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ControlAnchor Pest · New Hampshire

Wasp Nest Removal in Manchester NH — Flat $399, Same-Day Service

TL;DR

Anchor Pest Services removes wasp and hornet nests across southern and central New Hampshire for ONE flat rate of $399 — one-time, no tiers, no contracts, same price regardless of season, colony size, or nest location. A licensed NH technician (license #782664, category F1 under RSA 430) follows an 8-step field process built around injecting EPA-registered dust at the nest entrance or void at dusk or after dark, when the entire foraging force is home. The service includes species confirmation before any product is applied, a ~30-day re-treat guarantee, and live honey-bee relocation referral — we never kill honey bees.

Call for a free wasp quote(603) 785-0118
NH License #782664Family-owned since 2017Updated Jun 2026

  • Anchor flat rate

    $399, one-time

    No tiers, no per-nest upcharge, same price regardless of season, colony size, or nest location; Anchor brand constant

  • Re-treat guarantee

    ~30 days

    Technician returns if activity resumes within approximately 30 days; Anchor brand constant

  • Die-off after dust

    24–48 hours

    Tempo, Drione, and Delta Dust labels all direct checking nests 'one or two days after treatment to ensure complete kill'; EPA-stamped labels

  • Treatment timing

    After dark / dawn — at least 2 hours after dark; red-filtered light

    UNH Extension (Eaton): 'Treat in the late evening or early morning when all the wasps are in the nest'; 'Wasps can't see red light well'

Overview

One flat number. One licensed process. No guessing on price.

You have found an active wasp or hornet nest, and you want three things: a price, a process, and enough trust signals to book. This page gives you all three up front.

First, the price. Anchor Pest Services charges $399 flat for one-time wasp and hornet nest removal — same number regardless of whether the nest is a paper-wasp umbrella comb on your eave, a yellowjacket colony inside your wall void, or a bald-faced hornet football in a shrub. No tiers. No seasonal upcharges. No per-nest fees. Industry-survey aggregators put the national range for this kind of work anywhere from "$300 to $700 on average" (HomeGuide 2026) to "$100 to $1,300" (This Old House 2026) — a span so wide it tells you nothing. Anchor's number is one number: $399.

Second, the process. A licensed NH technician (NH pesticide license #782664, category F1 under RSA 430) follows an 8-step protocol from species confirmation through sealed entry points to a ~30-day re-treat follow-up. The core of the job is injecting an EPA-registered dust — Tempo 1% Dust (cyfluthrin 1.0%, EPA 432-1373), Drione (pyrethrins + PBO + silica gel, EPA 432-992), or Delta Dust (deltamethrin 0.05%, EPA 432-772, not used on overhead nests) — at the nest entrance or void at dusk or after dark, when every forager is home and the whole colony gets dosed. The full 8 steps appear below.

Third, the trust signals. Before any product touches the structure, the technician confirms the species — and that matters, because if what you have is a honey-bee colony, we never treat it. Anchor refers confirmed honey-bee colonies to a licensed NH beekeeper for live relocation. Always. If it is a paper wasp, yellowjacket, bald-faced hornet, or European hornet, we treat it with the appropriate labeled dust and seal the entry. If activity resumes within roughly 30 days, we come back.

The sections below cover the 8-step field process in full, the DIY failure modes that drive homeowners to the ER and occasionally burn down garages, the industry pricing context, and three brief prevention tips that reduce the odds of a repeat visit next spring.

