Yep, it's finally getting nice outside in the 'Burgh (I know! It took forever to get nice!) and the wasps and hornets have decided to take up residence near your home in North Hills, Cranberry Township, Wexford, and other areas around Pittsburgh. They are threatening your outdoor activities.
Maybe there's a large wasp or hornet nest attached to your home, or you're seeing a lot of them flying around a particular area of your home. You need to get rid of them before the kids or a visiting friend gets stung. You're tempted to handle it yourself. Just run out to the local hardware store and get a can of wasp and hornet spray. What's the worst that could happen? A little minor sting? It'll only hurt for a little while. You've been stung before, no big deal.
Wrong. The worst-case scenario is that you can die from the stings. According to the CDC, there are about 72 deaths per year due to wasp and hornet stings. Or, more commonly, you can have an allergic reaction even if you've been stung previously and had no reaction. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) cites wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets among the leading triggers of allergic reactions.
According to Penn State Extension, there are several wasp species that are flying around the Pittsburgh area that can become very aggressive, including Yellow Jackets (often mistaken for bees), Paper Wasps, and several varieties of hornets. These "social wasps" can be aggressive when defending their nest, and females can deliver repeated stings when threatened, according to their research. Ouch! That doesn't sound like fun.
Why DIY Wasp & Hornet Control is the Wrong Move
We mentioned that you could get a wasp or hornet sting leading, at a minimum, to some pain. Here is why the DIY approach to wasp and hornet removal isn't a good idea:
- Store-bought sprays are inadequate. Consumer insecticide sprays typically don't reach the interior of a nest, killing surface workers while leaving the queen and core colony intact. The nest is repaired and the colony continues — often more aggressively than before.
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Ladder + wasps = serious injury risk. Many nests are located in elevated positions — under eaves, in trees, along rooflines. Being attacked by wasps while on a ladder is a leading cause of fall-related injuries during nest removal attempts.
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You don't have the protective gear — or the products. Licensed pest control professionals use commercial-grade treatments and personal protective equipment that aren't available to consumers. Without both, even a well-intentioned removal attempt is dangerous.
When to Call Expert Pest Management
The straightforward answer: the moment you suspect a nest on or near your home. Don't wait to "see how bad it gets." Wasp and hornet colonies grow exponentially through the summer months, and a nest that is manageable in late May and June can become a serious infestation by August.
You should contact a pest control professional immediately if:
- You see consistent wasp traffic entering or exiting a gap, crack, or hole in your home's exterior
- You've discovered a visible nest larger than a golf ball
- Anyone in your household has a known or suspected venom allergy
- You hear a buzzing sound from inside a wall or ceiling
- You or a family member has already been stung once near a specific area of your property
- You've attempted DIY treatment that didn't fully resolve the problem
Expert Pest Management serves Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities of Western Pennsylvania. Our technicians are trained to identify species, locate hidden nest sites, and use targeted treatments that eliminate the colony — not just the visible workers. We also assess the site to reduce the likelihood of next-season re-colonization.
