Wasps & hornets
Repeated activity near eaves, decks, entrances, wall openings, trees, or the ground can indicate a nearby nest or a recurring attraction.
Common examples: paper wasps, yellowjackets, bald-faced hornets, and other social wasps.
Stinging insect control
Stinging Insects
Great North handles common wasp, hornet, bee, and nest concerns. The pattern of activity and the nest location help determine what should happen next.
Observe from a safe distanceRepeated flight to one place can be useful information. Do not disturb a suspected nest to get a closer look.
Activity changes the response
An isolated insect and a repeated flight route do not tell the same story. Identification, site evidence, and how people use the surrounding area all matter.
Bees
Bee activity requires identification and context before a response is recommended. A single foraging bee differs from repeated movement into a structure or nesting site.
Common concerns: recurring bee activity, structural entry, and suspected nesting near occupied areas.
Exposed, concealed & ground nests
A visible paper nest, insects entering a wall opening, and traffic disappearing into the ground require different inspection and treatment decisions.
Great North removes nests when safely reachable. Concealed or inaccessible nests may be treated without physical removal.
If stinging insects are actively using an opening, do not seal or block it before the problem is addressed.
What helps: where the route begins, how often insects return, and how close the activity is to entrances, play areas, work areas, or regular foot traffic.
Identification and site evidence guide the response.
You do not need to approach or disturb the activity. Share what you can observe safely. Treatment addresses the current colony. A different colony may establish elsewhere later. For deeper guidance on activity and nest clues, visit Stinging Insect Resources.
Concerned about stinging activity?
Tell us where it is happening and what you have observed.