The short version
Around Allentown, queens start nests in May, and colonies peak in late summer. Small, low paper wasp nests can be handled at dusk. Leave wall, ground and high nests to a pro.
- Treat nests at dusk, when wasps are home.
- Never seal a hole wasps are using.
- Ground and wall nests are best left to a pro.
- Knock down small nests early in spring.
- Call 911 for breathing trouble after a sting.
Anyone in Allentown dealing with wasps, hornets or yellowjackets at home.
What to look for
Late-summer colonies are big and quick to sting. Wasps defend the area around their nest. Near a door or deck, stings will happen.
- 1Grey, papery football-shaped nest hanging in a tree or eave.
- 2Sudden wasp interest in overripe fruit under a tree.
- 3Wasps entering an attic vent, dryer vent or weep hole.
- 4Chewed, scarred wood on fences, decks or cedar siding.
- 5Wasps appearing indoors near light fixtures or windows.
- 6Yellowjackets streaming from the ground after mowing or trimming.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Nests grow all summer.
- Ground nests get disturbed by mowing.
- Wall nests can chew through into rooms.
- Stings are dangerous for anyone allergic.
Treatment options and typical costs
Inspection and Nest Identification
$75–$200
Expect a pro to check eaves, vents, sheds and the ground. Multiple nests are common late in the season.
- Time
- 45–75 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; species and nest location decide the method
Ground and Wall-Void Nest Treatment
$150–$500
Wall-void nests behind siding get the same dust treatment. For Allentown homes, the pro should leave the opening unsealed until all traffic stops, since trapped wasps chew inward toward living space.
- Time
- 30–60 minutes plus a return visit
- Best for
- Yellowjackets in lawns, retaining walls, soffits and wall voids
Sealing Up After the Nest Is Dead
$150–$450
This is the step homeowners skip most often. Sealing the void after treatment keeps the next colony out.
- Time
- 1–2 hours
- Best for
- Closing soffits, vents and gaps once a void nest is dead
Preventive Spring Treatment and Follow-Up
$150–$400
Prevention won't stop every nest, and no honest company in Allentown will say it does. It cuts the odds and catches nests that start early.
- Time
- 45–90 minutes
- Best for
- Repeat nests, or someone allergic to stings
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Once a nest is dead, screening and sealing gaps around pipes and vents keeps next year's queen from using the same opening.Which wasps live around Allentown.
Eastern yellowjackets nest in the ground and in wall voids. They cause most stings. Bald-faced hornets build big gray nests in trees and eaves. European hornets live in Pennsylvania too. They're large, fly at night, and nest in hollow trees. Mud daubers build tube-shaped mud nests. They rarely sting. Paper wasps are the most common around Allentown. They build open, umbrella-shaped combs under eaves and railings.
Local wasps conditions in Allentown.
Allentown sits in a humid continental climate, and that sets the pace for wasp activity here: mid-summer through fall (July-October). For Allentown homes, the area is mostly urban, so wasps pressure can differ from one block to the next depending on how tight the entry points are and how much food, water, or shelter is close by. An inspection in Allentown usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Allentown's seasonal timing lets you schedule treatment before the busy stretch rather than after it, which usually means faster service and a more accurate quote. A provider who works Allentown and Pennsylvania every day can point out the specific conditions that matter most here, and getting the scope, price, and follow-up terms in writing makes it easier to compare options.
Yellowjackets sometimes nest in attics and wall voids, getting in through a torn vent screen or a gap in the soffit. Buzzing in a ceiling is worth a look.When they’re most active.
Nests die back after the first hard freeze in fall. Early spring is the easiest time to remove small starts.
Where they nest around houses here.
Plenty of homes in Allentown have basements, but most nests are higher up. Check eaves, attic vents and window frames. Watch for traffic in and out of gaps. A ground nest looks like wasps streaming from one hole. Homes from Allentown out to Bethlehem and Easton share the same favorite nest spots.
A year of wasps in Allentown.
