Pest Control: Common Wasp Species found in Canada

Pests like the hornet, wasp or bee may look similar at first glance but they all have different roles in the ecosystem. This article will go into more detail about each specie and why it is important to deal with a pest control problem properly. Take the wasp, for example, they are beneficial to our ecosystem, performing essential tasks such as pollination and insect control. While we may not want them in close proximity, we also don’t want to destroy them completely.

Removing a Wasp nest is a potentially dangerous task and approaching a professional pest control agency, such as Truly Nolen, is highly advisable. First let’s explore some of the most common wasp species found in Canada and the habitats they are most likely to choose for their nests.


Like most wasp species, these are usually black and yellow in color, although some prefer to make a statement in black and white. Beneficial to a garden because of their predatory nature, hornets live in large colonies, numbering up to 700 individuals. Although there are several distinct species of hornet, they all behave much the same, creating sizeable nests out of paper, usually in bushes, trees, or sometimes attics and walls. One positive aspect about hornets is that the colony dies every winter, leaving only the queen to soldier on through the chilly months before building her next nest in early Spring. While not particularly aggressive, when hornets do sting, it can be incredibly painful.

Yellow Jackets

Like their name suggests, yellow jackets are yellow and black, signifying the toxicity of their sting. Yellow jackets are extremely aggressive, especially if they feel their territory is threatened. As with the hornet, a sting from a yellow jacket is painful and can cause allergic reactions in some people. Yellow jackets are social insects that live in large underground colonies of up to 5,000 individuals. Their nests are made from chomped up cellulose and are occasionally found in hidden areas, like attics and roof beams. The yellow jacket, as with most wasp species, is more active and prevalent in the summer months.

Paper Wasps

Not only do paper wasps look quite different from the species mentioned above, they also live in much smaller groups. For the most part, these small wasps are black, with a few indistinct stripes, and distinguishing orange antennae. Paper wasps build their nests out of wood fibers, creating a paper-like structure in a sheltered place, like under a tree branch or, somewhat less conveniently, inside an awning or porch. Considerably less aggressive than the yellow jacket, paper wasps will deliver a painful sting if they feel their home is being threatened.

Why Contact a Professional Pest Control Company?

The primary reason people contact a professional pest control agency to remove an inconveniently positioned wasp nest is because of the painful stings and potential for a dangerous allergic reaction to a loved one. Calling in the experts has several benefits and doesn’t need to cost a fortune.

The correct approach to a wasp nest will depend on its size and the species of stinging insect living there, which is why removing it yourself is not advisable. Bees and wasps all play an important role in our ecosystem and the safe removal of a nest will safeguard the species, as well as ensuring all human residents are far from danger.

Truly Nolen offers a comprehensive wasp pest control service that includes both removal of the nests and prevention, giving useful advice on how to prevent further infestations and implementing a year-round plan to protect your home.