You’ll usually find these nests in grassy areas like lawns, garden beds, under shrubs, or at the edges of wooded patches. In the lush landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, as you already know, it’s prime real estate for these stingers. And unlike the big papery nests that you often see hanging from eaves or trees, ground nests can be much harder to spot…until you accidentally step too close!

Top 5 Signs You Have Spotted A Ground Wasp Nest:

Ground wasps aren’t subtle, but their nests are.

Here’s how you can spot them:

• Wasps are taking off and landing like tiny fighter jets in the same spot over and over
  
  • You’re sipping your morning coffee on the porch, and out of the corner of your eye, you notice a few wasps flying low across the lawn. Not just randomly buzzing around; they’re laser-focused on a specific area like it’s Sea-Tac for stingers. Watch long enough and you’ll see them dipping down into the same little hole in the ground and zipping back out.
    
• There’s a little hole in the dirt that’s too clean to be natural
  
  • Ground wasps aren’t messy. Their nest entrance will look like a small, rounded hole in the soil (about the size of a nickel or quarter) and often without any debris around it. You might think it’s an old rodent burrow, but mice don’t have air traffic control. The giveaway? When there’s webbing, no leaves, no mess.
    
• You hear buzzing coming from the ground
  
  • If you listen closely, you might catch a faint but unmistakable buzzing noise. It’s not your imagination. It’s wasps that are just below the surface and having a very busy day. This hum is the sound of hundreds of tiny wings flapping in unison.
    
• One part of your yard has suddenly become the danger zone
  
  • You walk past your garden bed like you always do, but this time, a wasp comes at you like it’s got something to prove. Congratulations: you’ve crossed an invisible line. Ground wasps are extremely territorial, and if you get too close to their nest, they’ll let you know fast.
    
• Your dog or cat is attracted to a specific area of your yard
  
  • Our pets are great early-warning systems. Dogs love sniffing around in the grass, and unfortunately, they also love to dig. If they find a wasp nest, it won’t go well!

Seasonal Activity: When To Expect To Find Ground Wasp Nests

Ground wasps in the Pacific Northwest run on a pretty predictable schedule.

In general, you’ll start seeing signs of ground wasp nests pop up in late spring. This is when the queens come out of winter hibernation with one mission: build a nest and start laying eggs.

By early to mid-summer, nests are fully operational. July through September is peak wasp season around Seattle and Portland. This is when the colonies are at their largest and most aggressive.

Once the temperatures start to dip in fall, the colony begins to die off, except for the new queens, who fly off to find a cozy place to hide out for the winter. The old nest is not typically revisited in the following years

What To Do If You Find A Ground Wasp Nest

So, you’ve found a ground wasp nest. Or at least you think you do! First things first: don’t panic, and definitely don’t grab a hose, a shovel, or your DIY bravado!

Here’s what you should do instead. If you know where the nest entrance is, you should mark it with something visible (like a flag, cone, or even a rock) so no one accidentally walks through it. Avoid mowing, digging, or doing any yard work near that area as well, since wasps don’t exactly need much of a reason to get mad, and a rumbling lawn mower is a good way to make them angry.

Fighting a ground wasp nest with a can of store-bought spray is like bringing a water pistol to a hornet war. Even at night, when they’re less active, disturbing the nest in any way can go sideways quickly. You’re dealing with hundreds of insects who will defend their turf.

So once you’ve safely marked the spot and informed the household, take a deep breath and make the smart call to a pest control professional instead of trying to handle it yourself. 

Call A Wasp Control Professional

Calling in a professional pest control service is hands-down the safest and smartest move that you can take when you’re dealing with a ground wasp nest.

A professional will start by confirming the location of the nest (sometimes there’s more than one, surprise!), identify the species of wasp, and then they’ll use specialized treatments to eliminate the colony.

What’s Next? Wasp Prevention

Once the ground wasps are gone, it’s all about making sure they don’t come back next year.

One of the most effective prevention methods is eliminating their ideal nesting conditions. That means sealing up old rodent burrows, keeping your lawn well-trimmed, and filling in any holes or soft patches in the soil. Regular yard maintenance can go a long way in sending the message to wasps that they are not welcome here. 

If you’ve spotted signs that you may have a ground wasp nest in your home or business’s yard, Pest Pros has your back. Our local team knows exactly how to handle ground wasps in the Pacific Northwest. 

Give us a call today at (866) 686-3118 or schedule a free estimate by filling out this contact form and let’s kick those ground wasps to the curb.