The short version
Around St. Louis, queens start nests in April, 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 St. Louis with a nest near a door, deck or play area.
What to look for
Late-summer colonies are big and quick to sting. Around St. Near a door or deck, stings will happen. Wasps defend the area around their nest.
- 1A soft or discolored patch of drywall with faint buzzing.
- 2Yellowjackets crowding trash cans, soda cans and pet food.
- 3Small golf-ball-sized paper nests under eaves in spring.
- 4Wasps flying straight lines to and from one spot.
- 5Steady wasp traffic in and out of one soffit gap.
- 6Pets pawing at their face after sniffing a lawn spot.
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
The inspection also flags anyone in the St. Louis household with a sting allergy, which changes how and when the work gets done. Ask for photos of what was found.
- Time
- 45–75 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; species and nest location decide the method
Aerial Nest Treatment and Removal
$100–$400
Bald-faced hornet nests, the grey football-shaped ones, defend aggressively and are best left to a St. Louis professional with a bee suit and a long-reach applicator. Small paper wasp combs are a simpler job.
- 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
Ground and Wall-Void Nest Treatment
$150–$500
Yellowjackets nesting in St. Louis 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.
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 St. Louis.
Louis. 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 Missouri 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 St.
Local wasps conditions in St. Louis.
Louis sits in a humid continental climate, and that sets the pace for wasp activity here: mid-summer through fall (July-October). Across St. Louis, 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 St. Louis usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing St. Louis'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 St. Louis and Missouri 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. St.
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.
Around St. 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.
Louis out to Florissant and Kirkwood share the same favorite nest spots. Plenty of homes in St. Louis 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 St.
A year of wasps in St. Louis.
- Spring: queens start new nests around April. Knock down small starts. - Summer: highs near 89°F in St. Louis help colonies grow fast. - Late summer: peak season. Workers hunt sweets near people. - Winter: lows near 24°F in St. Louis. 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.
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.
- 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.
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?
Follow the line back to an eave, vent, shrub or hole. 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.
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.
Keep pet food and water bowls indoors in late summer. 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.
Kids and wasps.
Use cups with lids for sweet drinks outside. Teach kids to walk away calmly. Swatting makes a sting more likely. Check play sets, slides and playhouses for nests each spring.
After the nest is gone.
Knock down small new nests early next spring. Wasps don't reuse old nests. Seal the gap a wall nest used once it's quiet. Check nearby eaves for new starts.
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
- Local labor rates and seasonal demand.
- Species: paper wasps cost least, hornets and yellowjackets more.
- After-hours, weekend or emergency scheduling.
- Number of nests found on the property.
- Ground nest with multiple entrances or deep burrows.
- Distance from the company's base and travel time.
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What's your biggest concern about wasps?
When to call for help
Don't seal a hole wasps are using. They'll find another way in. Call for nests in walls, attics, the ground, or anywhere high. right away if anyone in the house is allergic.
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 St. Louis
Louis end the season; only new queens survive, tucked into sheltered spots. In denser parts of St. Louis, nests turn up in eaves, balconies, signs and wall gaps. With summer highs near 89°F in St. Louis, colonies grow fast and are biggest by August. Winter lows near 24°F in St.
Local research
Wasps in St. Louis, MO: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wasps actually live in Missouri, when they are busiest around St. Louis, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Wasp species recorded in Missouri
- 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 St. Louis
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 Missouri
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
- Hang wasp traps at the yard edge, not the patio.
- Trim shrubs so nests cannot hide near walkways.
- Cover drinks outdoors and use lidded cups for kids.
- Keep compost covered and away from the house.
- Check sheds and garages for nests each May.
In apartment buildings, one nest in a shared wall or balcony can affect several units. Let the building manager know so it gets treated once, properly.Did you know?
Fig wasps pollinate figs and are smaller than a rice grain
Mud daubers stock their nests with paralyzed spiders
Questions people ask
Are wasps dangerous to my pets?
Dogs often get stung on the face. your vet if swelling spreads or breathing changes. They can be.
How do I know if I have wasps, hornets or yellowjackets?
Yellowjackets nest in the ground or walls. Hornets build big, gray, closed nests. Paper wasps build open, umbrella-shaped combs.
Can wasps damage my house?
Yellowjackets in walls can chew through drywall. Carpenter bees do more wood damage. Rarely by much.
Do wasp traps work?
They catch some yellowjackets, but rarely fix a nest problem. Place them away from where people sit.
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 stops people from dealing with wasp nests?
Across St. Louis, fear of stings, nests that are hard to reach, and not noticing them until they're big.
How common are wasp sightings?
Across St. Louis, very common in late summer, when colonies peak and wasps go looking for sweet food.
When is wasp season in St. Louis?
Around St.
Are hornets common in St. Louis?
Bald-faced hornets are, in trees and on eaves.
Nearby cities
Related guides
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