New Hampshire context

Wasp nest removal across southern and central New Hampshire

Anchor serves Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Derry, Bedford, Salem, Hudson, Amherst, Auburn, Goffstown, Hooksett, Litchfield, Loudon, Milford, and Bristol — covering Rockingham, Hillsborough, Merrimack, and Strafford counties, plus the Lakes Region secondarily. Office: 700 Harvey Rd, Bldg 1, Manchester, NH 03103. Phone: (603) 785-0118. NH social-wasp colonies are largest, most defensive, and most likely to require professional removal in late August and September — the same weeks that coincide with cookouts, school reopening, and outdoor projects. Manchester-area colonies persist later than most of NH: NOAA 1991–2020 normals put the first hard frost around October 19 (50% probability) or October 29 (80%) at Manchester–Boston Regional Airport, roughly two to three weeks later than Concord (~Sept 27–Oct 3) or Keene (~Sept 26–Oct 1). Waiting for frost in Manchester means living next to a peak-size, peak-defensive colony for another month or more. The most common nest-removal calls in our service area involve yellowjackets accessing wall voids through gaps in aluminum soffit trim or cedar shingles — a structural feature common in older Manchester and Concord housing stock — and paper-wasp umbrella combs on eaves, porch ceilings, and playset frames. European paper wasps (Polistes dominula), invasive in the Northeast, increasingly colonize man-made cavities: grill interiors, outdoor electrical boxes, ornamental shutters. Honey-bee referral: if our technician confirms honey bees, the colony is never treated. We refer you to a licensed NH beekeeper for live relocation — UNH Extension explicitly routes honey-bee colonies to local beekeepers and stresses species confirmation first.

Species present in NH

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

Peak activity

Late August through mid-September

Service area

ManchesterNashuaConcordDerryBedfordSalemHudsonAmherst

First-frost anchor: Manchester first hard frost ~Oct 19 (50%) / Oct 29 (80%) per NOAA 1991–2020 normals — 2–3 weeks later than Concord or Keene

UNH Extension (Eaton) recommends treating wasp nests 'at least two hours after dark' using a red-filtered flashlight — 'Wasps can't see red light well' — then walking away immediately and staying away for a full day. For confirmed honey-bee colonies, UNH routes to local beekeepers rather than treatment.

Professional removal

Wasp & Hornet Nest Removal — $399 flat. One-time. No tiers.

Cost ranges (industry-survey estimate)

Anchor charges one flat $399 for one-time wasp and hornet nest removal. The ranges below are industry-survey estimates from national aggregators — shown only so you can see how opaque everyone else's pricing is. Anchor's number is one number.

ScenarioNH price rangeWhat's includedTimelineWarranty
Anchor Pest Services — any wasp or hornet nest, any NH location$399 flat, one-timeSpecies confirmation before treatment; EPA-registered dust at nest entry/void; die-off window; nest removal; entry-point seal; ~30-day re-treat guarantee; honey-bee relocation referral if applicableSame-day treatment typically possible for morning bookings (evening/dusk application); ~24–48 hours to full die-off~30-day re-treat guarantee
HomeGuide 2026 national average (industry-survey estimate)$300–$700 avg; yellowjackets $600–$1,200Varies by company; typically not itemizedVariesVaries
Angi 2026 national average (industry-survey estimate)~$525 avg; $100–$1,300Varies by companyVariesVaries
This Old House 2026 national average (industry-survey estimate)$100–$1,300; avg $375; Terminix one-time paper-wasp ~$300Varies by companyVariesVaries

Cost drivers

  • Nest height and accessibility (industry estimates; not an Anchor pricing factor — Anchor's rate is flat)
  • Nest location — accessible aerial vs. concealed wall void vs. attic (industry estimates only)
  • Colony species — paper wasp, yellowjacket, or hornet (industry estimates only; Anchor charges the same for all)
  • Colony size and season (industry estimates only; Anchor's price does not change with colony size or season)
  • Geographic region within the national dataset (industry estimates only)

Disclaimer

Industry-survey estimates based on national aggregator data (HomeGuide, Angi, This Old House 2026). These figures are NOT Anchor's pricing. Anchor Pest Services charges a flat $399, one-time, for any wasp or hornet nest removal — same price regardless of season, colony size, nest location, or species. Always confirmed before treatment; honey bees relocated, never treated.

Our 8-step field process

  1. 01
    1

    Species identification and confirmation

    5–10 min

    Before any product touches the structure, the licensed technician (NH #782664, category F1, NHDAMF) confirms whether the colony is a paper wasp (Polistes), yellowjacket (Vespula), bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula), European hornet (Vespa crabro), or honey bee. Misidentification is the number-one reason DIY fails and the primary reason honey bees get needlessly killed. If the colony is confirmed honey bees, the service stops here: Anchor refers the homeowner to a licensed NH beekeeper for live relocation — no product is applied.

