How to tell you have them
Paper wasps build open, umbrella-shaped nests of gray paper cells hanging from a short stalk under eaves, porch ceilings, pool cage frames, shutters and grills. Mud daubers build tubes or lumps of dried mud on walls, garage ceilings and in sheds. Both are most active from late spring into fall.
What they damage
Paper wasps sting when the nest is disturbed, and a nest next to a door, a gate latch or the air conditioner disconnect is disturbed all the time. Mud daubers rarely sting and mostly leave a mess. Anyone who has had a severe reaction to a sting should carry the medication their doctor prescribed, and call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat after a sting.
What treatment looks like
We treat and remove active nests near doors, windows, walkways and equipment, and sweep old nests from the eaves at every visit, so wasps are less likely to rebuild in the same spot. Nests in a garden away from the house can often stay: paper wasps eat caterpillars and other plant pests. Please do not knock down a nest with a hose or a broom, because that is how most stings happen.
How long it takes
An active nest is treated and removed on the day of service. Wasps returning to the treated spot usually stop showing up within a day or two, and the regular eave sweep keeps new nests small.
Florida notes
Pool cages and screened lanais give Pinellas paper wasps dozens of sheltered corners, so check the top corners of the cage door before you open it. Wasp nest treatment around the house is covered on every plan, starting with Quarterly. Yellow jackets and hornets build different nests and have their own pages.