What Does a Wasp Nest Look Like? NH Wasp Nest Identification Guide
TL;DR
The fastest way to ID any wasp nest is to ask what it's made of: paper (chewed wood fibers), mud or clay, or a bare-soil hole. Paper plus an open umbrella comb on a single stalk equals a paper wasp — moderate risk, DIY-able when small. Paper plus a sealed gray football with one bottom hole equals a bald-faced hornet, which is actually an aerial yellowjacket, not a true hornet — call a pro. Paper you cannot see at all, with wasps streaming into a wall gap or ground hole, equals a yellowjacket or European hornet — pro only, never seal the entry. Mud tubes or a tiny clay jug equal a harmless mud dauber or potter wasp. A single soil burrow with a fan of excavated dirt equals a harmless cicada killer or digger wasp. Anchor Pest Services confirms which nest you have before recommending anything, and removes the social and enclosed nests for a flat $399.
First ID step
Ask what it's made of: paper, mud/clay, or a soil hole
Material-first approach — UNH Cooperative Extension; UMD Extension
Paper nest material
Chewed wood fibers mixed with wasp saliva
Paper wasps, yellowjackets, and hornets all build with this — UNH Extension
Mud dauber nest size
Lemon- to fist-sized smooth mud lump, or vertical organ-pipe tubes
Black-and-yellow mud dauber (Sceliphron caementarium) — harmless; Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Potter wasp nest size
Marble-sized clay jug or pot on a twig, shutter, or screen
Eumenes fraternus — harmless solitary wasp, 13–17 mm; UF/IFAS EENY-403
Identify your wasp nest by what it's made of — paper, mud, or a soil hole
Every year, homeowners across Manchester, Nashua, Concord, and the surrounding Rockingham, Hillsborough, Merrimack, and Strafford county area find a wasp nest and face the same problem: they know they have a nest, but they do not know what it is, whether it is dangerous, or what to do about it. Most nest-identification resources online organize by species — which means you have to already know the species before the guide helps you. That is exactly backwards from how a homeowner encounters a nest.
The fastest, most practical approach is to start with what the nest is made of. You do not need to identify the wasp first. You can answer 'what is this built from?' before you can name the insect. Paper — chewed-wood-fiber paper — means a social wasp: a paper wasp, a yellowjacket, or a hornet. Mud or clay means a harmless solitary wasp: a mud dauber or a potter wasp. A bare-soil burrow means a harmless digger or cicada killer. That single first question routes you to the right action before you ever have to name the species.
New Hampshire homeowners encounter all five categories in a single season. The open umbrella comb under an eave in July and the gray football in the maple tree are paper nests. The mud tubes on the barn siding and the tiny clay jug on the window shutter are harmless solitary wasps — abundant, beneficial, and requiring no professional treatment. The half-inch hole with a fan of dirt in the sandy corner of the lawn is almost certainly a harmless digger or cicada killer, not a murder hornet (which was declared eradicated from the entire United States in December 2024).
This page is the master nest-type matrix for New Hampshire — every nest you are likely to find, identified by material and shape, mapped to its maker, its real risk level, and the right action. For the deep dive on the paper wasp's open umbrella comb specifically, including its size progression through the NH season, see our companion page on paper wasp nests.
Wasp nests in southern and central New Hampshire
Southern and central New Hampshire — the cities and towns across Rockingham, Hillsborough, Merrimack, and Strafford counties that Anchor serves — offer every type of wasp-nesting habitat in a small geographic area. Paper wasps (both the native northern paper wasp and the invasive European paper wasp) nest on virtually every structure with sheltered eaves. Bald-faced hornets and yellowjackets exploit NH's iconic stone-wall footings, cedar-shingle walls, and the abundant ground burrows left by rodents in aging suburban lots. Mud daubers plaster their gritty mud cells on barn siding, garage walls, and sheltered eaves across the region. Potter wasps build their tiny clay jugs on window frames, shutters, and garden stakes. Cicada killers are present but uncommon — NH sits near the northern edge of their range, with verified records in Rockingham County, much of Hillsborough County, and as far north as Barrington, Lee, and Durham in Strafford County, per UNH Extension. The NH colony calendar governs the season. Paper wasp and yellowjacket foundresses emerge once temperatures exceed roughly 50°F — in southern NH, late April through May. Nests are smallest and safest to deal with in May and June. By August and September, colonies are at peak size and maximum defensiveness — the most common time for sting incidents and the most common time Anchor receives calls. Colonies of all social species collapse at the first hard frost. For Manchester and southern NH, NOAA 1991–2020 normals put that first 32°F freeze around October 19 (50% probability) or October 29 (80%); the true 28°F hard freeze that collapses colonies runs roughly 10–20 days later. All paper, hornet, and yellowjacket nests are annual — the old nest is never reused, though a new queen may build near a previously favored site the following spring.
