What is the difference between a gray football nest and an open umbrella nest?

The gray football is an enclosed nest belonging to the bald-faced hornet — it has a smooth papery outer shell with a single hole near the bottom, so you cannot see any cells. It can grow to 23 inches long and house 400–700 workers. The open umbrella is a paper wasp nest — a flat, single-layer comb on a thin stalk where every hexagonal cell faces downward and is visible from below, with no outer covering at all. The fastest one-second test: if you can count the cells, it is a paper wasp. If it is a sealed ball, it is a bald-faced hornet or yellowjacket nest, and that means professional removal.

Wasps are going into my wall but I can see no nest — what is that?

A steady stream of wasps disappearing into a wall gap, soffit crack, or a hole in the ground almost always means a concealed yellowjacket or European hornet colony. The nest is papery and built inside the void or underground chamber, completely out of sight. This is the most dangerous scenario: you cannot judge the colony size, and the workers are primed to defend. Do not seal the entrance — UMass Extension warns that blocking the hole forces workers to chew inward through drywall and into living space. Call a licensed professional like Anchor Pest Services. Species will be confirmed before treatment; flat one-time rate — contact for a quote.

Is the gray football nest really a hornet nest?

Usually it is the bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) — but taxonomically the bald-faced hornet is a yellowjacket, not a true hornet. True hornets belong to the genus Vespa; the bald-faced hornet belongs to Dolichovespula, which is closely related to yellowjackets. New Hampshire's only true hornet is the European hornet (Vespa crabro), which does not build the exposed football — it nests in cavities using coarse tan paper. So the common gray football in your NH yard is the bald-faced hornet's work, and the bald-faced hornet is technically a yellowjacket. See /wasp-species/wasp-vs-hornet for the full insect-side taxonomy breakdown.

How big can a bald-faced hornet nest get?

Bald-faced hornet nests grow from golf-ball size in early summer to basketball size or larger by August and September. Wikipedia documents maximum dimensions of 360 mm (about 14 inches) in diameter and 580 mm (about 23 inches) in length, with colonies of 400–700 workers. The colony grows all season, which is why nests that look manageable in June are a serious removal job by August. At peak size and population in late summer, disturbing the nest can produce an immediate mass defense response — another reason professional removal is the right call for any enclosed or large nest.

Which nests can I remove myself?

Per UNH Cooperative Extension, small, early-season paper wasp nests — golf-ball size or smaller, low enough to reach, with only a dozen or so cells — can sometimes be treated after dark with a labeled pressurized wasp and hornet spray and knocked down, provided you stand to the side and exit quickly. That is the limit of reasonable DIY. Enclosed gray football nests (bald-faced hornet / yellowjacket), concealed wall-void nests, underground nests, and any nest you cannot easily retreat from after treatment should all be handled by a licensed professional. Attempting to knock down an enclosed nest with a broom or stick is a medical emergency in waiting.

Do hornet and wasp nests get reused the following year?

No — all paper nests (paper wasp, bald-faced hornet, yellowjacket, European hornet) are annual. The colony collapses at the first hard frost in the fall, and the old nest is never reused. In southern New Hampshire and the Manchester area, NOAA 1991–2020 normals place that first frost around October 19 (50% probability) or October 29 (80% probability). Only newly mated queens from paper wasp and yellowjacket colonies survive, dispersing to overwinter in wall voids, attics, and under bark. A new foundress may build close to a previous nest site the following spring if it is a good location — but she always starts fresh.

When are nests largest and most dangerous?

August and September are peak season for all social wasp nests in New Hampshire. By mid-August a paper wasp comb that started as a single foundress in May may hold 20 to 30 workers, and a bald-faced hornet football can contain several hundred. Colony populations are at their highest, foragers are actively defending a larger territory, and the late-summer sugar shift makes yellowjackets and hornets more aggressive around food and trash. This timing coincides exactly with backyard cookout season, apple harvest at the region's orchards, and the height of outdoor activity — which is why late-summer sting reports spike across Rockingham, Hillsborough, and Merrimack counties.

Where does a European hornet build its nest in New Hampshire?

