# Wasp, Hornet & Bee Nest Removal in NYC > Wasp, hornet and yellow jacket nest treatment and bee referrals for New York City homes: eaves, fire escapes, yards and wall voids in all five boroughs. Source: https://gopeststop.com/residential/services/bees-and-wasps/ **Wasp & bee control in NYC. Eaves, fire escapes and yards across the boroughs.** For New York City balconies, roofs, terraces, houses and wall voids. Not every buzzing insect is a pest, so we confirm what it is before we act. ## Bees or wasps? The difference matters The correct response depends on the insect, and some of them should not be killed. Honey bees are important pollinators and swarms or colonies are not exterminated. We identify them and refer you to a beekeeper who can collect and relocate the colony. Bumble bees are rarely a problem and are usually left alone. Carpenter bees are solitary and drill neat round holes in exposed wood, which we can treat and help you seal. Paper wasps, yellow jackets and bald-faced hornets are the stinging insects we treat. Paper wasps build open umbrella-shaped nests under eaves and railings. Yellow jackets nest in wall voids, soil and sheltered gaps. Hornets build large enclosed paper nests in trees and on structures. Late summer is when colonies are largest and most defensive. ## Where we see nests in NYC Nests tend to follow eaves, soffits, sheds and shrubs, so single-family homes in Queens, Staten Island and southern Brooklyn see the most calls. In Manhattan and the Bronx we more often find them on fire escapes, rooftop equipment, window air conditioners and wall voids, where access and safety decide the approach. [Pest control in Staten Island](https://gopeststop.com/areas/staten-island.md) ## What to expect: a safe removal We work out what is nesting, where, and how to reach it with the least risk to you. 1. **Identify & locate.** We identify the insect and find the nest or entrance, checking eaves, roof edges, railings, air-conditioner sleeves, soffits and wall openings. Photos taken from a safe distance help us plan before the visit. 2. **Treat & remove.** We treat the nest with protective equipment, usually when the colony is least active, then remove the nest where it is accessible. Wall-void nests may be treated without opening the wall; we explain the options. 3. **Check & prevent.** We check for returning activity and recommend sealing entry points and removing old nest material so the site is less attractive. Wasps do not reuse an old nest, but new queens may choose the same sheltered spot. ## Nest removal methods: matched to the nest The method depends on the species, nest position and how close people are. - **Exposed nest treatment and removal:** For paper wasp and hornet nests in reachable spots, a technician applies a labeled aerosol or dust, waits until activity stops and then removes the nest so it cannot be mistaken for an active one. Treatment is commonly done at dusk or early morning, when most of the colony is in the nest. - **Wall void and cavity treatment:** Yellow jackets and hornets nesting inside a wall are treated through the entrance with a dust formulated for the purpose. The opening is left unsealed until activity ends so insects do not chew into the living space. Sealing too soon can drive insects indoors. We advise when it is safe to close the opening. - **Honey bee referral:** If the insects are honey bees, we do not treat them. We help you contact a beekeeper who can relocate the colony, and we can seal the cavity once it is cleared so another swarm does not move in. ## Know the signs: what to look for Watch from a distance. Do not disturb a nest to inspect it. - **A steady stream of insects:** Insects flying to and from one point in a wall, soffit, roof edge or railing suggest a nest entrance nearby. - **Paper nests:** Gray papery nests, open comb or a football-shaped enclosed nest under eaves, in shrubs or on structures. - **Wood damage:** Neat round holes about the width of a finger in exposed wood, with coarse sawdust below, point to carpenter bees. - **Buzzing inside the wall:** A steady hum or insects appearing at light fixtures or vents can indicate a colony in the wall void. ## Your part: before and after the visit Stay clear of the area so the removal is controlled. - **Keep people and pets away:** Keep children, pets and neighbors away from the nest area and close nearby windows and doors before we arrive. - **Do not spray or knock down the nest:** Disturbing a nest or spraying it with household products makes insects defensive and more likely to sting. - **Tell us about allergies:** If anyone in the home has a known sting allergy, say so when you book so we can plan for it. Anyone with trouble breathing or swelling after a sting needs emergency medical care. - **Remove attractants:** Cover outdoor trash, rinse sweet drink cans and keep fallen fruit and pet food off terraces and gardens. ## Your questions: clear answers ### Will you kill honey bees? No. Honey bee colonies are valuable and are relocated by beekeepers whenever possible. We identify the insect, and if it is honey bees we put you in touch with a beekeeper rather than treating. ### Should I remove a wasp nest myself? We do not recommend it. Nests can hold many insects that sting repeatedly when disturbed, and nests in wall voids or above head height are especially risky. A technician has protective equipment and the right products. ### Will the wasps come back to the same nest? Wasps do not reuse a nest from a previous season, but a new queen may build in the same sheltered spot. Removing the old nest and sealing the entrance reduces the chance. ### What if the nest is inside my wall? We treat through the existing entrance with a dust that insects carry deeper into the cavity. We leave the opening in place until activity stops, then advise on sealing. Old comb may remain in the wall, which we explain at the visit. ### When are wasps most active in New York City? Colonies start small in spring and grow through summer, peaking in late summer and early fall. Nests found early are smaller and easier to remove. ## Ready for the visit? Start here A little information helps us plan the assessment. Before treatment, we will give you preparation instructions for your home. - **Describe the insect and nest:** Share the color, size, shape of the nest and where it is. A photo from a safe distance helps. - **Note access and height:** Tell us whether it is on a balcony, roof, fire escape or in a wall, and any access limits. - **Mention any allergies:** Let us know about sting allergies in the household so we can plan around them. [Request a quote](https://gopeststop.com/contact/) ## Contact PestStop - Request a quote: https://gopeststop.com/contact/ - Phone: [(212) 266-0026](tel:+12122660026) - Email: [info@gopeststop.com](mailto:info@gopeststop.com) - Company: PESTSTOP CORP, 2509 Astoria Blvd, Ste 1, Astoria, NY 11102