Species present in NH
- Northern paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus)
- European paper wasp (Polistes dominula)
- Bald-faced hornet / aerial yellowjacket (Dolichovespula maculata)
- Eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons)
- German yellowjacket (Vespula germanica)
- European hornet (Vespa crabro)
- Black-and-yellow mud dauber (Sceliphron caementarium)
- Organ-pipe mud dauber (Trypoxylon politum — present but uncommon at NH's northern range edge)
- Potter wasp (Eumenes fraternus)
- Eastern cicada killer (Sphecius speciosus — present but uncommon; northern range edge)
- Great black wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus)
Peak activity
August through mid-September
Service area
First-frost anchor: Manchester first hard frost ~Oct 19 (50%) / Oct 29 (80%) per NOAA 1991–2020 normals; these are 32°F light-freeze dates — true 28°F colony-collapse hard freeze runs roughly 10–20 days later
UNH Cooperative Extension confirms cicada killers have expanded throughout Rockingham County, much of Hillsborough County, and into Strafford County (Barrington, Lee, Durham). The organ-pipe mud dauber (Trypoxylon politum) is at its northern range edge in NH with sparse verified records — do not overstate prevalence.
Identify your wasp nest by what it's made of
The single fastest way to identify any wasp nest is to ask one question before anything else: what is it made of? You do not need to catch the wasp or look up a chart by insect name. You need to know the material — paper, mud or clay, or bare soil — and that question you can answer from 20 feet away. Paper nests are built from chewed wood fibers mixed with wasp saliva and look grayish, slightly fibrous, and papery or cardboard-like. Every social wasp in New Hampshire — paper wasps, yellowjackets, bald-faced hornets, and European hornets — builds with this same material. Once you know it is a paper nest, a second question resolves the risk: can you see the cells from below? If yes — open umbrella comb on a single stalk — that is a paper wasp. If no — a sealed gray football with one hole at the bottom — that is a bald-faced hornet (which is, despite the name, actually an aerial yellowjacket, not a true hornet). If you cannot see any nest at all but wasps are streaming in and out of a wall gap or ground hole, that is a hidden yellowjacket or European hornet colony — the type that warrants the most caution. Mud and clay nests are built by harmless solitary wasps: the mud dauber builds smooth mud lumps or organ-pipe tubes; the potter wasp builds a marble-sized clay jug. Neither species has a colony to defend; neither poses meaningful sting risk to people. Bare-soil burrows with a fan of excavated dirt belong to cicada killers and digger wasps — again harmless and solitary. Apply the UMD field test for soil holes: a stream of wasps in and out of one hole means a social colony (keep your distance); many holes each with one or two individual wasps means harmless solitary diggers. This matrix covers every nest a New Hampshire homeowner is likely to find. The right action for each is honest: mud, clay, and soil nests do not need professional treatment. Only the paper nests — and only when they belong to a social colony — are the situations that warrant calling Anchor.
Where wasps nest in NH
eave nest
Paper wasp — northern paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus) or European paper wasp (Polistes dominula)
Where: Under eaves, soffits, porch ceilings, deck rails, grill interiors, playsets, sheds, mailboxes, door frames
Spot it: A small gray-brown shape on a single pencil-thin stalk with a honeycomb face pointing downward — you can see straight into the open hexagonal cells from below, and some cells will be capped white (pupae). No outer shell or envelope. Scout from 20+ feet on a sunny mid-morning when workers are active. Size ranges from pea (May) to small plate (August–September). The key rule: if you can count the cells, it is a paper wasp; if it is a sealed gray ball, it is not.
The most common visible wasp nest on NH structures. European paper wasps (orange antennae, bright yellow markings) increasingly nest in man-made cavities — grill interiors, wall pipes, electrical boxes — as well as the traditional open-eave umbrella position. Small, low, early-season nests (golf-ball size, accessible) can sometimes be knocked down after dark by a careful homeowner per UNH Extension guidance; larger, high, or cavity-located nests warrant a pro. Paper wasp sting rates Schmidt 3.0 — higher than a yellowjacket. Anchor removes these for a flat $399, species confirmed first.
aerial nest
Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) — an aerial yellowjacket, NOT a true hornet
Where: Hanging from tree branches, shrubs, eaves, or utility structures; fully exposed, attached at the top
Spot it: A large gray football- or teardrop-shaped papier-mâché structure with a smooth outer envelope and a single hole near the bottom — no cells visible from outside. Size ranges from baseball (June) up to basketball (late summer); can reach up to 23 inches in length (580 mm) at colony peak. Often easier to spot after leaf-fall in autumn, but the colony is long dead by then. If you see a steady stream of black-and-white wasps entering and exiting the bottom hole in summer, the colony is active.