The European hornet (Vespa crabro), New Hampshire's only true hornet, builds its nest inside protected cavities rather than out in the open. Hollow trees, barn walls, wall voids in houses, attics, and chimneys are the most common sites. NC State Extension notes that European hornet nests are made of coarse, thick, tan, paper-like material and are often built right at the cavity opening rather than deep inside, so you may see a papery mass at the entrance to a tree hollow or a structural gap. Unlike the bald-faced hornet's smooth gray football, a European hornet nest looks rougher and more tan in color. The European hornet is also the only stinging insect in NH that routinely forages at night.

Should I knock down the football-shaped nest with a broom or stick?

No. Striking an enclosed bald-faced hornet or yellowjacket nest triggers an immediate mass defense response from hundreds of workers. Bald-faced hornets are documented to sting repeatedly and can spray venom toward an intruder's eyes. Even a fast retreat is difficult once 400 to 700 defenders are in the air. UMass Extension explicitly advises against disturbing these colonies without protective equipment and proper technique. The correct approach is to call a licensed professional. Anchor Pest Services holds NH commercial applicator license #782664 (category F1, RSA 430, NHDAMF), is a NEPMA member, and treats enclosed and concealed nests at night or just before dawn when workers are settled, using EPA-registered insecticide dust applied at the entry point. One-time flat-rate service — contact for a quote; species is confirmed before any treatment; honey-bee colonies are referred to a licensed NH beekeeper, never sprayed.

When will a wasp or hornet nest die off in New Hampshire?

All social wasp and hornet nests in New Hampshire are annual: the colony collapses at the first hard frost of fall and the workers die. For Manchester and the southern NH communities Anchor serves, NOAA 1991–2020 normals put the first frost around October 19 (50% probability) or October 29 (80% probability). Concord and Keene typically frost two to four weeks earlier, in early October. Only newly mated queen wasps survive, dispersing to overwinter and found new colonies the following spring. This means a large enclosed nest in August still has six to ten weeks of active season left — waiting it out while tolerating an aggressive colony at its peak population is rarely a good strategy.

Daniel Brady · NH-Licensed Pesticide Applicator · License #782664

|Reviewed by Daniel Brady

Hornet Nest vs Wasp Nest — Telling Them Apart in New Hampshire

Comparison

Three silhouettes settle the question every time: an enclosed gray football envelope with one bottom hole (bald-faced hornet or European hornet), an open downward-facing umbrella comb where you can see straight into the hexagonal cells (paper wasp), and a concealed papery nest inside a wall void or underground that you cannot see at all — only wasps streaming in and out of a gap (yellowjacket or European hornet). Open comb is lower risk and sometimes DIY-able when small; the enclosed football and the hidden void both require a licensed professional. Never seal the entrance to a concealed nest.

Quick facts

Bald-faced hornet nest max diameter: Up to 360 mm (14 in)Egg-shaped paper nests up to 360 mm diameter; Wikipedia
Bald-faced hornet nest max length: Up to 580 mm (23 in)Wikipedia — bald-faced hornet nest dimensions
Bald-faced hornet colony size: 400–700 workersWikipedia — Dolichovespula maculata colony
Paper wasp nest structure: Open single-layer comb, no envelope — cells visible from belowUNH Cooperative Extension; Cornell CALS NYS IPM

Bald-faced hornet nest max diameter
Up to 360 mm (14 in)
Egg-shaped paper nests up to 360 mm diameter; Wikipedia
Bald-faced hornet nest max length
Up to 580 mm (23 in)
Wikipedia — bald-faced hornet nest dimensions
Bald-faced hornet colony size
400–700 workers
Wikipedia — Dolichovespula maculata colony
Paper wasp nest structure
Open single-layer comb, no envelope — cells visible from below
UNH Cooperative Extension; Cornell CALS NYS IPM

Overview

Three nest shapes — that is the entire identification

Most homeowners asking 'hornet nest vs wasp nest' are really asking one of three practical questions: Can I see into it? Is it a big sealed ball? Or are there wasps disappearing into a hole in my wall with no nest visible at all? Those three situations map exactly to the three nest types you will encounter in New Hampshire — and each one calls for a different response.

The open, downward-facing umbrella of hexagonal cells on a single stalk is a paper wasp nest. No outer shell wraps it, so you can count the cells from ten feet away. The colony inside is small — typically dozens of workers — and the nest is the least dangerous social wasp structure you can find. A small, low nest early in the season is sometimes DIY-able; a large or high one is a professional job.

