The short version
Around Centennial, 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 Centennial dealing with wasps, hornets or yellowjackets at home.
What to look for
Late-summer colonies are big and quick to sting. Near a door or deck, stings will happen. Wasps defend the area around their nest.
- 1Wasps flying straight lines to and from one spot.
- 2Yellowjackets streaming from the ground after mowing or trimming.
- 3Grey, papery football-shaped nest hanging in a tree or eave.
- 4Small golf-ball-sized paper nests under eaves in spring.
- 5Multiple stings on one person during a single outdoor task.
- 6Yellowjackets crowding trash cans, soda cans and pet food.
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
Nest location drives everything else in Centennial: height, whether it sits in a void, and how close it is to doors or play areas. The inspection should end with a plan and a price.
- Time
- 45–75 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; species and nest location decide the method
Preventive Spring Treatment and Follow-Up
$150–$400
Follow-up matters after any treatment around a property. Checking again two weeks later catches anything the first visit missed.
- Time
- 45–90 minutes
- Best for
- Repeat nests, or someone allergic to stings
Sealing Up After the Nest Is Dead
$150–$450
Once the nest is dead, the gap gets sealed. Caulk, copper mesh or a soffit patch works. Old nests are not reused, but the gap invites new queens.
- Time
- 1–2 hours
- Best for
- Sealing soffits, vents and gaps after a wall nest has died
Ground and Wall-Void Nest Treatment
$150–$500
Wall-void nests behind siding get the same dust treatment. For Centennial 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
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Yellowjackets often nest in old rodent holes and gaps in garden walls. Watch for wasps flying low and steady into one spot.Which wasps live around Centennial.
They cause most stings. Bald-faced hornets build big gray nests in trees and eaves. Mud daubers build tube-shaped mud nests. They rarely sting. Paper wasps are the most common around Centennial. They build open, umbrella-shaped combs under eaves and railings. Western yellowjackets nest in the ground and in wall voids.
Local wasps conditions in Centennial.
An inspection in Centennial usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Centennial'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 Centennial and Colorado 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. Centennial sits in a semi-arid climate, and that sets the pace for wasp activity here: mid-summer through fall (July-October). For Centennial homes, the area is mostly suburban, 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.
Paper wasps like quiet, sheltered corners. Check garage rafters, door tracks and high shelves in spring for small starter combs.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.
Watch for traffic in and out of gaps. A ground nest looks like wasps streaming from one hole. Homes from Centennial out to Parker and Aurora share the same favorite nest spots. Plenty of homes in Centennial have basements, but most nests are higher up. Check eaves, attic vents and window frames.
A year of wasps in Centennial.
- Late summer: peak season. Workers hunt sweets near people. - Summer: highs near 88°F in Centennial help colonies grow fast. - Spring: queens start new nests around May. Knock down small starts. - Winter: lows near 18°F in Centennial. Nests die; only queens survive.
Wasp, hornet or bee?
- Mud dauber: thin waist, mud tube nests. Rarely stings. - Hornet: larger, with a big closed paper nest. - Yellowjacket: bright yellow and black, nests in the ground. - Paper wasp: slim, long legs, open comb. - Honey bee: fuzzy and golden. about relocation.
If you get stung.
An antihistamine can ease itching and swelling. Wash the sting and use a cold pack. Move away from the nest first. If someone carries an epinephrine pen, use it. 911 for trouble breathing or a swollen face or throat.
Keeping wasps away from the patio.
- Spring checks: knock down small nests early. - Fruit: pick up fallen fruit. - Trash: keep lids tight and bins away from doors. - Food: cover plates and drinks outdoors. - Gaps: seal gaps after a nest is gone.
Ground nests: what to do.
Don't mow over it. Keep kids and pets away. Mark the hole with a flag. Pros treat ground nests at night, when the colony is home. Don't pour gasoline or water in.
A nest, or just visitors?
A nest shows steady traffic to one spot. Wasps on flowers or trash cans may come from far away. Follow the line back to an eave, vent, shrub or hole. Watch at dusk, when they fly home.
Treating a small nest yourself, safely.
- Never spray from a ladder. - Use a jet wasp spray from several feet away. - Wear long sleeves, pants and gloves. - Wait until dusk, when wasps are home and slow. - Never if anyone in the house is allergic. - Only if it’s small, low and out in the open. - Leave it overnight, then bag the nest.
Wasps and pets.
Most stings just swell a little. Dogs often snap at wasps and get stung on the face. Keep pet food and water bowls indoors in late summer. your vet if the throat swells or breathing changes.
Kids and wasps.
Swatting makes a sting more likely. Teach kids to walk away calmly. Use cups with lids for sweet drinks outside. Check play sets, slides and playhouses for nests each spring.