Common on NH trees and eaves throughout the season. Despite the name, the bald-faced hornet is taxonomically an aerial yellowjacket, not a true hornet — confirmed by USDA idtools.org, Wikipedia, and iNaturalist. Colonies reach 400–700 workers by late summer and defend with multiple stings; the colony can also spray venom toward an intruder's eyes when the nest is disturbed. Do not spray it from the front or below. Call a licensed professional. Route to /wasp-species/wasp-nest-removal for removal detail and /bald-faced-hornet/ for species depth.
cavity nest
Yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons, V. germanica, and related species) — the concealed-void type
Where: Wall voids, soffit cavities, attic spaces, hollow porch columns, stone-wall footings, underground in rodent burrows or lawn soil — you see only the entry point, not the nest itself
Spot it: No visible nest structure — only a small entry hole (often nickel- to quarter-sized) with a steady two-way stream of yellow-and-black wasps. Wall-void entry points appear at gaps in siding, around window or door frames, weep holes, soffits, and utility penetrations. Ground entries appear as a smooth-edged hole in lawn or at a stone-wall base with high wasp traffic. Activity is highest on warm sunny days between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The hive itself is a multi-layer papery comb hidden inside the structure.
The most dangerous and common nest type on NH residential properties. Older cedar-shingle and clapboard construction across Manchester, Concord, Nashua, and the surrounding towns provides abundant wall-void nesting sites. NH's iconic stone walls create ground-level voids that yellowjackets readily colonize. Critical rule: never seal the entry hole. University of Massachusetts and Penn State Extension both warn that sealing the entry traps workers who then chew inward through drywall and plaster into living space. Professional dust application into the void at the correct time of day is the only effective approach. Route to /wasp-species/wasp-nest-removal and /yellowjackets/ for depth.
cavity nest
European hornet (Vespa crabro) — NH's ONLY true hornet
Where: Tree hollows, barn walls, attic spaces, large wall cavities — coarse tan paper visible at the cavity opening, often at night or attracted to lit windows
Spot it: A cavity nest covered in coarse, thick, tan paper-like material built at or near the cavity opening rather than deep inside (per NC State Extension). The nest looks rougher and browner than the smooth gray bald-faced hornet football. Workers are large — up to 35 mm for queens, about 25 mm for workers — brown with yellow banding and a reddish head. A distinctive behavioral cue: European hornets forage actively at night and frequently strike lit windows, which can be startling but is not an attack.
The European hornet (Vespa crabro) is the only true hornet in North America and is established but localized in New Hampshire. It was first recorded in North America around 1840. Presence is reported in NH's wooded residential areas, especially where older trees with cavities are common. Like yellowjackets, never seal the entry hole. Pro removal required; route to /wasp-species/wasp-nest-removal and /bald-faced-hornet/ for comparative detail.
mud tube nest
Black-and-yellow mud dauber (Sceliphron caementarium) or organ-pipe mud dauber (Trypoxylon politum — present but uncommon at NH's northern range edge)
Where: Sheltered walls, eaves, under overhangs, barn siding, garage walls, shed interiors, masonry surfaces in partial shade
Spot it: Smooth mud lumps plastered to a wall surface, lemon- to fist-sized, gritty and gray-brown — the finished nest of the black-and-yellow mud dauber. Alternatively, a column of parallel vertical mud tubes resembling a small pipe organ — the organ-pipe mud dauber. Both are built cell-by-cell by a single female during summer. Active nests are provisioned in late spring through summer; empty old nests are simply dried mud with capped cells. The wasp itself is slender, black with yellow legs (Sceliphron) or solid black with blue iridescence and white hind-leg 'stockings' (Trypoxylon).
HARMLESS solitary wasps — cleanup only, no chemical treatment appropriate. Mud daubers are beneficial spider predators (including black widows where present); sting is extremely rare and only if the wasp is handled or trapped against skin. UMD Extension confirms they 'are not aggressive.' If the mud nest bothers you or is on a surface you want to keep clean, simply scrape it off — there is no safety precaution required. The organ-pipe mud dauber (Trypoxylon politum) is at its northern range edge in NH with sparse verified records; do not overstate prevalence. Route to /wasp-species/mud-dauber-wasp for species depth.
mud tube nest
Potter wasp (Eumenes fraternus) — the fraternal potter wasp
Where: Twigs, plant stems, window shutters, screens, fence rails, garden stakes — the tiny jug is attached to the outside of the structure, not inside a cavity
Spot it: A marble-sized clay jug or pot with a narrow neck, built onto a twig, shutter, or screen by a single female. The pot is sealed after provisioning; the narrow neck may be open when fresh and being provisioned or sealed shut when complete. The wasp is 13–17 mm, shiny black with ivory or white markings, and looks like a small mason wasp. No colony, no workers, no nest defense.