The smooth gray football or teardrop hanging from a branch, eave, or roof peak — sealed completely with one hole near the bottom — is built by the bald-faced hornet (technically a yellowjacket, not a true hornet) or, less commonly, a colony of yellowjackets in an elevated void. Inside are 400–700 defenders ready to sting repeatedly and aggressively. Professional removal is the only sensible path.

The situation where you see wasps streaming in and out of a crack in your siding, a soffit gap, or a nickel-sized hole in the lawn, with no nest visible at all, is the most dangerous precisely because you cannot judge the size of the colony. This is almost always a yellowjacket or European hornet inside a wall void or underground chamber. Never seal that entrance — trapped workers chew inward through drywall into living space.

This page walks through all three shapes, explains the NH-specific context (including why the European hornet's cavity nest looks nothing like the bald-faced hornet's exposed football), and tells you exactly when each situation warrants a call to Anchor Pest Services.

New Hampshire context

Wasp and hornet nests in southern and central New Hampshire

All three nest silhouettes appear across Anchor's service area — Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Derry, Bedford, Salem, Hudson, and the surrounding Rockingham, Hillsborough, Merrimack, and Strafford county communities. Paper wasp umbrella combs are the most common, found under eaves, soffits, porch ceilings, grill lids, playsets, and mailboxes across every NH city Anchor serves. Bald-faced hornet football nests appear on trees and roof peaks from late June through October, growing from tennis-ball size in early summer to basketball size by peak season in August and September. NH's only true hornet, the European hornet (Vespa crabro), nests inside cavities — hollow trees, barn walls, and house wall voids — building coarse, tan, paper-like material often visible right at the cavity opening. It is established across NH but less commonly encountered than paper wasps and bald-faced hornets. Unlike other NH stinging insects, the European hornet forages at night and is frequently the 'big wasp hitting my porch light in October' that homeowners report. All of these nests are annual. Colonies collapse at the first hard frost — for Manchester and southern NH, NOAA 1991–2020 normals put that date at roughly October 19 (50% probability) or October 29 (80%). Concord and the Lakes Region frost earlier, typically in early October. After the frost, worker wasps die; only newly mated queens from the paper wasp and yellowjacket colonies survive to overwinter in sheltered spots. Old nests are never reused, though a queen may build near a favorable old site the following spring.

Species present in NH

Northern paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus)
European paper wasp (Polistes dominula)
Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)
Eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons)
European hornet (Vespa crabro)

Peak activity · August through mid-September

We serve these communities

ManchesterNashuaConcordDerryBedfordSalemHudsonAmherstAuburnGoffstownHooksettLitchfieldLoudonMilfordBristol

First-frost anchor: Manchester first hard frost ~Oct 19 (50%) / Oct 29 (80%) per NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Per UNH Cooperative Extension, paper wasp nests are open paper combs with no outer envelope; colonies collapse at the first hard frost and old nests are never reused.

NH-licensed applicator · #782664
Same-day service
Family-owned since 2017

Service Area Map

Southern New Hampshire

Side-by-side

Wasp nest vs. Hornet nest

Three silhouettes decide everything — and only one of them is a true hornet's. The open downward umbrella comb where you can see straight into the hexagonal cells is a paper wasp nest. The smooth gray football sealed with a single bottom hole belongs to the bald-faced hornet — except the bald-faced hornet is taxonomically a yellowjacket, not a true hornet. The concealed papery nest hidden in a wall void, attic, or underground chamber, with no visible structure but a steady stream of wasps at the entrance, is a yellowjacket or European hornet colony. New Hampshire's only true hornet, the European hornet (Vespa crabro), does not build the exposed football — it nests in cavities like hollow trees and barn walls using coarse, tan paper, often visible right at the opening. The fastest question to ask in front of any nest: can you see the cells? If yes, paper wasp. If it is a sealed ball, bald-faced hornet or yellowjacket. If there is no nest visible at all, concealed colony — call a pro and never seal the entrance.

NH clarification: The European hornet (Vespa crabro) IS in New Hampshire and IS a true hornet — it builds coarse, tan, paper-like nests inside protected cavities (hollow trees, barns, wall voids, attics), often right at the cavity opening rather than deep inside. Workers are roughly 25 mm (1.0 inch) long; queens reach 35 mm (1.4 inches), making the European hornet the largest stinging insect in the state. It has been established in North America since about 1840 and is the only member of the genus Vespa — the only true hornets — found in North America. The famous exposed gray football, by contrast, belongs to the bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata), which is taxonomically a yellowjacket, not a true hornet. For the full insect-side breakdown of wasp vs hornet taxonomy, see /wasp-species/wasp-vs-hornet.

