Colorado is home to a diverse array of wasps and hornets, each with unique characteristics, behaviors, and habitats. Understanding these insects is crucial for effective management and removal, especially in cities like Fort Collins, Denver, Boulder, and other parts of the state. This guide provides a detailed overview of the different types of wasps and hornets found in Colorado, their nests, habits, aggressiveness, and diets.

Yellow Jackets

Yellow Jackets are one of the most well-known types of wasps in Colorado. They are easily identified by their bright yellow and black stripes and stout bodies. Their wings are typically folded lengthwise when at rest, and they have a noticeable, segmented waist.

• Nests: Yellow Jackets build paper-like nests from chewed wood fibers mixed with their saliva. These nests are often found in the ground, inside wall voids, or attics. A mature nest can house thousands of wasps. Ground nests are particularly common and can be found in rodent burrows or other pre-existing cavities.
• Habits: Yellow Jackets are highly social and live in colonies with a strict hierarchy, including a queen, workers, and drones. They are very aggressive, especially when their nest is disturbed, and are known for their ability to sting multiple times. Their stings are painful and can cause severe allergic reactions in some individuals.
• Diet: Yellow Jackets are scavengers and feed on a variety of foods. They are attracted to sugary substances, such as fruits and sodas, as well as proteins like meats and fish. They play a role in controlling pest populations by preying on other insects.

If you encounter a Yellow Jacket nest, wasp removal in Fort Collins can ensure safe and efficient handling to avoid stings.

Paper Wasps

Paper Wasps are another common type of wasp in Colorado. They have slender bodies, long legs that dangle during flight, and a distinctive waist between the thorax and abdomen. Their coloration can vary, but many have reddish-brown, yellow, and black markings.

• Nests: These wasps construct open, umbrella-shaped nests made of a papery substance created by chewing wood fibers mixed with saliva. These nests typically hang from eaves, branches, and other sheltered spots. The nests have a distinctive honeycomb appearance with exposed cells where the larvae develop.
• Habits: Paper Wasps are less aggressive than Yellow Jackets but will defend their nest if threatened. They are generally not aggressive when away from their nest. Their stings can be painful but are usually less severe than those of Yellow Jackets.
• Diet: They primarily feed on nectar and small insects, playing a beneficial role in controlling garden pests. They are known to hunt caterpillars and other soft-bodied insects to feed their larvae.

Residents of Denver can benefit from wasp nest removal experts to manage Paper Wasp infestations safely.

Mud Daubers

Mud Daubers are solitary wasps known for their unique nests and less aggressive nature. They have slender, elongated bodies and are often black with a metallic blue or green sheen. Some species have yellow markings.

• Nests: Mud Daubers build small, tube-like nests out of mud. These nests are often found in sheltered areas such as under eaves, in sheds, or on walls. The nests are constructed by the female wasp, who gathers mud and shapes it into cells.
• Habits: Mud Daubers are not aggressive and rarely sting. They are solitary, meaning each female builds and tends to her own nest without the help of other wasps.
• Diet: Mud Daubers feed on spiders and other small insects, which they paralyze with their sting and store in their nests as food for their larvae. This behavior helps control spider populations around their nesting sites.

If you find a Mud Dauber nest in Boulder, wasp exterminator Boulder CO services can provide safe and efficient removal.

Bald-Faced Hornets

Bald-Faced Hornets are actually a type of Yellow Jacket but are distinguished by their black and white coloring. They have a robust body and a white face, which makes them easily recognizable.

• Nests: They build large, football-shaped paper nests that are often found in trees, shrubs, or on buildings. The nests are constructed from chewed wood fibers mixed with saliva, creating a strong and durable structure. These nests can be quite large, sometimes exceeding a foot in diameter.
• Habits: Bald-Faced Hornets are very aggressive and will vigorously defend their nest. They are social insects, with colonies that can contain several hundred individuals. Their stings are painful and can be dangerous, especially if multiple hornets attack simultaneously.
• Diet: These hornets feed on nectar, fruit, and other insects. They are predatory and help control pest populations by hunting flies, caterpillars, and other insects.

For safety, it’s recommended to contact a wasp exterminator in Boulder if you come across a Bald-Faced Hornet nest.

Ground Hornets (Cicada Killers)

Ground Hornets, also known as Cicada Killers, are solitary wasps that are larger than many other wasp species. They are identifiable by their large size, yellow and black markings, and robust bodies. Females can reach up to 2 inches in length.

• Nests: Ground Hornets create burrows in the ground, often in sandy or loose soil. They dig extensive tunnels, with a main chamber where they lay eggs and store paralyzed cicadas for their larvae to feed on.
• Habits: These hornets are solitary and not aggressive towards humans. The females are busy hunting cicadas and digging nests, while the males, which do not have stingers, can sometimes be seen patrolling the nesting area.
• Diet: Adult Ground Hornets feed on flower nectar, but they hunt cicadas to provision their nests. The females paralyze cicadas with their sting and transport them back to their burrows as food for their developing larvae.

If you notice Ground Hornet activity in your yard, wasp control Denver services can help you manage and understand their behavior better.

An extreme close-up image of a paper wasp in Colorado. The Centennial State is home to a number of wasp species.

Wasps and hornets are most active during the warmer months, typically from late spring to early fall. Here are some tips to prevent infestations:

• Seal Entry Points: Ensure that windows, doors, and any cracks are sealed to prevent wasps from entering your home.
• Remove Food Sources: Keep food covered and dispose of garbage properly to avoid attracting wasps.
• Regular Inspections: Regularly inspect your property for nests, especially in hidden or sheltered areas.

For homeowners in Colorado Springs, seeking professional wasp removal services from OBEX can provide inspections and preventive measures to keep your home safe.

Understanding the different types of wasps and hornets in Colorado is crucial for effective management and removal. Whether you’re in Fort Collins, Denver, Boulder, or any other part of the state, professional wasp removal and extermination services can help protect your home and family from these potentially aggressive insects. By being proactive and seeking expert assistance, you can manage wasp and hornet populations effectively throughout the year.

¹ During regular business hours (Monday – Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm), an OBEX representative and/or sales agent will contact you via call, text, email, and/or combination of the like, for the sale of pest control services. You agree that standard text messages and/or data rates may apply, and promotional/sale messaging can be stopped at any time by replying STOP, or unsubscribing at the bottom of emails. Claim of a reply “within minutes” is average response time during operation hours, and is not guaranteed. 

Four+℠, Six+℠ and Six Pro℠: Twelve-month (12) agreement required. Early cancel fee may apply. All OBEX 365℠ plans: Spot treatment re-services requests may require waiting period, due to local, state and/or federal regulatory laws of pesticide applications or other routing conflicts. At its sole discretion, OBEX may limit the amount of free applications a customer may receive, and does not guarantee a specific timeframe requested by the customer may be available. Active pest issue must be occurring at the time of request, and visit requires someone over 18 to be present for the entire treatment.

* Service does not include the control or prevention of wood infesting organisms such as termites, powder post beetles, wood borers, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, wood wasps, or wood decay fungus. OBEX will treat for wasp nests on homes; however, we do not guarantee for flying insects. See Pest Control Service Agreement for additional information and limitations.