    Species confirmation is non-negotiable. No treatment proceeds until the technician is certain of the species.

  2. 02
    2

    PPE and night/dawn timing

    The applicator dons label-required protection — gloves, eye protection, and a veil — before approaching the nest. Treatment is timed after dark (at least two hours after sunset) or at dawn, when the entire foraging force has returned to the nest and is inactive. Per UNH Extension (Eaton): 'Treat in the late evening or early morning when all the wasps are in the nest.' A red-filtered flashlight is used because wasps cannot see red light well, allowing the technician to locate and treat the entry without triggering a defensive response. All PPE is staged before dusk so the approach is deliberate and calm.

    Never approach an active wasp nest without full PPE. Never treat during daylight hours — foragers in the field cannot be reached and will return to find an agitated colony.

  3. 03
    3

    EPA-registered dust injection at entry or void

    A labeled dust is injected at the nest entrance or wall-void access point. The correct product depends on nest location: Tempo 1% Dust (cyfluthrin 1.0%, EPA Reg. 432-1373) or Drione (pyrethrins 1.0% + PBO 10.0% + amorphous silica gel 40.0%, EPA Reg. 432-992) are the primary tools for void and aerial nests. Delta Dust (deltamethrin 0.05%, EPA Reg. 432-772) is used for non-overhead void and crack-and-crevice applications — the label explicitly states 'Do not use this product to treat overhead nests,' so Tempo or Drione is selected for any elevated or overhead nest position. Dust is preferred over liquids for void colonies because returning foragers track it deep onto brood and the queen, self-contaminating the entire colony.

    All three dusts are NH-registered 'G' on the NHDAMF 2026 product registration list. Tempo's active ingredient is cyfluthrin 1.0% — not beta-cyfluthrin.

  4. 04
    4

    Die-off window — 24 to 48 hours

    24–48 hours minimum before nest removal

    After dust injection, the colony is left undisturbed for 24–48 hours. This is not a waiting period — it is the mechanism. Returning foragers pick up dust particles at the entry and carry them to the brood cells and queen, completing the kill. All three product labels direct checking nests 'one or two days after treatment to ensure complete kill.' Newly hatched adults emerging from pupating brood may extend the die-off window, which is why the ~30-day re-treat guarantee covers the period beyond the initial treatment.

  5. 05
    5

    Knockdown and nest removal

    10–30 min depending on nest size and accessibility

    Once activity has stopped, the nest is removed and discarded. Product labels direct 'remove and destroy nest to prevent emergence of newly hatched insects.' For concealed void nests where physical extraction is not possible, accessible nest material is removed and the void is thoroughly treated.

  6. 06
    6

    Entry-point sealing

    Once the colony is eliminated and the nest removed, every confirmed entry point is caulked and/or screened to prevent re-nesting. Per UNH Extension: 'caulk and screen vents, cracks and windows.' Cedar shingles, aluminum soffit seams, vented soffits, and gable-end vents are the most common re-entry vectors in southern NH housing stock. Sealing is completed in the same visit, not deferred.

    Never seal an active entry point before treatment — trapped workers chew inward through drywall into living space.

  7. 07
    7

    Optional exterior perimeter knockdown (supporting step)

    Where appropriate based on property conditions — active wasp flight paths along the exterior foundation, multiple secondary nesting attempts on the structure — a supporting crack-and-crevice and perimeter-band spray may be applied: Onslaught (esfenvalerate 6.4%, EPA Reg. 1021-1815), a liquid microencapsulated suspension concentrate. This is a one-time exterior support step. Onslaught is NOT a void-injection dust; it is a liquid SC diluted with water and applied to exterior crack-and-crevice surfaces and a perimeter band (1–3 ft up the exterior wall, 3–6 ft out from foundation). Note: Onslaught's NH state registration has not been independently confirmed — it is used only where confirmed with NH Division of Pesticide Control (603) 271-3550. This step is NOT tied to any recurring or quarterly plan; no such plan exists.