Attribute	Wasp nest	Hornet nest
EnvelopeThe single fastest tell: visible cells = paper wasp; sealed surface = hornet or yellowjacket	None — open single-layer comb; cells face downward and are visible from below	Full gray paper envelope (bald-faced hornet) or coarse tan paper at a tree hollow or wall cavity opening (European hornet)
Shape'Football' means enclosed colony; 'umbrella' means open paper wasp comb	Upside-down umbrella on a single pencil-thin stalk (petiole)	Football or teardrop (bald-faced), or a concealed papery mass inside a cavity (European hornet)
EntranceOne bottom hole is the signature of an enclosed, high-risk nest	Open cells — no single door; the whole face of the comb is accessible	Single hole near the bottom of the envelope (bald-faced); cavity opening or gap (European hornet / yellowjacket void nest)
LocationNH attachment points differ by maker — the 'gap with wasps' scenario is always yellowjacket or European hornet	Eaves, soffits, porch ceilings, grill lids, playsets, mailboxes, door frames	Tree branches and roof peaks (bald-faced); hollow trees, barns, wall voids, attics (European hornet); underground or wall voids (yellowjacket)
Visible cellsIf you can count the cells, it is a paper wasp; if not, the colony could be far larger than it looks	Yes — you can count every cell from a few feet away	No — hidden completely by the envelope
Colony sizeThe enclosed nest hides a colony many times larger than a paper wasp's — dramatically raising the sting risk if disturbed	Small — typically 20 to 75 cells at peak season	Large — bald-faced hornet colonies reach 400 to 700 workers at peak; yellowjacket void nests can exceed 1,000
MaterialAll are 'paper' — shape and visibility, not material, separate them	Chewed wood-pulp paper mixed with saliva — typically gray-brown and thin	Chewed wood-pulp paper — smooth, gray, and thicker-walled (bald-faced); coarser, tan, and rougher-textured (European hornet)
Aggression when disturbed (1–5)Enclosed colonies defend far more fiercely; the risk scales with colony size	2 — defends only at close range, within a foot or two of the nest	3–4 — bald-faced hornets and yellowjackets defend aggressively and can sting repeatedly; bald-faced hornets documented to spray venom toward intruders' eyes
Sting — Schmidt indexPer single sting, the paper wasp is more painful; the enclosed hornet/yellowjacket stings in numbers and repeatedly	3.0 — 'Caustic and burning; distinctly bitter aftertaste' (Britannica)	~2.0 — bald-faced hornet and European hornet both rate 2.0 on the Schmidt scale (Britannica / Wikipedia)
Removal recommendationEnclosed and concealed nests are the definitive 'call a pro' cases	DIY-able when small (golf-ball or smaller) and low, per UNH guidance; professional for larger, high, or enclosed nests	Professional only — enclosed football and concealed void or underground nests are not safe DIY projects; never seal the entrance

Defense on disturbance

Wasp nest: Paper wasps defend their small open comb only at close range — generally within a foot or two. Workers may fly at an intruder as a warning before stinging, and the colony can retreat when the threat passes.

Hornet nest: Bald-faced hornet colonies defend aggressively across a wider radius, sting repeatedly, and are documented to spray venom toward intruders' eyes. Concealed yellowjacket or European hornet void nests are the hardest to judge because the colony size is invisible — disturbance triggers an immediate mass response.

How you find it

Wasp nest: You almost always SEE the paper wasp umbrella — it hangs visibly under an eave, on a porch ceiling, or on outdoor furniture. The nest is the first thing you notice.

Hornet nest: You find a concealed yellowjacket or European hornet nest by the traffic at its entrance, not the nest itself. Wasps streaming in and out of a wall gap, soffit crack, or lawn hole with no visible structure means a hidden colony that could number in the hundreds.

Seasonality and frost collapse

Wasp nest: Paper wasp nests are annual — the colony builds from a single foundress queen in April or May, peaks in late August and September, then collapses at the first hard frost. In Manchester and southern NH that frost falls around October 19 to 29 per NOAA normals. The old nest is never reused.

Hornet nest: Bald-faced hornet, yellowjacket, and European hornet colonies follow the same annual pattern and also collapse at the first frost. Their larger enclosed nests may remain visible through winter as an empty shell — but they are abandoned and will not be reused the following year.

