jacket nest removed from a Valdosta home
Several yellow jacket wasps on a paper nest that was treated and removed from the attic of a house in Columbus Georgia.
Yellow jacket wasps removed from a Columbus home
Mason wasp with a caterpillar it intends to eat or feed to its young
Four-toothed Mason wasp
Yellow jackets nest with part torn away to show the larval wasps inside the paper nest cells
Inside of a yellow jackets\' nest
Hornets nest still attached to the branch it was built around after being removed from in front of a house in Valdosta Georgia
Hornets nest removal in Valdosta
European hornets nest attached to the outer wall of a cabin
European Hornets Nest

 

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In Oglethorpe, Montezuma, Vienna and Byron Ga. today quoting homes Wildlife Exclusions that has Bats and squirrels.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 23, 2023 11:31:15 am.

Bat calls are coming in already with the mild winter in middle to south ga. Tifton, Vienna, Cordele, Zebulon, and Barnesville Ga. Just to name a few cities I’ll be today and tomorrow.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 22, 2023 12:41:29 pm.

Good morning, glad to back, was out 2 1/2 months cause I broke my leg, time to quote some houses
by Chris Collender
Mar 20, 2023 09:48:34 am.

In Tifton Ga giving a quote for a commercial building for squirrels and then headed to another commercial building in Americus Ga for bats. Ending the day in Macon Ga for a residential quote for Rats. Have a good day!
by Jason Arruda
Mar 13, 2023 11:57:15 am.

Scurrying in the attic, scratching in the walls sounds like you may have critters. Going to some homes today hearing these noises.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 10, 2023 09:34:34 am.

Wildlife exclusions for Bats, rats and squirrels are keeping us busy in Barnesville, Macon and Albany Ga.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 09, 2023 10:44:54 am.

Headed to Vienna Ga after a customer referred they’re neighbors to us.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 08, 2023 10:35:37 am.

Helping the technicians today with a Bat Exclusion on Lake Jackson Ga.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 07, 2023 10:47:30 am.

Started off in Rome ga, raccoons in the crawl space, then headed to Atlanta, ga, rats in the attic
by Chris Collender
Jan 05, 2023 11:48:37 am.

Happy New years, back at it, started off in Conyers ga, squirrels, then headed to Stone Mountain ga, rats in the attic, now In Gainesville ga, bats in the house
by Chris Collender
Jan 02, 2023 11:16:26 am.

Here's Wishing All of You a Merry Christmas from Rid-A-Critter!
by Webmaster
Dec 23, 2022 12:56:04 pm.

Rain rain go away, i need to quote some houses today, started off Snellville ga, squirrels have chewed several new holes, paid 2 companies to do patch work , never works long term, why she called us, we will give her a permanent solution
by Chris Collender
Dec 20, 2022 12:54:00 pm.

Beautiful day but Baby, it’s cold outside. Started the day in Athens ga, rats, then headed to Brasselton, ga, rats, then headed over to Oxford, ga, squirrels. Good times
by Chris Collender
Dec 19, 2022 12:42:44 pm.

Back in conyers, ga today, seems to be busy over here, flyers in the attic, headed to Ellenwood, ga, square
by Chris Collender
Dec 16, 2022 09:53:13 am.

Beautiful day, had 2 stops in Dacula, ga. Rats and squirrels, headed to conyers, ga. For another squirrel job.
by Chris Collender
Dec 15, 2022 12:15:22 pm.

Busy day in the rain, had two quotes in Alpharetta ga, flying squirrels in both homes, headed to Athens ga, squirrels in the attic.
by Chris Collender
Dec 14, 2022 12:45:29 pm.

Quoted a rental property In Atlanta ga, rats, them headed to Athens, ga, mice, then off to Snellville ga, squirrels in the attic
by Chris Collender
Dec 13, 2022 12:33:01 pm.

Finally no more rain, headed to Decatur ga, rental property, rats, headed to Monroe, ga, squirrels in a house, then back to Atlanta ga, rats
by Chris Collender
Dec 12, 2022 03:51:16 pm.