- Late summer: peak season. Workers hunt sweets near people. - Winter: lows near 21°F in Allentown. Nests die; only queens survive. - Spring: queens start new nests around May. Knock down small starts. - Summer: highs near 85°F in Allentown help colonies grow fast.
Wasp, hornet or bee?
- Hornet: larger, with a big closed paper nest. - Mud dauber: thin waist, mud tube nests. Rarely stings. - Honey bee: fuzzy and golden. about relocation. - Paper wasp: slim, long legs, open comb. - Yellowjacket: bright yellow and black, nests in the ground.
If you get stung.
An antihistamine can ease itching and swelling. 911 for trouble breathing or a swollen face or throat. If someone carries an epinephrine pen, use it. Move away from the nest first. Wash the sting and use a cold pack.
Keeping wasps away from the patio.
- Fruit: pick up fallen fruit. - Spring checks: knock down small nests early. - Gaps: seal gaps after a nest is gone. - Food: cover plates and drinks outdoors. - Trash: keep lids tight and bins away from doors.
Ground nests: what to do.
Don't mow over it. Don't pour gasoline or water in. Pros treat ground nests at night, when the colony is home. Mark the hole with a flag. Keep kids and pets away.
A nest, or just visitors?
Wasps on flowers or trash cans may come from far away. A nest shows steady traffic to one spot. Watch at dusk, when they fly home. Follow the line back to an eave, vent, shrub or hole.
Treating a small nest yourself, safely.
- Wait until dusk, when wasps are home and slow. - Wear long sleeves, pants and gloves. - Use a jet wasp spray from several feet away. - Never spray from a ladder. - Leave it overnight, then bag the nest. - Only if it’s small, low and out in the open. - Never if anyone in the house is allergic.
Wasps and pets.
Dogs often snap at wasps and get stung on the face. Most stings just swell a little. your vet if the throat swells or breathing changes. Keep pet food and water bowls indoors in late summer.
Kids and wasps.
Teach kids to walk away calmly. Swatting makes a sting more likely. Check play sets, slides and playhouses for nests each spring. Use cups with lids for sweet drinks outside.
After the nest is gone.
Wasps don't reuse old nests. Seal the gap a wall nest used once it's quiet. Check nearby eaves for new starts. Knock down small new nests early next spring.
Wasps at picnics and barbecues.
- Trash: bag scraps and close the bin. - Calm: don’t swat; slowly move away. - Kids: teach them to walk away calmly. - Drinks: use cups with lids or straws. - Food: keep it covered until you eat.
Ground nests in the lawn.
Yellowjackets often nest in old rodent holes. Watch for wasps flying in and out of the grass. Mark it, and keep mowers and kids away until it's treated.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- Is removal of the dead nest included? - Is a return visit included? - What kind of wasp is it? - How will you treat a nest inside the wall?
What affects the price
- Colony size, which climbs sharply from June to September.
- An open comb or a nest inside a wall.
- Whether nest removal is included after treatment.
- Ground nest with multiple entrances or deep burrows.
- Distance from the company's base and travel time.
- Sealing gaps after the nest is dead.
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What's your biggest concern about wasps?
When to call for help
Call for nests in walls, attics, the ground, or anywhere high. right away if anyone in the house is allergic. Don't seal a hole wasps are using. They'll find another way in.
What you can do yourself
A small, reachable paper wasp nest is a fair DIY job. Spray it at dusk with a wasp aerosol. Knock it down the next day. Big, high or hidden nests are a job for a pro.
Wasps in Allentown
Winter lows near 21°F in Allentown end the season; only new queens survive, tucked into sheltered spots. In denser parts of Allentown, nests turn up in eaves, balconies, signs and wall gaps. With summer highs near 85°F in Allentown, colonies grow fast and are biggest by August.
Local research
Wasps in Allentown, PA: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wasps actually live in Pennsylvania, when they are busiest around Allentown, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Bald-faced hornet colony size in Pennsylvania (Penn State)
The gray football nest in a shrub can hold hundreds of defensive workers.