Quick decision tree

Which nest do you have? Three questions.

Can you actually SEE a nest structure, or are you just watching wasps disappear into a gap in your wall, soffit, or lawn?

Common Questions

Frequently asked

References

Sources & further reading (12)

[1]
Wikipedia — Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)
encyclopedia · Nest dimensions up to 360 mm diameter / 580 mm length; colony size 400–700 workers; taxonomically a yellowjacket (Dolichovespula), not a true hornet · verified Jun 2026
[2]
UNH Cooperative Extension — Controlling Wasps, Bees and Hornets Around Your Home
extension · Paper wasp open comb with no envelope; after-dark DIY treatment guidance for small nests; nests never reused; NH species context · verified Jun 2026
[3]
Cornell CALS NYS IPM — Paper Wasps
extension · Paper wasp nest: open single-layer comb, cells visible from below, no envelope · verified Jun 2026
[4]
NC State Extension — European Hornet
extension · European hornet nest: coarse, thick, tan paper-like material; built in protected cavities (hollow trees, barns, wall voids); often at cavity opening; established in NH; unique nocturnal foraging behavior · verified Jun 2026
[5]
UMass Extension — Yellowjackets and Hornets
extension · Do not block the external entrance — forces hornets to chew through walls into living space; enclosed nest removal guidance · verified Jun 2026
[6]
UMN Extension — Yellowjackets and Wasps
extension · All paper nests are annual and will remain vacant the next season; yellowjacket nests concealed in voids with single small entrance · verified Jun 2026
[7]
Encyclopaedia Britannica — Schmidt Sting Pain Index
encyclopedia · Paper wasp Schmidt 3.0; bald-faced hornet / yellowjacket / European hornet 2.0 · verified Jun 2026
[8]
Wikipedia — Schmidt Sting Pain Index
encyclopedia · Corroborating Schmidt values; bald-faced hornet as aerial yellowjacket (Dolichovespula) · verified Jun 2026
[9]
Wikipedia — European Hornet (Vespa crabro)
encyclopedia · European hornet worker size ~25 mm; queens to ~35 mm; only true hornet in North America; first reported in North America about 1840 · verified Jun 2026
[10]
NOAA / The Old Farmer's Almanac — NH Frost Dates (Manchester, 1991–2020 normals)
gov · Manchester first hard frost ~Oct 19 (50%) / Oct 29 (80%); NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals; colony collapse timing · verified Jun 2026
[11]
Penn State Extension — European Hornet
extension · European hornet worker size ~25 mm; established in NH; cavity nesting; coarser paper than yellowjackets · verified Jun 2026
[12]
Northern New England Poison Center
medical · 24/7 poison control for NH, ME, VT; 1-800-222-1222 · verified Jun 2026

Written & reviewed by

Verified

Daniel Brady

NH-Licensed Pesticide Applicator · License #782664 (NHDAMF, RSA 430)

Daniel Brady is the New Hampshire–licensed applicator behind Anchor Pest Services, a family-owned pest control company serving the Manchester area since 2017.

Verify license

Last updated Jun 2026

Anchor Pest Services

Wasps gone — and they stay gone.

Same-day service across Southern New Hampshire. NH-licensed #782664, family-owned since 2017. We handle ground, wall, and aerial nests with EPA-registered products and an approximately 30-day re-treat guarantee.

Get a Free Inspection (603) 785-0118

NH-licensed applicator
Same-day service
Pet & family-conscious

NH License #782664 · No obligation · We answer in person

Keep Exploring

Hornet Nest vs Wasp Nest — Telling Them Apart in New Hampshire

Three nest shapes — that is the entire identification

Wasp and hornet nests in southern and central New Hampshire

Wasp nest vs. Hornet nest

Can you actually SEE a nest structure, or are you just watching wasps disappear into a gap in your wall, soffit, or lawn?

Frequently asked

Sources & further reading (12)

Wasps gone — and they stay gone.

Your next step

Do hornets damage homes or just sting?

How to Get Rid of European Hornets

Wasp vs Hornet — How to Tell Them Apart (New Hampshire Guide)

Is It Dangerous to Remove a Hornet Nest Without Professional Help?

Wasp vs Hornet — How to Tell Them Apart (New Hampshire Guide)

Bald-Faced Hornet — Quick ID for New Hampshire