After the nest is gone.
Seal the gap a wall nest used once it's quiet. Wasps don't reuse old nests. Knock down small new nests early next spring. Check nearby eaves for new starts.
Wasps at picnics and barbecues.
- Calm: don’t swat; slowly move away. - Trash: bag scraps and close the bin. - Food: keep it covered until you eat. - Drinks: use cups with lids or straws. - Kids: teach them to walk away calmly.
Ground nests in the lawn.
Watch for wasps flying in and out of the grass. Yellowjackets often nest in old rodent holes. 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? - How will you treat a nest inside the wall? - What kind of wasp is it? - Is a return visit included?
What affects the price
- Preventive spring treatment bundled with removal.
- Ground nest with multiple entrances or deep burrows.
- Sting allergy in the home requiring extra precautions.
- Number of nests found on the property.
- Dense siding, brick or stone that limits dust access.
- Species: paper wasps cost least, hornets and yellowjackets more.
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What's your biggest concern about wasps?
When to call for help
They'll find another way in. Don't seal a hole wasps are using. right away if anyone in the house is allergic. Call for nests in walls, attics, the ground, or anywhere high.
What you can do yourself
Big, high or hidden nests are a job for a pro. Knock it down the next day. Spray it at dusk with a wasp aerosol. A small, reachable paper wasp nest is a fair DIY job.
Wasps in Centennial
In Centennial's neighborhoods, eaves, decks, play sets and shrubs are favorite nest sites. Winter lows near 18°F in Centennial end the season; only new queens survive, tucked into sheltered spots. Centennial only gets about 16 inches of rain a year, so local wasps often gather at pools, fountains and dripping taps.
Local research
Wasps in Centennial, CO: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wasps actually live in Colorado, when they are busiest around Centennial, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Wasp species recorded in Colorado
- Western yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica) — UC IPM: 'the most commonly encountered species and is sometimes called the "meat bee"' in California and the Western states; ground and wall-void nester and aggressive scavenger…
- 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 paper wasp (Polistes dominula) — Penn State: 'first reported in 1978 around Boston', now 'coast to coast ... although they are apparently less common in the Southeast and Great Plains'; nests in 'eaves of struc…
- Native paper wasps (Polistes spp. (e.g., P. fuscatus, P. apachus, P. exclamans)) — Open umbrella-shaped nests under eaves, porch ceilings and railings. UC IPM: paper wasp colonies 'vary between 15 to 200 individuals'; Penn State: queens 'establish nests in May…
When wasps are busiest around Centennial
CSU: European paper wasp 'earliest activity is sometimes seen in the first half of March'; 'Individual colonies are established anew each spring' and 'may contain several dozen individuals by the end of summer'. Western yellowjacket colonies die each fall (USU).
CSU: European paper wasp is 'very abundant in every urbanized county in eastern Colorado and the three western Colorado counties of Mesa, Montrose, and Delta'; nests in 'outdoor grills, large bells, pipes, rock cavities, and hollow spaces behind walls'.
Rules that apply in Colorado
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: Colorado State University Extension; CDC MMWR; Yellowjackets and Other Social Wasps (Pest Notes); Baldfaced Hornet; European Paper Wasp. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep wasps away
- Cap hollow fence posts, railings and play-set tubes.
- Keep compost covered and away from the house.
- Clean outdoor eating areas right after meals.
- Plug weep holes with mesh inserts, not solid caulk.
- Walk the eaves in April and knock down starter nests.
A good wasp quote names the species, where the nest is, how it will be treated and whether taking it down or sealing the gap is included.Did you know?
European hornets hunt at night and are drawn to porch lights
A bald-faced hornet is actually a yellowjacket, not a true hornet
Questions people ask
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.
Should I be worried about a nest in the ground?
Mowing over them sets them off. Ground nests are usually yellowjackets. Yes, if it's near a path or play area.
Can I seal the hole wasps are using?
Treat first, then seal once activity stops. They may chew into your house. Sealing traps them inside. No.
Can I just leave the nest alone until winter?
If it's out of the way, often yes. Around Centennial, nests die back after the first hard freeze in fall.
Will wasps come back to the same nest next year?
They don't reuse old nests. New queens often pick the same sheltered spots, though.
Are wasps considered an under-controlled pest?
Often, yes. For Centennial homes, many nests go unnoticed until late summer, when colonies are biggest and most defensive.
Is it safe to remove a wasp nest yourself?
For Centennial homes, a small, exposed nest can be treated at dusk with the right spray and protective clothing. Anyone allergic to stings should never try.
Are hornets common in Centennial?
Bald-faced hornets are, in trees and on eaves. Most stings come from yellowjackets, though.
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