HARMLESS solitary wasp — leave alone or remove the sealed pot, whichever you prefer. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension notes that female potter wasps do not defend their nests and are rarely aggressive. The finished pot is a sealed, inactive structure that poses no risk. Potter wasps are beneficial caterpillar predators; the pot contains paralyzed caterpillar larvae as food for offspring. Common across NH's residential areas during summer months.
soil burrow nest
Eastern cicada killer (Sphecius speciosus), great black wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus), or other solitary digger wasps
Where: Bare or sparsely vegetated, well-drained soil in sunny locations — lawn edges, garden beds, sandy paths, baseball infields, driveway margins, between pavers
Spot it: A single ~½-inch diameter hole in the soil with a characteristic U-shaped or fan-shaped mound of excavated dirt pushed out around the entrance. The wasp is large — cicada killers are among the biggest wasps in NH, females up to 2 inches, with a rusty-red head and thorax, black abdomen with yellow bands, and amber wings. Great black wasps are glossy all-black with smoky blue-iridescent wings. Apply the UMD field test: many individual holes each with one or two wasps = harmless solitary diggers; a single hole with a constant traffic stream of wasps = social colony (stay back). Cicada killers are most active July through August, timed to annual cicada emergence.
HARMLESS solitary wasps — leave alone or improve turf density to discourage future nesting. Males of all digger species are incapable of stinging (no stinger); females sting only if directly handled or trapped against skin. Oklahoma State Extension calls the cicada killer 'unusually docile and harmless.' The cicada killer is the #1 'murder hornet' panic species in NH lawns — it is large, alarming to encounter, and often mistaken for something dangerous. The northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) was declared eradicated from the US in December 2024 and was never established in NH. Cicada killers are present but uncommon in NH — UNH Extension confirms range through Rockingham County, much of Hillsborough County, and into Strafford County. Route to /wasp-species/cicada-killer-wasp for species depth.
- 1
Identify by material first — paper, mud or clay, or bare soil — before deciding on any action.
- 2
Keep at least 20 feet from any enclosed gray football or active wall-void or ground-entry nest until you know what it is.
- 3
Leave mud tube nests, clay pot nests, and single soil burrows alone — they belong to harmless solitary wasps that need no treatment.
- 4
Photograph the nest and the wasp traffic from a safe distance and contact Anchor for a free species assessment before any treatment decision.
Don't knock down or spray a gray football-shaped enclosed nest.
Why: The bald-faced hornet (an aerial yellowjacket) defends its enclosed colony aggressively, delivers multiple stings, and can spray venom toward an intruder's eyes. Disturbing the nest without full PPE and the right professional products triggers an immediate mass defensive response from hundreds of workers.
Don't seal a wall-void, soffit, or ground entry hole to trap the wasps inside.
Why: Trapped yellowjackets and hornets chew inward through drywall, plaster, and other interior surfaces to find another exit — which means they emerge inside your living space. University of Massachusetts Extension and Penn State Extension both warn explicitly against blocking the entry of an active social colony.
Don't pour gasoline, fuel, or other flammable liquids on a nest or set fire to it.
Why: This approach creates a serious fire and explosion risk. In Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on July 3, 2017, a homeowner used a smoke bomb on a nest in his garage and burned the garage to the ground. Grand Blanc Township Fire Chief Robert Burdette told CBS News: 'Of course, it's the garage — there's gasolines, petroleum and fire products in there. It went up fast. Call a professional.' Note: this incident occurred in Michigan, not New Hampshire.
Don't pour boiling water into a ground-hole nest.
Why: Boiling water reaches only the surface cells and triggers an immediate defensive swarm. The severe backsplash burn risk to the person pouring is compounded by the likelihood of getting stung by workers exiting the hole during the disturbance.
Don't assume every soil hole is a dangerous wasp nest.
Why: Most soil holes you find in a NH lawn or garden belong to harmless solitary diggers, cicada killers, or great black wasps — beneficial insects that should not be treated with insecticide. Over-treating kills beneficial predators and pollinators. Apply the UMD field test first: many holes each with a lone wasp = harmless solitary; one hole with constant two-way traffic = social colony worth keeping away from.
Don't use a shop vacuum or bug bomb on an enclosed nest or wall-void colony.
Why: A shop vacuum traps a canister of live, agitated wasps with no safe disposal path. Bug-bomb foggers do not penetrate wall voids or enclosed nests — the aerosol particles settle on surfaces, leaving the colony intact, and may push disoriented wasps through gaps into living space.
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