Yes, Yellowjackets Can Build Nests Inside Walls

 

Yellowjackets, which are a type of wasp, are well known for building their nests in enclosed, hidden spaces. One very common place you might find a yellowjacket nest is actually inside the wall of a home or building. This happens more often than people realize, especially during the warmer months when yellowjackets are looking for protected places to build and raise their colonies.

 

How and Why Yellowjackets Enter Walls

 

Yellowjackets get inside walls through small cracks, gaps, or holes on the outside of buildings. This could be a gap under siding, around window frames, in roof eaves, or even around utility pipes. Once inside, they search for a secure, undisturbed location between the exterior and interior walls where they can safely build their paper-like nest.

 

What the Nest Looks Like Inside a Wall

 

A yellowjacket nest is made out of a papery material, which the wasps create by chewing up wood and mixing it with their saliva. Inside a wall, the nest can quickly grow as the colony expands. The nest itself has a layered, honeycomb-like structure for the developing yellowjacket larvae (babies), and it is usually grey or brown.

 

Signs There’s a Yellowjacket Nest in Your Walls

 

If you have yellowjackets nesting in your wall, you may notice:

• Yellowjackets flying in and out of the same spot on your home’s exterior, such as a crack or small hole.
• Buzzing sounds coming from inside the wall, especially during the day when wasps are most active.
• Occasional wasps appearing inside your home, often around lights or windows, which can happen if they find their way through wall voids or electrical outlets.
• Soft spots or damage in drywall, in rare cases where nests become very large or when yellowjackets chew through interior walls.

 

Why This Is a Problem

 

Having yellowjackets in your walls can be dangerous for several reasons:

• Stings: Yellowjackets are aggressive defenders of their nests and can sting multiple times if threatened. If disturbed, the whole colony may attack.
• Access to Indoors: If the nest is near electrical outlets, air vents, or gaps in interior walls, yellowjackets may find their way inside, posing a risk to people and pets.
• Structural Damage: While yellowjacket nests themselves don't eat wood or drywall, very large nests can weaken wall materials over time, especially if the wall gets moist or damaged in the process.

 

What to Do If You Have Yellowjackets in Your Walls

 

If you suspect there’s a yellowjacket nest inside your walls:

• Do not try to remove or spray the nest yourself. Spraying wasp killer through a wall or blocking the entry hole may trap the wasps inside, causing them to find a new way out—often into your living space.
• Call a professional pest control specialist. Professionals have the right equipment and experience to locate the nest, treat it safely, and advise you on repairing entry points afterward.
• Seal up entry points after removal only. Once the nest is removed and there is no wasp activity, seal up any cracks or holes to prevent future nests.

 

Prevention Tips

 

To reduce your risk of getting yellowjackets in your walls in the future:

• Inspect and seal any cracks, gaps, or holes on the outside of your home, especially near rooflines, siding, and around windows or doors.
• Check for and repair damage to screens, vents, or soffits.
• Be watchful in late spring and early summer, as this is when queens search for new nest sites, and act quickly if you see wasps hanging around potential entry points.