Penn State ExtensionEuropean hornet peak nest size (Penn State)
Large nests may reach 1,000 workers; they are active at night and drawn to porch lights.
Penn State ExtensionPaper wasp colony size (Penn State)
Eave nests are small but multiply around a single house.
Penn State ExtensionWasp species recorded in Pennsylvania
- German yellowjacket (Vespula germanica) — UC IPM: 'becoming more common in many urban areas of California, where it frequently nests in houses.' Named among Ohio's three main species (German, Eastern, Common yellowjacke…
- Eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) — UF/IFAS lists it with the southern yellowjacket as Florida's two yellowjackets; OSU lists it for Ohio; Texas A&M notes it is 'generally found in eastern Texas'. Ground nests 9.5…
- Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) — Penn State: 'found in most of the 48 contiguous states and D.C., throughout Canada and in Alaska'; actually an aerial yellowjacket that builds the football-shaped gray paper nes…
- European hornet (Vespa crabro) — Penn State: 'first detected in the 1840s', 'well established in the eastern United States', 'first reported from Arkansas in 1999'; workers 'up to an inch (25 mm) long', nests '…
When wasps are busiest around Allentown
Paper wasp queens 'establish nests in May' and colonies are essentially gone 'By the end of September'; European hornet nests peak in mid-September and die at the first hard frosts (Penn State).
Penn State: European hornet is 'well established in the eastern United States, including all of Pennsylvania' and is the 'only nocturnal wasp in Pennsylvania'. Yellowjacket colonies 'range in size from only a few hundred individuals to thousands of members'.
Rules that apply in Pennsylvania
For context, nationally
- 788 — Deaths from hornet, wasp, and bee stings, 2011–2021 (US). CDC MMWR
- 72 deaths per year — Average annual sting deaths, 2011–2021 (US). CDC MMWR
Sources: Baldfaced Hornet; European Hornet; Penn State Extension; CDC MMWR; Yellowjackets and Other Social Wasps (Pest Notes); Yellowjackets and Hornets, Vespula and Dolichovespula spp. (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep wasps away
- Seal soffit seams and fascia gaps before spring.
- Caulk around cable, gas and conduit entry points.
- Trim shrubs so nests cannot hide near walkways.
- Mow at dawn when ground-nesting wasps are sluggish.
- Screen attic, gable and dryer vents with fine mesh.
- Move hummingbird feeders away from doors and patios.
Jot down where nests turned up this year. Queens often pick the same eaves and gaps, so you'll know where to look first next spring.Did you know?
Some paper wasps can tell their nestmates apart by their faces
Wasp nest paper inspired early experiments in making paper from wood
Questions people ask
How do I find a good wasp control company?
Check that they're licensed in Pennsylvania. Ask how they treat hidden nests and whether removal is included.
What time of day should a wasp nest be treated?
At dusk or after dark, when they're home and calm.
Are wasps dangerous to my pets?
Dogs often get stung on the face. your vet if swelling spreads or breathing changes. They can be.
Can I seal the hole wasps are using?
They may chew into your house. Treat first, then seal once activity stops. No. Sealing traps them inside.
Why are there suddenly so many wasps in late summer?
Colonies are at their biggest by late summer. Food gets scarce, so workers hunt sweets and protein near people.
What's the usual way to get rid of a nest?
For Allentown homes, a dust or spray into the nest opening at dusk, then removal once activity stops.
How often should you check your property for wasp nests?
Every week or two from spring through late summer. For Allentown homes, look under eaves, decks, sheds and play equipment, where small nests are easy to deal with.
When is wasp season in Allentown?
Around Allentown, queens start nests in May, and colonies peak in late summer. Nests die back after the first hard freeze in fall.
Are hornets common in Allentown?
Bald-faced hornets are, in trees and on eaves.
Nearby cities
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Sources (9)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Wasp Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides