The short version
Around Derry, 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.
Homeowners and renters in Derry with a nest near a door, deck or play area.
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.
- 1Yellowjackets streaming from the ground after mowing or trimming.
- 2Sudden wasp interest in overripe fruit under a tree.
- 3Yellowjackets crowding trash cans, soda cans and pet food.
- 4Large wasps circling porch lights after dark.
- 5Wasps appearing indoors near light fixtures or windows.
- 6Chewed, scarred wood on fences, decks or cedar siding.
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 Derry: 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
Ground and Wall-Void Nest Treatment
$150–$500
Foam and sprays rarely reach the back of a deep void. Pros use dust for hidden nests and sprays for open combs.
- Time
- 30–60 minutes plus a return visit
- Best for
- Yellowjackets in lawns, retaining walls, soffits and wall voids
Aerial Nest Treatment and Removal
$100–$400
Exposed paper wasp and hornet nests under eaves, in trees or on porch ceilings in Derry are treated with a fast-acting aerosol or dust, then removed once the colony is dead. Most are handled in a single visit.
- Time
- 30–90 minutes
- Best for
- Exposed paper wasp, hornet and bald-faced hornet nests
Preventive Spring Treatment and Follow-Up
$150–$400
Follow-up matters after any treatment around a property. A second look two weeks later catches missed nests.
- Time
- 45–90 minutes
- Best for
- Homes with repeat nests or a sting allergy in the household
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 Derry.
They build open, umbrella-shaped combs under eaves and railings. 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 New Hampshire 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 Derry.
Local wasps conditions in Derry.
Across Derry, 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. An inspection in Derry usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Derry'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 Derry and New Hampshire 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. Derry sits in a humid continental climate, and that sets the pace for wasp activity here: mid-summer through fall (July-October).
An unscreened foundation vent is an easy way in for a yellowjacket queen. Wasps flying in and out of a vent all day are a sign of a nest inside.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.
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 Derry out to Londonderry and Salem share the same favorite nest spots. Plenty of homes in Derry have basements, but most nests are higher up.
A year of wasps in Derry.
- Spring: queens start new nests around May. Knock down small starts. - Winter: lows near 15°F in Derry. Nests die; only queens survive. - Late summer: peak season. Workers hunt sweets near people. - Summer: highs near 82°F in Derry help colonies grow fast.
Wasp, hornet or bee?
- Paper wasp: slim, long legs, open comb. - Honey bee: fuzzy and golden. about relocation. - 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.
If you get stung.
911 for trouble breathing or a swollen face or throat. 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.
Keeping wasps away from the patio.
- Food: cover plates and drinks outdoors. - Gaps: seal gaps after a nest is gone. - Spring checks: knock down small nests early. - Fruit: pick up fallen fruit. - Trash: keep lids tight and bins away from doors.
Ground nests: what to do.
Don't pour gasoline or water in. 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.
A nest, or just visitors?
Watch at dusk, when they fly home. 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.
Treating a small nest yourself, safely.
- Only if it’s small, low and out in the open. - Leave it overnight, then bag the nest. - 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.
Wasps and pets.
your vet if the throat swells or breathing changes. 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.
Kids and wasps.
Check play sets, slides and playhouses for nests each spring. Swatting makes a sting more likely. Teach kids to walk away calmly. Use cups with lids for sweet drinks outside.
After the nest is gone.
Check nearby eaves for new starts. 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.
Wasps at picnics and barbecues.
- Drinks: use cups with lids or straws. - Kids: teach them to walk away calmly. - Calm: don’t swat; slowly move away. - Trash: bag scraps and close the bin. - Food: keep it covered until you eat.
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.
- What kind of wasp is it? - Is a return visit included? - Is removal of the dead nest included? - How will you treat a nest inside the wall?
What affects the price
- Colony size, which climbs sharply from June to September.
- Nest height, and whether it needs a lift.
- Sealing gaps after the nest is dead.
- Sting allergy in the home requiring extra precautions.
- Roof pitch and safe access to the nest location.
- Return visit to confirm a void 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 Derry
In Derry's neighborhoods, eaves, decks, play sets and shrubs are favorite nest sites. Winter lows near 15°F in Derry end the season; only new queens survive, tucked into sheltered spots. With summer highs near 82°F in Derry, colonies grow fast and are biggest by August.
Local research
Wasps in Derry, NH: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wasps actually live in New Hampshire, when they are busiest around Derry, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Wasp species recorded in New Hampshire
- 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 '…
- 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 Derry
Queens emerge in April–May, colonies peak August–October, and workers die at the first hard frosts; only new queens overwinter (OSU, Penn State, UMN).
Bald-faced hornet range per Penn State covers most of the 48 contiguous states and D.C. European hornet is established across the eastern United States (Penn State).
Rules that apply in New Hampshire
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: CDC MMWR; Baldfaced Hornet; European Hornet; European Paper Wasp; Yellowjackets and Other Social Wasps (Pest Notes). 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.
- Hang wasp traps at the yard edge, not the patio.
- Check sheds and garages for nests each May.
- Plug weep holes with mesh inserts, not solid caulk.
- Inspect grills, mailboxes and light fixtures before use.
- Fill old rodent burrows and mulch-bed holes in spring.
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
Mud daubers stock their nests with paralyzed spiders
Questions people ask
Are wasps dangerous to my pets?
your vet if swelling spreads or breathing changes. Dogs often get stung on the face. They can be.
Wasp or bee: does it matter?
It matters because honey bees can often be relocated. Bees are fuzzy and rounder. Wasps are smooth and narrow-waisted.
What should I do if I get stung?
An antihistamine helps with itching. 911 for trouble breathing or a swelling throat.
How do I find a good wasp control company?
Check that they're licensed in New Hampshire. Ask how they treat hidden nests and whether removal is included.
Do wasp traps work?
They catch some yellowjackets, but rarely fix a nest problem. Place them away from where people sit.
Is cost the main reason people leave wasp nests alone?
A small, early nest is often cheap to remove. More often the nest goes unnoticed or is hard to reach. Not usually.
What's the usual way to get rid of a nest?
Across Derry, a dust or spray into the nest opening at dusk, then removal once activity stops.
When is wasp season in Derry?
Around Derry, 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 Derry?
Bald-faced hornets are, in trees and on eaves.
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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