Should I spray a wasp nest myself?

For a small paper wasp nest under an eave, many people do. For yellowjacket nests in the ground or inside a wall, it is risky: disturbing the entrance can send hundreds of defensive insects out at once, and spraying into a wall void can push them into the house. Plugging the hole also tends to drive them indoors.

What's the difference between a wasp and a bee?

Honey bees are fuzzy, golden brown and build wax comb. Yellowjackets are smooth, shiny, bright yellow and black, and nest in the ground or in wall voids. Paper wasps are slender with long legs and build open, umbrella-shaped nests under eaves. The type decides how the nest is handled.

There's a big ball of bees on a tree branch. Is that dangerous?

That is usually a honey bee swarm resting while scouts look for a new home. Swarms are generally calm and often move on within a day or two. Keep people and pets away and don't spray or throw things at it. If it moves into a wall, roof or meter box, that is when removal is needed.

Why is honey bee comb removal important?

If bees are killed inside a wall and the comb is left behind, the honey and wax can melt, stain drywall and attract ants, cockroaches, rodents and new swarms. Removing the comb, or at least as much as can be reached, is part of doing the job properly.

When are wasps worst in Oxnard?

Yellowjacket colonies grow all summer and are largest and most aggressive in late summer and fall, when they are hunting for sweets and protein around patios, trash cans and outdoor meals.

Wasp & Bee Removal in Oxnard, CA

Signs of a Wasp or Bee Nest

Wasps flying in and out of one spot in the lawn, a planter, a block wall or a gap in the stucco
A gray, papery nest under the eaves, a patio cover, a railing or inside a barbecue or mailbox
A steady stream of bees going into a vent, a roof edge, a wall crack or a water meter box
Buzzing inside a wall or ceiling, or wasps showing up indoors near a light fixture
Yellowjackets swarming trash cans, pet food or outdoor meals in late summer
Dark staining or dripping on an inside wall or ceiling, which can mean an established honey bee colony with comb

Which Stinging Insect Do You Have?

Common stinging insects around Oxnard homes
Insect	Where it nests	How it behaves
Yellowjackets	In the ground, in wall voids, attics and block walls	Defensive near the nest, sting repeatedly, scavenge food and sweets
Paper wasps	Open, umbrella-shaped nests under eaves, patio covers and railings	Less aggressive unless the nest is touched
Honey bees	Wax comb in wall voids, roofs, meter boxes, trees; swarms rest on branches	Swarms are usually calm; established colonies defend their hive

How Wasp and Bee Removal Works

Wasps and yellowjackets

Locate the nest entrance by watching the flight path, without blocking it.
Treat the nest directly. For ground and wall nests, insecticide dust or foam is applied into the entrance so returning workers carry it into the nest. Open paper wasp nests are treated and then scraped off.
Remove what can be reached once activity stops, such as nests under eaves and in patio furniture.
Seal the entry point after the colony is dead. Sealing a live nest can force yellowjackets into the house through outlets and light fixtures.

Honey bees

A swarm resting on a branch or fence often leaves on its own, and a local beekeeper may be able to collect it. An established colony living in a wall, roof or meter box is a different job. It usually means opening the area to reach the comb, removing the bees and as much comb and honey as can be reached, and sealing the opening so a new swarm doesn't move into the same cavity. Africanized honey bees are established in Southern California, and they defend their hive more aggressively than typical honey bees, so any bee colony near people should be treated with caution.

What Affects the Cost of Wasp and Bee Removal

The main cost factors are the type of insect, where the nest is and how hard it is to reach. A paper wasp nest under a single-story eave is a quick job. A yellowjacket nest inside a two-story wall, a nest in a tile roof, or a honey bee colony that has built comb inside a wall takes more time and equipment. Opening walls or ceilings to remove comb, and any repair afterward, adds cost. Several nests on one property, or after-hours emergency service, also affect the price. We explain the options and cost before starting.

When to Call Right Away

A nest by a door, walkway, play area or pool where people can't avoid it
Wasps or bees coming into the house through a wall, vent or light fixture
Someone in the household is allergic to stings
A nest was disturbed by a lawn mower, trimmer or kids and insects are aggressive
An established honey bee colony is inside a wall or roof and bees are defensive

If someone is stung and has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or feels faint, call 911 immediately. Pest control comes after medical care.

Why Yellowjacket Nests Get So Large in Oxnard

In places with cold winters, most yellowjacket colonies die off by the first hard freeze and only new queens survive. Oxnard's mild coastal winters rarely get that cold, so some colonies keep going into winter and can grow far larger than a normal single-season nest. At the same time, block walls, stucco weep holes, gaps where pipes enter the wall, and irrigated lawns with rodent burrows give yellowjackets protected places to nest right next to where people walk. For homeowners, that means a nest noticed in late summer should be dealt with before it grows, and a wall void nest should never be sealed while it is still active.

What to Do Until We Arrive

Keep children and pets away from the nest area.
Don't plug the nest entrance, spray it with water, or mow over a ground nest.
If wasps are coming inside, close the door to that room and put a towel along the bottom.
Keep trash cans closed and don't leave food or drinks outside.
Note where the insects are entering so the technician can find it quickly.

Stinging insect calls are part of our 24-hour pest control service in Oxnard. Wall voids where bees or wasps nested can also attract rodents and ants if comb or dead insects are left behind, so it's worth sealing the opening once the nest is gone.

Wasp and Bee Removal in Oxnard, CA