The short version
Around Lakewood, 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 Lakewood dealing with wasps, hornets or yellowjackets at home.
What to look for
Near a door or deck, stings will happen. Late-summer colonies are big and quick to sting. Wasps defend the area around their nest.
- 1Pets pawing at their face after sniffing a lawn spot.
- 2Chewed, scarred wood on fences, decks or cedar siding.
- 3Yellowjackets streaming from the ground after mowing or trimming.
- 4Wasps flying straight lines to and from one spot.
- 5Small golf-ball-sized paper nests under eaves in spring.
- 6Large wasps circling porch lights after dark.
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
Watching flight lines at midday usually reveals the entrance. Around Lakewood, that step separates a quick aerial nest job from a wall-void problem that needs dust and a return visit.
- Time
- 45–75 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; species and nest location decide the method
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
- Sealing the gap once the nest is dead
Aerial Nest Treatment and Removal
$100–$400
Colonies die off each autumn in Lakewood, so an empty nest found in winter is harmless and can simply be knocked down. Active nests in summer are a different matter.
- Time
- 30–90 minutes
- Best for
- Exposed paper wasp, hornet and bald-faced hornet nests
Ground and Wall-Void Nest Treatment
$150–$500
Yellowjackets nesting in Lakewood lawns, retaining walls and old rodent burrows are treated by applying insecticidal dust directly into the entrance hole. Dust carries deep into the chambers as workers walk through it.
- 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 Lakewood.
They rarely sting. Mud daubers build tube-shaped mud nests. Bald-faced hornets build big gray nests in trees and eaves. They cause most stings. Western yellowjackets nest in the ground and in wall voids. They build open, umbrella-shaped combs under eaves and railings. Paper wasps are the most common around Lakewood.
Local wasps conditions in Lakewood.
A provider who works Lakewood 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. Knowing Lakewood'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. An inspection in Lakewood usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Around Lakewood, 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. Lakewood sits in a semi-arid climate, and that sets the pace for wasp activity here: mid-summer through fall (July-October).
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.
Homes from Lakewood out to Denver and Arvada share the same favorite nest spots. A ground nest looks like wasps streaming from one hole. Watch for traffic in and out of gaps. Check eaves, attic vents and window frames. Plenty of homes in Lakewood have basements, but most nests are higher up.
A year of wasps in Lakewood.
- Spring: queens start new nests around May. Knock down small starts. - Summer: highs near 88°F in Lakewood help colonies grow fast. - Late summer: peak season. Workers hunt sweets near people. - Winter: lows near 19°F in Lakewood. Nests die; only queens survive.
Wasp, hornet or bee?
- Paper wasp: slim, long legs, open comb. - Yellowjacket: bright yellow and black, nests in the ground. - Hornet: larger, with a big closed paper nest. - Mud dauber: thin waist, mud tube nests. Rarely stings. - Honey bee: fuzzy and golden. about relocation.
If you get stung.
Move away from the nest first. Wash the sting and use a cold pack. 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.
Keeping wasps away from the patio.
- Food: cover plates and drinks outdoors. - Trash: keep lids tight and bins away from doors. - Fruit: pick up fallen fruit. - Spring checks: knock down small nests early. - Gaps: seal gaps after a nest is gone.
Ground nests: what to do.
Mark the hole with a flag. Keep kids and pets away. Don't mow over it. Don't pour gasoline or water in. Pros treat ground nests at night, when the colony is home.
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.
- Only if it’s small, low and out in the open. - Never if anyone in the house is allergic. - 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.
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.
- Drinks: use cups with lids or straws. - Food: keep it covered until you eat. - Trash: bag scraps and close the bin. - Calm: don’t swat; slowly move away. - Kids: teach them to walk away calmly.
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.
- What kind of wasp is it? - How will you treat a nest inside the wall? - Is removal of the dead nest included? - Is a return visit included?
What affects the price
- Ground nest with multiple entrances or deep burrows.
- Preventive spring treatment bundled with removal.
- Number of nests found on the property.
- Whether nest removal is included after treatment.
- Return visit to confirm a void nest is dead.
- Colony size, which climbs sharply from June to September.
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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
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 Lakewood
In denser parts of Lakewood, nests turn up in eaves, balconies, signs and wall gaps. Winter lows near 19°F in Lakewood end the season; only new queens survive, tucked into sheltered spots. Lakewood only gets about 16 inches of rain a year, so local wasps often gather at pools, fountains and dripping taps.
Local research
Wasps in Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, 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 Lakewood
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
- Plug weep holes with mesh inserts, not solid caulk.
- Avoid bright floral clothing and strong perfume near nests.
- Repair torn window screens and door sweeps.
- Caulk around cable, gas and conduit entry points.
- Screen attic, gable and dryer vents with fine mesh.
- Walk the eaves in April and knock down starter nests.
For a nest in the ground or a wall, a pro treats the entrance and checks back to make sure the traffic has stopped before anything is sealed.Did you know?
Wasp nest paper inspired early experiments in making paper from wood
Fig wasps pollinate figs and are smaller than a rice grain
Questions people ask
How do I find a good wasp control company?
Check that they're licensed in Colorado. 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.
What should I do if I get stung?
An antihistamine helps with itching. 911 for trouble breathing or a swelling throat.
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 time of day should a wasp nest be treated?
At dusk or after dark, when they're home and calm.
How often should you check your property for wasp nests?
Every week or two from spring through late summer. Around Lakewood, look under eaves, decks, sheds and play equipment, where small nests are easy to deal with.
Are wasps considered an under-controlled pest?
Often, yes. Around Lakewood, many nests go unnoticed until late summer, when colonies are biggest and most defensive.
When is wasp season in Lakewood?
Around Lakewood, 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 Lakewood?
Bald-faced hornets are, in trees and on eaves. Most stings come from yellowjackets, though.
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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