The short version
Around Londonderry, 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 Londonderry 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.
- 1Large wasps circling porch lights after dark.
- 2Wasps appearing indoors near light fixtures or windows.
- 3Wasps hovering at a mulch bed or retaining wall gap.
- 4Buzzing audible through a ceiling or wall on warm afternoons.
- 5Yellowjackets crowding trash cans, soda cans and pet food.
- 6Multiple stings on one person during a single outdoor task.
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
Not every buzzing insect is a wasp. Not every wasp is a threat. A careful look separates a lone paper wasp from a yellowjacket colony in Londonderry.
- Time
- 45–75 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; species and nest location decide the method
Aerial Nest Treatment and Removal
$100–$400
Exposed paper wasp and hornet nests under eaves, in trees or on porch ceilings in Londonderry 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
Ground and Wall-Void Nest Treatment
$150–$500
Wall-void nests behind siding get the same dust treatment. Across Londonderry, 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
Ask the Londonderry pro to wait at least a few days after a dust treatment before closing anything. Sealing too early is how most void jobs go wrong.
- Time
- 1–2 hours
- Best for
- Closing soffits, vents and gaps once a void nest is dead
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
In cold-winter areas, old nests are empty by now. It's a good time to fix vent covers and siding gaps before queens go looking in spring.Which wasps live around Londonderry.
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 Londonderry.
Local wasps conditions in Londonderry.
Across Londonderry, 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 Londonderry usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Londonderry'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 Londonderry 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. Londonderry 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 Londonderry out to Derry and Hudson share the same favorite nest spots. Plenty of homes in Londonderry have basements, but most nests are higher up.
A year of wasps in Londonderry.
- Winter: lows near 15°F in Londonderry. Nests die; only queens survive. - Spring: queens start new nests around May. Knock down small starts. - Summer: highs near 82°F in Londonderry help colonies grow fast. - Late summer: peak season. Workers hunt sweets near people.
Wasp, hornet or bee?
- Honey bee: fuzzy and golden. about relocation. - 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.
If you get stung.
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. Move away from the nest first.
Keeping wasps away from the patio.
- Gaps: seal gaps after a nest is gone. - 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.
Ground nests: what to do.
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. Mark the hole with a flag.
A nest, or just visitors?
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. Wasps on flowers or trash cans may come from far away.
Treating a small nest yourself, safely.
- 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. - 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.
Wasps and pets.
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. Dogs often snap at wasps and get stung on the face.
Kids and wasps.
Swatting makes a sting more likely. Check play sets, slides and playhouses for nests each spring. Use cups with lids for sweet drinks outside. Teach kids to walk away calmly.
After the nest is gone.
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 don't reuse old nests.
Wasps at picnics and barbecues.
- Kids: teach them to walk away calmly. - 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.
Ground nests in the lawn.
Watch for wasps flying in and out of the grass. Mark it, and keep mowers and kids away until it's treated. Yellowjackets often nest in old rodent holes.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- Is a return visit included? - What kind of wasp is it? - How will you treat a nest inside the wall? - Is removal of the dead nest included?
What affects the price
- Species: paper wasps cost least, hornets and yellowjackets more.
- Nest height and whether a ladder or lift is needed.
- Local labor rates and seasonal demand.
- Ground nest with multiple entrances or deep burrows.
- After-hours, weekend or emergency scheduling.
- Sealing gaps after the nest is dead.
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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 Londonderry
With summer highs near 82°F in Londonderry, colonies grow fast and are biggest by August. Winter lows near 15°F in Londonderry end the season; only new queens survive, tucked into sheltered spots. In Londonderry's neighborhoods, eaves, decks, play sets and shrubs are favorite nest sites.
Local research
Wasps in Londonderry, 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 Londonderry, 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 Londonderry
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
- Note where nests appeared and inspect there early next year.
- Repair torn window screens and door sweeps.
- Clean outdoor eating areas right after meals.
- Plug weep holes with mesh inserts, not solid caulk.
- Fill gaps in retaining walls and stacked stone.
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?
Only newly mated queens survive the winter
A bald-faced hornet is actually a yellowjacket, not a true hornet
Questions people ask
Can I seal the hole wasps are using?
No. Sealing traps them inside. They may chew into your house. Treat first, then seal once activity stops.
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.
Can I just leave the nest alone until winter?
If it's out of the way, often yes. Around Londonderry, nests die back after the first hard freeze in fall.
Can wasps damage my house?
Rarely by much. Yellowjackets in walls can chew through drywall. Carpenter bees do more wood damage.
Are wasps good for anything?
Yes. They eat caterpillars and other pests. Leave nests that are well away from people.
What stops people from dealing with wasp nests?
Across Londonderry, fear of stings, nests that are hard to reach, and not noticing them until they're big.
Are wasps considered an under-controlled pest?
Often, yes. Across Londonderry, many nests go unnoticed until late summer, when colonies are biggest and most defensive.
When is wasp season in Londonderry?
Around Londonderry, 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 Londonderry?
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