It’s common to ask yourself “Is that a wasp, hornet, or yellow jacket that I found in my Metro Vancouver home?” when you start listening to that familiar buzzing sound nearby. These insects look familiar but act very differently and can ruin your summer, which should be about BBQs, backyard parties, and patio drinks, not about removing pests from your home.

In this guide we’ll break down the differences between each of these pests and help you protect your family and pets with BC wasp control strategies!

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Wasps, Hornets, or Yellow Jackets?

It’s understandable to be confused regarding the difference between each type of them found in the Vancouver area, you’re not alone! At first, paper wasps (the most common ones, often referred only as “wasps”), hornets, and yellow jackets might look the same, after all, yellow jackets are actually classified as wasps and hornets are a subcategory with 22 wasps species.

However, each type has different danger levels, behaviours, defenses, life cycles, nests, diet, and can be found in several areas including Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Coquitlam, Langley, Richmond, Port Coquitlam, Abbotsford and basically anywhere in the Lower Mainland. After reading this content, you won’t be able to only identify these characteristics, but also their differences in appearance.

Paper Wasps Characteristics

They can have a bad reputation, but this type of wasp commonly found in Burnaby is actually one of the most gentle and docile wasps, minding their own business and avoiding humans. Here are the specific characteristics:

Paper wasps are usually reddish or brownish with yellow markings.
Their body is long and slender, with that “wasp waist” that looks like someone tied them in the middle.
Their nests are small, sheltering from 15 to 200 wasps. It’s open, has an umbrella shape and looks like they’re made of grey paper. Are usually built under eaves, decks, and ledges.
The aggression level is moderate, being able to sting more than once, and they won’t hesitate to sting if you get too close to their nest to defend it. But if you don’t interfere with their activities, they probably won’t attack.

If you need paper wasp removal in Vancouver, it’s important to approach these nests with professional help.

Yellow Jackets Characteristics

These types of wasps are more aggressive than paper wasps, are known for terrorizing trash cans, especially in Surrey – BC, and can definitively ruin your outdoor activities. Their characteristics are:

Smaller and brighter in color than the other two species mentioned in this post.
Usually yellow and black, which makes people confuse them with bees.
They have a very high aggression level and can sting repeatedly, unlike bees.
Their nests are usually built underground, which can be scary once you might step on their home without noticing. Finding a yellow jacket nest in areas such Langley can be particularly dangerous due to their hidden locations.
They’re attracted by food, especially sugary drinks and snacks.

Removal attempts by yourself can lead to multiple painful stings and severe allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis). Call professional help when dealing with them.

Hornets Characteristics

Bald-faced Hornets

The most common hornets found in the Lower Mainland area are the bald-faced hornets. However, they aren’t real hornets: they’re actually large wasps with very aggressive behaviour. Some of the specific characteristics are:

They are easily identifiable by their striking black and white coloring, with white markings on the front of the head and at the end of the abdomen.
This type of wasp is bigger and more aggressive than the ones mentioned before and will defend their nests when they feel threatened.
Nests are massive gray balls and can be bigger than a basketball, usually hanging high in trees or large bushes at least three feet from the ground around Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, and Langley neighborhoods, housing up to 700 wasps.
As a natural defense mechanism, they release pheromones when threatened, signaling other hornets to attack and make coordinated attacks.

If you find these hornet nests in Port Coquitlam and surrounding areas, don’t hesitate to call professional hornet removal due to their size and aggressive nature.

Asian Giant Hornets

Found with less frequency, the asian giant hornets (commonly known as the northern giant hornet, vespa mandarinia, or murder hornet) are the world’s largest hornets and a true nightmare!

Native from parts of Asia and measuring 1.5 to 2 inches in length (bigger than your thumb), they’ve been spotted in North America, including the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, from White Rock to Langley. Asian giant hornets in BC are a serious concern for both public safety and local ecosystems. So how to identify, besides their size?

They have huge orange heads and dark eyes, almost with an alien appearance.
Nests are built underground or in tree cavities, being the home of hundreds of them.
Have longer strings than most other hornets, which cause a very painful and dangerous sting than other wasps, increasing the danger for those with allergies due to its lethal potential.
Regarding behaviour, they’re highly aggressive, especially when defending their nests.
Unlike most insects in this category, they actively hunt and kill other insects, especially honeybees, causing concerns due to their ability to wipe out entire colonies.

If you think you’ve found Asian giant hornets, don’t try to deal with them by yourself! Report it and call a licensed pest control professional.

Why Are Wasp Nests Near My Home in The Lower Mainland?

Think about it: food sources such as leftover meat and pet food; water availability; plenty of shelters for nesting; open compost bins and uncovered recycling… Paper wasps look for protected areas, yellow jackets are attracted by garbage and food, hornets try to find tree cavities. How would they not be attracted to your house?!

The real problem is that, once they move in, they’re not easy to avoid or remove and, by late summer, a small nest can become a buzzing issue. Because of this, avoid letting garbage unsealed and try not to leave food accessible, especially outdoors.

How Can I Avoid Wasp Stings?

There’s a golden rule when trying to avoid stings: respect the wasps’ spaces and they’ll usually respect yours. However, sometimes “usually” is not good enough.

Wasp stings are not just painful, it can be really dangerous, especially when people experience allergic reactions. Follow these tips to avoid it:

Stay calm and slowly move far away from their area, once quick movements can trigger their defenses. Don’t try to slap, scream or run away.
Don’t go near wasp nests and avoid their flight path by paying attention to where they’re going and coming from. You don’t want to be a roadblock in their highway.
Avoid strong and sweet perfumes, once they’re also attracted by smells.
Wear light colours (try to stick to white and pastel clothes), and avoid floral patterns or bright accessories.
Always check before sitting, stepping, or reaching. Remember: some of them love ground nests and hide in garden areas.

When to Call the Professionals

A small wasp nest today can quickly turn into a swarm tomorrow. However, you don’t have to deal with this alone. You might handle the issue if it’s a small paper wasp nest with just a few insects with proper protective gear and wasp spray. But anything larger, underground, or involving aggressive species requires professional attention.

At Atlas Pest & Wildlife, our experts have the right equipment and experience to remove wasp nests safely, providing wasp control services in Vancouver, Burnaby, Port Coquitlam, Surrey and other areas in Metro Vancouver.

Don’t risk yours and your family’s safety. Whether it’s a wasp, hornet, or yellow jacket nest exterminator service you need, we’re here to help! The earlier you act, the easier it’s to control them. Contact us.