Paper wasp
Polistes species
- Identification
- Slender, long-legged wasps that build open, umbrella-shaped combs under eaves, railings, and grill lids.
- Lifecycle & behavior
- Small annual colonies; a spring queen builds an open comb that grows modestly through summer.
- When it's active in Central NY
- Common around CNY homes all summer, nesting in sheltered spots people brush against. The least aggressive of the group.
- Risk & damage
- Will sting when a nest is disturbed, but colonies are small and less defensive than yellowjackets or hornets.
- Why DIY falls short
- Small exposed nests are sometimes DIY-removable, but nests near doors or over entries are best handled professionally.
- How we treat it
- Quick removal of accessible nests and treatment of sheltered nesting spots to prevent rebuilding.
Paper wasp or yellowjacket?
Paper wasps are longer and more slender than yellowjackets, and they fly with their long legs hanging down — a reliable field mark. Their nests are open and uncovered, a single exposed comb of hexagonal cells on a short stalk, typically under eaves, porch ceilings, deck railings, and inside grills and playsets.
They are also considerably less aggressive than yellowjackets and generally only sting when the nest is directly threatened.
Paper wasps in Central New York
Paper wasps are the most common wasp found around porches and decks in this region, and their nests are usually small and visible. Because they nest in the open on structures people use daily, the conflict is proximity rather than aggression — a nest inside a grill lid or under a porch rail you brush past is a problem regardless of temperament.
They are beneficial predators of caterpillars and other pests, so a nest well away from foot traffic is reasonable to leave. Removal is about location.
Dealing with paper wasp?
Our stinging insects handles it — guaranteed, family-owned, and local.
Paper wasp — common questions
Are paper wasps dangerous?
Much less so than yellowjackets. They are slower to defend and generally sting only when the nest is directly threatened. The problem is usually where they build — inside a grill, under a porch rail, in a playset — rather than how they behave. A nest away from foot traffic can reasonably be left alone.