Red Wasp | Tennessee Pest ID Guide
Quick Facts About Red Wasps
Red wasps are large, reddish-brown paper wasps common on Tennessee porches, sheds, and barns. Their sting is notably painful, and their nests are often right by a door or under a porch ceiling.- Size: About 1 inch
- Color: Reddish-brown body with dark, smoky wings
- Body: Slender, with a narrow waist and long dangling legs
- Nests: Open, umbrella-shaped paper combs under eaves, porch ceilings, sheds, and barns
- Colony size: Usually a few dozen wasps
- Behavior: Defend the nest but aren’t usually aggressive away from it
How to Identify Red Wasps
Their reddish-brown color and dark wings set them apart from brown and yellow paper wasps.Red wasps are a type of paper wasp, so they share the same slender build and open nests. See our paper wasp guide.
Where Red Wasps Nest
- Under porch ceilings, eaves, and soffits
- Inside sheds, barns, and garages
- Around door frames and window trim
- In hollow trees and protected corners
Why Red Wasps Come Inside in Winter
New queens overwinter in sheltered spots, including attics, wall voids, and gaps around windows and siding. On sunny winter days, they may crawl out onto warm walls or into living spaces. Sealing gaps in fall reduces indoor sightings.
Red Wasp Stings
- What happens: Sharp pain, then redness, swelling, and itching around the sting. Swelling can spread several inches and last a few days.
- First aid: Move away from the nest. Scrape out a honey bee stinger with a fingernail or card, wash the area, apply a cold compress, and elevate it. An antihistamine can help with itching.
- Call 911: For trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips, or throat, hives spreading over the body, dizziness, or fainting. Use an epinephrine auto-injector if one has been prescribed.
- Also get care: For many stings at once, a sting inside the mouth or throat, or a sting that shows signs of infection.
When to Call a Professional
Call for nests near doors, porches, or play areas, large or high nests, or if anyone in the home is allergic. See our wasp removal service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a red wasp look like?
A slender, reddish-brown wasp about 1 inch long, with dark, smoky wings and long legs that dangle in flight.
Are red wasps aggressive?
They defend their nests but usually aren’t aggressive away from them. Their sting is very painful.
Why are red wasps in my house in winter?
Queens overwinter in attics and walls and sometimes wander indoors on warm days.
Where do red wasps build nests?
Under porch ceilings and eaves, inside sheds and barns, and around door and window frames.
Are red wasps paper wasps?
Yes. Red wasps are a type of paper wasp.