    Onslaught is a liquid SC, not a dust. It must never be used as a void-injection substitute for Tempo, Drione, or Delta Dust.

  8. 08
    8

    Follow-up and ~30-day re-treat guarantee

    ~30-day guarantee window post-treatment

    Anchor's one-time removal includes an approximately 30-day re-treat guarantee. If renewed wasp activity is observed at the treated location within that window, a technician returns and re-treats at no additional charge. The re-treat window accounts for newly hatched adults emerging from pupating brood that survived the initial treatment. Contact (603) 785-0118 to schedule a re-treat if activity resumes.

EPA-registered products we use

All 4 products carry valid EPA registration numbers and are labeled for wasp and hornet control.

Tempo 1% Professional Dust Insecticide (Bayer/Envu)

NH Registered

Cyfluthrin 1.0% — NOT beta-cyfluthrin

Primary in-void nest dust for wall voids, cracks and crevices, and aerial/overhead nests. Labeled for bees, hornets, wasps, and yellowjackets. Professional/commercial use only. Label directs treating 'wasp and bee nests in the evening when the insects are less active and are inside the nest.' Use on overhead nests where Delta Dust is prohibited by label.

EPA Reg. #432-1373

Drione Insecticide (Bayer/Envu)

NH Registered

Pyrethrins 1.0% + piperonyl butoxide 10.0% + amorphous silica gel 40.0%

Classic desiccant void dust. Drill-blow-reseal method for concealed nests. Label: 'Drill a hole in the area, blow dust in, and reseal. For best results check nests carefully one or two days after treatment to ensure complete kill, then remove and destroy nest.' For industrial and commercial use only.

EPA Reg. #432-992

Delta Dust / DeltaDust (Bayer/Envu)

NH Registered

Deltamethrin 0.05%

Waterproof crack-and-crevice and void dust for non-overhead nest applications. LABEL RESTRICTION: 'Do not use this product to treat overhead nests.' Select Tempo or Drione for any overhead or elevated nest position. NH is NOT among the excluded states (CA/NY/AK/DC/MD).

EPA Reg. #432-772

Onslaught Microencapsulated Insecticide / Evercide Esfenvalerate 6.4% CS (MGK) — FLAGGED: liquid SC, not a dust; NH registration unconfirmed

Esfenvalerate 6.4% — liquid microencapsulated suspension concentrate, diluted with water before application

SUPPORTING EXTERIOR/PERIMETER KNOCKDOWN ONLY. Applied as a crack-and-crevice spray and perimeter band (1–3 ft up exterior foundation wall, 3–6 ft out). NOT an in-void nest dust and NOT a substitute for Tempo, Drione, or Delta Dust. NOT tied to any recurring or quarterly plan — no such plan exists. Use only as a one-time exterior supporting step where appropriate.

EPA Reg. #1021-1815
DIY OK if…
  • The nest is a small, early-season paper-wasp umbrella comb — golf-ball size or smaller, ideally fewer than a dozen cells — on an accessible flat surface such as a porch rail or eave board (UNH Extension: some early colonies 'can just be squashed against the eaves with a board')
  • No one in the household has a known sting allergy — this is a hard prerequisite; UNH Extension states 'don't try it yourself if you are highly allergic to stings. Call an exterminator instead'
  • The nest is fully exposed and not inside a wall, void, attic, or cavity — so you can see the entire structure and retreat cleanly
  • You can approach after dark with full PPE, apply a labeled wasp/hornet aerosol directly at the comb, and exit the area immediately without having to dig, drill, or reach into a confined space
Call a pro if…
  • The nest is in a wall void, attic, soffit, or any concealed cavity — these require dust injection, not surface spray, and sealing must not happen while the colony is active
  • The species is yellowjackets or hornets (bald-faced hornet, European hornet) — larger, more aggressive colonies that react faster and with greater numbers than paper wasps
  • The nest is large (basketball-size or larger) or located above head height where application and retreat are both compromised
  • Anyone in the household has a known or suspected sting allergy
  • You would have to work within one to two feet of the nest entrance — which is well within the colony's alarm zone
  • You have already disturbed the nest and it has become more aggressive

