The Hidden Danger of a Yellow Jacket Nest in Ground, Walls, or Attics.

Jon Amaral
4 days ago
3 min read

Introduction

Yellow Jackets are more than just a nuisance, they can be a danger to people who accidently disturb their nests.

They're nests can be made just about everywhere; hanging off of tree branches and underneath deckboards.

Inside wall voids, in attics, you can also find a yellow jacket nest in the ground when doing your lawn or garden work.

Nests in these areas can be incredibly dangerous and difficult to treat.

When dealing with situations like these its important to consult a professional.

Understanding Yellow Jackets

Yellow Jackets are social wasps identified by their black and yellow stripes, sometimes confused with bees but can be distinguished by their hairless bodies.

Their nests are made from a papery material mixed up with chewed wood and their saliva.

They can be aggressive, especially when defending their nests and their colonies can have large numbers.

Yellow Jackets are most active in summer and early fall and as it gets later in to their season, their nests can be larger and they can get even more aggressive.

Yellow Jacket Nest in the Ground

Yellow Jackets usually make their nests in the ground from vacant burrow holes of rodents.

Nests in the ground are incredibly easy to miss, they can be even harder to find if the area is covered in leaves or dense foliage.

The only real way to identify a nest in the ground is by seeing the yellow jackets entering the hole frequently.

Nest like these are prone to be discovered by being disturbed by yard work or active pets.

Yellow Jacket Nests in Walls and Attics

Cracks around, vents, wires, and damaged siding are the most common ways for Yellow Jackets to enter into a structure and build their nest.

As they build their nest throughout the summer they may begin chewing through drywall to make space to expand their nest.

As a nest gets larger the chances of damage increase, also increasing the chances of the yellow jackets making holes that lead indoors.

Once they get inside they will usually fly to the closest light source, such as lightbulbs and windows, this will most likely be a dead end for the insects, but it can be dangerous for those inside.

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Why Yellow Jackets Can Be Hard to Eliminate

Smaller Yellow Jacket nests can in some cases be a relatively straight forward thing for a home owner to handle on their own, but larger nests in protected areas can be a different story.

When inside walls or in the ground, the nest is heavily protected and easy for them to defend.

The opening leading to the nest may be a couple of feet away from the actual nest, making it hard for a spray to penetrate into the colony.

If pesticide applications dont reach deep into the colony where the queen is, the Yellow Jackets will not be completely eliminated, as the queen can produce more eggs and the colony's numbers will rebound.