Kansas City Pest Solutions

Hornet Control in Kansas City

Two different insects get called hornets in Kansas City, and they nest in very different places. Knowing which one you have tells us where the nest is and how to deal with it.

Bald-faced hornet ID →European hornet ID →

Bald-faced hornets

Stocky and black with white markings on the face and the tip of the abdomen — technically a yellowjacket. They build a smooth, enclosed gray paper ball, up to two feet long, out in the open in trees, shrubs, eaves and on utility poles, with a single entrance near the bottom. The problem is usually a nest at head height on a hedge, a swing set or over the deck.

European hornets

The only true hornet here: large, brown and yellow, and active at night — they bang against lit windows after dark. They nest in cavities: wall voids, attics, hollow trees and sheds.

A colony inside a wall is treated through its entrance, and the opening is sealed only after activity stops, so the hornets don't chew their way into the house instead.

Season and safety

Colonies of both peak in late summer and die off with hard frost; nests are not reused. Leave any hornet nest to us — both species defend the nest aggressively and sting repeatedly.

Do hornets nest in walls?+

European hornets do — in wall voids, attics and hollow trees. Bald-faced hornets build hanging nests out in the open.

Should I knock down a hornet nest myself?+

No. Bald-faced hornets and European hornets defend the nest aggressively. Keep people and pets away and call us.

Can I wait for winter?+

If the nest is high and out of the way, sometimes yes — colonies die with hard frost. If it is near a door, deck or play area, it is worth removing now.