Initial Inspection
Our trained technicians will inspect your home or business to locate any wasps including yellow-jackets or hornets present or potential pest entry points. If they are solitary wasps, we can most likely move onto treatment. If Yellow-jackets or Hornets are present, we will need to locate the nest using specialized equipment, and directly treat and/or remove for control depending on size, location and time of season.
Wasp & Hornet Monitoring/Baiting
In rare circumstances there may be an established colony in hard to access areas requiring the use of attractants to locate and or help control the population. Pest Control WV has bait options available to help work to eliminate even the toughest Stinging Insect infestations in hard to access areas if necessary. We have a variety of preferred baits at our disposal in order to prevent resistance, and ensure the colony accepts the bait.
Treatment and/or Nest Removal
When we have determined the presence of stinging insects in a certain location that is accessible, we will perform spot treatments if applicable by flushing the pests out of hiding to determine the level of infestation and other possible infestation areas. If the pests located are social such as Yellowjackets or Hornets, we will determine is the nest needs to be removed to prevent further damage or pest activity or if it can be solely treated.
Pest Proofing & Prevention Assessment
Neighborly Pest Control will ensure all the solitary wasps nests are knocked down and the social nests are removed if applicable. We will then perform a Pest Assessment, and provide you with details of how to prevent a stinging insect infestation in the future if applicable, and what other pest entry points or conducive conditions we may have found around the exterior of the structure.
Hornet Services for Your Home & Business
Cockroaches in the home are never a good sign. Since there are a few different species of cockroaches local to our area, we always like to schedule a Free Inspection in order to identify the species and provide the following steps for elimination.
European Hornets (Vespa crabro): Large, brownish hornets with yellow stripes, often active at night and attracted to lights. They build nests in hollow trees or dark, protected areas.
Bald-faced Hornets (Dolichovespula maculata): Black with white markings on their face and body. They build large, papery, hanging nests in trees or shrubs and are highly aggressive when defending their nest.
For the namesake, we will also put Bald-Faced Hornets here, Although they are more closely related to and classified as a Yellowjacket.
HORNET CONTROL IN WEST VIRGINIA
Bald-faced hornets and European hornets are among the most aggressive stinging insects encountered in West Virginia. A disturbed hornet nest can produce hundreds to thousands of workers defending the colony simultaneously — a serious danger to anyone nearby, and potentially life-threatening to those with venom allergies. Professional removal is strongly recommended.
HORNET SPECIES IN WV
Bald-Faced Hornets (Dolichovespula maculata) are actually a type of yellowjacket, identifiable by their black and white coloring. They build large, enclosed, gray paper nests that can reach football to basketball size by late summer. Nests are typically found in trees, shrubs, on the sides of buildings, and under eaves. European Hornets (Vespa crabro) are the only true hornet species in North America. Large, brownish, and yellow-striped, they are unique in being active at night (attracted to lights). They nest inside hollow trees, wall voids, attics, and crawlspaces. European hornets are particularly common in WV's rural and wooded communities.
SIGNS OF HORNET ACTIVITY
- Large paper nests in trees, on structures, or visible under eaves
- High traffic of large insects flying in and out of a specific location (wall voids, attic vents, tree cavities)
- Hornets attracted to outdoor lights at night (European hornets)
- Damage to tree bark — European hornets strip bark from small trees and shrubs to obtain sap
WHERE TO INSPECT
For bald-faced hornets, look in tree canopies, under eaves and soffits, on exterior walls, and in dense shrub hedges. For European hornets, inspect hollow trees on the property, attic vents, gable ends, and areas near outdoor lighting.
HOMEOWNER PREVENTION TIPS
1. Inspect trees and shrubs on your property in early spring when foliage is minimal and new nests are small.
2. Seal all gaps in exterior walls, soffits, and roof areas before spring — this prevents European hornets from establishing inside the structure.
3. Reduce outdoor lighting near the home in summer, or switch to yellow bug lights, to avoid attracting European hornets at night.
4. Never mow near a ground-level or low-hanging nest without first confirming it is inactive.
5. Keep children and pets away from any suspected nest area until it has been professionally treated.
HOW WE TREAT HORNET NESTS
Pest Control WV treats hornet nests after dark when the majority of workers are inside and activity is minimal. Treatment uses fast-acting residual insecticides applied directly into the nest opening or onto the exterior of the nest structure. For European hornets in wall voids, treatment includes void injection followed by sealing of the entry point. We do not attempt same-day removal of active nests; we return after worker mortality is confirmed.
Some examples of Other Wasps & Yellowjackets covered
- Paper Wasps (Polistes spp.): Slim, narrow-waisted, and often brown or yellow. They build open-comb, umbrella-shaped nests under eaves, porch ceilings, and in sheds.
- Yellowjackets (Vespula spp.): Small, fast-flying, bee-sized insects with distinct black and yellow bands. They are highly aggressive, especially in late summer, and often nest in the ground, wall voids, or under structures. Common species include German and Aerial yellowjackets.
- Eastern Cicada-killer Wasp (Sphecius speciosus): Very large, solitary wasps (up to 1.5 inches) that resemble massive yellowjackets. They burrow into lawns and are generally non-aggressive toward humans.
- Mud Daubers: Solitary wasps that build small, tube-like, or round nests out of mud on buildings. They are non-aggressive and rarely sting.
Some examples of areas covered
- Pest Control in Residential Homes
- Pest Control In Air BnB and Rental Homes
- Pest Control in Apartments and Multi-Unit Housing
- Pest Control In Care Homes and Medical Facilities
- Pest Control in Club Houses and Halls
- Pest Control in Convenience Stores and Quick Service
- Pest Control in Courthouses and Government Buildings
- Pest Control In Factories and Warehouses
- Pest Control in Firehouses and Police Stations
- Pest Control in Food Production and Service
- Pest Control in Funeral Homes and Places of Worship
- Pest Control in Offices and Public Buildings
- Pest Control in Shopping Plazas and Storefronts
- and more...
Did You Know?
There are more than 30,000 species of wasps around the world. Most people know about the top 3 categories we put them under, Paper wasps, Yellow-Jackets, and Hornets. Well, the first two are wasps...which you may find under the eaves, or in your walls, or crawls. However as for Hornets here in West Virginia, we only have one true hornet, the European Hornet. The Bald Faced Hornet, is actually a species of Yellow-Jacket, with white markings rather than yellow and a longer body.
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