Good day yesterday, other then the rain, started off in Dawsonville ga, rats, then headed to Lawrenceville ga, flyers, then headed to Atlanta ga, rats
by Chris Collender
Dec 07, 2022 10:01:04 am.

Rainy day, started out in Duluth, ga, snakes found in the house, then headed to doraville ga, squirrels again, then 2 stops in Atlantic ga, rats. Busy day
by Chris Collender
Dec 05, 2022 03:25:03 pm.

Here's the Third of Today's Three Videos. It's of Jason A. at a Yellow Jacket Control Job in Meansville, Georgia
by Webmaster
Dec 02, 2022 08:32:39 am.

Glad the rain stopped yesterday, we stood in Atlanta, ga. rats and squirrels, then headed to Duluth ga, squirrels again, then to Marietta ga, rats. Another good day
by Chris Collender
Dec 01, 2022 07:20:51 am.

Happy thanksgiving to all, it’s back to work, was in Decatur ga, rats, to off to McDonough ga, rats again, the headed to Douglasville ga, for grey squirrels, then I just left Carrollton ga, bats in attic
by Chris Collender
Nov 28, 2022 12:25:45 pm.

The management, staff, and logo animals of Rid-A-Critter wish all of our customers, suppliers, and Web site visitors a Happy and Save Thanksgiving holiday. Happy Thanksgiving from Rid-A-Critter
by Webmaster
Nov 23, 2022 10:05:14 am.

Cold day yesterday, started in Cedartown ga, squirrels in the soffits, had them last year, he tried to fix it himself last year, didn’t work. Headed to Mableton ga, squirrels again, then 2 stops in Marietta ga
by Chris Collender
Nov 22, 2022 08:21:48 am.

Rainy day, started off in Cleveland ga, bats in the ridge vents, then headed down to Atlanta ga, rats in the basement, then off to Douglasville ga, squirrels chewing holes threw customers shingles
by Chris Collender
Nov 15, 2022 03:36:15 pm.

It’s a cold Monday, was out in Monroe ga this morning, customer has had a constant issue with squirrels, then out 3 jobs in Atlanta ga, rats rats rats.
by Chris Collender
Nov 14, 2022 11:51:04 am.

Busy day yesterday, started off in Hoschton ga, rats, then out to a rental property in Atlanta, rats, then to Jonesboro ga, rats, then up to Athens ga, squirrels, good times.
by Chris Collender
Nov 10, 2022 10:19:13 am.

Was out in ellijay ga today, rats in crawl space, then headed to Hiawasse ga, flyers in attic, in Athens ga now, raccoons in a house
by Chris Collender
Nov 08, 2022 11:38:20 am.

Did a quote yesterday in Watkinsville, ga bats, and a quote for snakes, different houses, then off the Athens, ga snakes in a crawl space, has mice too. Then over to Covington, squirrels in the attic
by Chris Collender
Nov 03, 2022 09:32:16 am.

Was in Sharpsburg ga, squirrels are chewing threw the shingles to get into the attic, then off to Fayetteville ga, bats in the attic. Headed to Duluth ga, squirrels chewing threw the roof junctions and now in Atlanta ga, for rats
by Chris Collender
Oct 31, 2022 01:43:13 pm.

Went to Rome ga, squirrels for years, then off to Stone Mountain ga, previous customer new house, squirrels again. Headed to Bishop ga, guess for what, squirrels. Seems like theme
by Chris Collender
Oct 26, 2022 01:29:38 pm.

The Macon, Georgia office of Rid-A-Critter provides stinging insect control in the Macon, Columbus, and South Georgia areas, including Adel, Albany, Americus, Barnesville, Byron, Camilla, Centerville, Columbus, Cordele, Culloden, Cuthbert, Dawson, Eastman, Fitzgerald, Forsyth, Fort Valley, Gray, Griffin, Hawkinsville, Jackson, Juliette, Kathleen, Milledgeville, Moultrie, Perry, Roberta, Sylvester, Thomaston, Thomasville, Tifton, Valdosta, Warner Robins, Yatesville, and Zebulon. We are fully licensed and insured.

#hornet #wasp #removal #macon #georgia

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