wasp nest next to front door - Ask Extension
I have a lovely family of wasps building their nest on the lamp beside my front door. I discovered them on August 5th, date of photo, and so far they ...
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wasp nest next to front door #848360
Asked September 02, 2023, 4:57 PM EDT
I have a lovely family of wasps building their nest on the lamp beside my front door. I discovered them on August 5th, date of photo, and so far they have been polite neighbors, but I am worried about leaving them in the current location, within two feet of my front door. I don't know if they become aggressive like yellow jackets as the autumn progresses. I am allergic to yellow jackets and white faced hornets and carry an Epipen. I think these are paper wasps, not yellow jackets or hornets, but don't want to risk a sting, by me or anyone else coming to my front door. There is also a thing in the HOA guidelines that says I have to remove them. Is there a humane way to relocate them?
I feel badly because I have an ecosystem front yard and therefore have invited them.
I have submitted two photos: The first shows the location of the lamp, inside the porch in the shade, to the left of the front door. (Not the lamp post covered in Lonicera sempervirens.) The second photo shows the nest and wasp, on the left side of the lamp. I couldn't safely get any closer holding the iPhone. I rarely see them flying, coming or going, but there is always at least one on the nest, I presume standing guard.
FYI: I had a yellow jacket nest in the front by the sidewalk last year. The advise I received was to call a professional company. No company would come for a small job. I eventually enlisted the help of a young friend who helped me pour boiling soapy water into the ground nest after dark. It broke my heart to kill the colony. I don't think the same method will work on this nest because it is hanging above my head.
Thanks.
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
While it is kind of you to look for another approach, wasps can't be moved like swarms of honeybees can.
That does look to be paper wasp. They are not great nor fast fliers and tend not to be aggressive when they are first starting to build a nest. We can't tell for sure but if there are only a few cells filled/topped with white, it looks like a new nest. If there are only a couple coming and going it can easily be knocked down with a broom or gloved hand when they are away or at night, and they will go elsewhere.
It is understandable that you may not want to do this yourself, so either find someone who will, or use a can of wasp and hornet spray which can be discharged from a long distance (this of course will kill them).
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/paper-wasps
They will only live until the cold weather sets in, and the nest is not reused.
Christine
That does look to be paper wasp. They are not great nor fast fliers and tend not to be aggressive when they are first starting to build a nest. We can't tell for sure but if there are only a few cells filled/topped with white, it looks like a new nest. If there are only a couple coming and going it can easily be knocked down with a broom or gloved hand when they are away or at night, and they will go elsewhere.
It is understandable that you may not want to do this yourself, so either find someone who will, or use a can of wasp and hornet spray which can be discharged from a long distance (this of course will kill them).
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/paper-wasps
They will only live until the cold weather sets in, and the nest is not reused.
Christine