Why DIY fails

  • Gasoline, fire, and smoke bombs: never. In Grand Blanc Township, Michigan (label this Michigan — no NH wasp-fire incident exists), a homeowner trying to kill garage wasps with a smoke/bug bomb ignited the structure and burned it to the ground while stored fireworks exploded. The fire chief told CBS News: 'Of course, it's the garage — there's gasolines, petroleum and fire products in there… It went up fast.' (CBS News, 2017.)
  • Boiling water on a wall-void colony: does not reach the nest, scalds the person pouring, soaks and damages drywall and insulation, and leaves the colony alive
  • Sealing a live wall-void entry point: the most common DIY mistake. Trapped workers have one option — they chew inward through drywall into the living space, creating a secondary infestation in the interior rather than eliminating the colony
  • Shop-vac: physically agitates the colony and concentrates live stinging wasps inside the vacuum body, which then releases them — live, disoriented, and defensive — when the canister is opened or moved
  • Surface aerosol on a concealed nest: over-the-counter aerosols can reach the entrance but rarely penetrate deep enough to dose the queen and brood; the colony is agitated, some foragers are killed, and the remaining colony becomes more defensive

Illustrative scenarios

Composite examples drawn from typical southern-NH calls — not real homeowners.

Scenario · Manchester

Yellowjacket colony in aluminum soffit void — mid-August

Scenario: A Manchester homeowner noticed wasps slipping behind aluminum soffit trim near a second-floor dormer in mid-August. By late afternoon, dozens of yellowjackets were entering and exiting the same 3-inch gap. The homeowner sprayed the gap with an over-the-counter aerosol, which agitated the colony and produced stinging activity in the attic space above.

DIY attempted: Over-the-counter aerosol sprayed directly at soffit gap — agitated the colony without reaching the nest; resulted in increased indoor activity as workers found gaps to interior space

Outcome: Anchor confirmed eastern yellowjackets (Vespula maculifrons), injected Tempo 1% Dust at the soffit gap entry at dusk, sealed secondary gaps, and returned 48 hours later to confirm die-off and complete the soffit seal. Flat $399, no upcharge for the elevated, concealed-void location.

Range: Anchor flat $399 one-time — industry-survey estimates for concealed-void yellowjacket removal nationally range from $600–$1,200 (HomeGuide 2026); Anchor's rate does not vary by location or species

Scenario · Bedford

Suspected 'bee' colony in hollow porch column — late July

Scenario: A Bedford family called after noticing what they described as 'bees' entering a gap at the base of a hollow wooden porch column. A neighbor had suggested treating it themselves with a drain-kill product.

DIY attempted: None attempted — family called before DIY

Outcome: The Anchor technician confirmed the colony was honey bees (Apis mellifera) — not wasps or hornets — based on body shape, leg pollen baskets, and flight behavior. No product was applied. The family was referred to a licensed NH beekeeper for live relocation. The colony was removed intact. Charge: $0 for the identification call; beekeeper relocation arranged separately.

Range: No Anchor charge — honey bees are never treated. Beekeeper live-removal costs vary; confirm with the referral beekeeper.

Scenario · Concord

Paper-wasp umbrella nest on playset frame — early June

Scenario: A Concord homeowner found a golf-ball-sized paper-wasp nest on the horizontal crossbar of a backyard playset. The nest had approximately 8 open cells and one adult queen. No workers had yet emerged.

DIY attempted: Homeowner knocked it down with a broom handle at midday — the queen relocated and started a new comb on the playset leg within four days

Outcome: DIY knockdown at midday disturbed but did not destroy the foundress. Anchor treated the second nest (now with 6 workers, after dark) with a short spray of labeled wasp aerosol and confirmed the foundress was eliminated. Spring timing meant the colony had not yet grown to a size that required full dust injection. Flat $399 — same rate whether it is a ping-pong-ball nest or a full summer colony.

Range: Anchor flat $399 one-time

Common questions

Frequently asked

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 a 30-day re-treat guarantee.

Call for a Free Quote Call (603) 785-0118
NH License #782664Manchester, NH 03103Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
Call (603) 785-0118Get a Quote