Wasps and Hornets in Tennessee | Pest ID Guide
Wasps and Hornets in Tennessee: Quick Facts
Wasps include paper wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets. They eat many garden pests, but they can sting repeatedly, and some defend their nests aggressively. Knowing which one built the nest tells you how risky it is.- Most common: Paper wasps, red wasps, and yellow jackets
- Most aggressive: Yellow jackets and bald-faced hornets
- Only true hornet in Tennessee: The European hornet
- Peak season: Late summer and early fall, when colonies are largest
Types of Wasps and Hornets in Tennessee
Social Wasps (Build Colonies and Defend Nests)
- Paper wasps: Long-legged wasps that build open, umbrella-shaped paper nests under eaves and railings. Usually defensive only near the nest. paper wasp guide
- Red wasps: Reddish-brown paper wasps common on porches, in sheds, and in barns. red wasp guide
- Yellow jackets: Compact, bright yellow and black. Nest underground or in walls and cause the most stings. yellow jacket guide
- Bald-faced hornets: Black and white, building large, enclosed gray nests in trees and on eaves. bald-faced hornet guide
- European hornets: Large, brown and yellow, and active at night; nest in hollow trees and walls. European hornet guide
Solitary Wasps (Rarely Sting)
- Mud daubers: Slender black or blue wasps that build tube-shaped mud nests on walls and ceilings. Very docile.
- Cicada killers: Very large wasps that dig burrows in lawns in midsummer. Intimidating but rarely sting people.
- Velvet ants: Fuzzy, wingless wasps that look like ants and have a very painful sting. velvet ant guide
How to Identify a Nest
- Open, umbrella-shaped comb: Paper wasps or red wasps
- Enclosed gray paper ball: Bald-faced hornets or aerial yellow jackets
- Hole in the ground with traffic: Yellow jackets
- Insects entering a gap in siding or soffits: Yellow jackets, European hornets, or honey bees in the wall
- Mud tubes on walls: Mud daubers
Are Murder Hornets in Tennessee?
No. The northern giant hornet, nicknamed the murder hornet, was only ever found in Washington State and British Columbia, and it has never been found in Tennessee. The insects Tennesseans report as murder hornets are almost always European hornets or cicada killers. Both are large, but neither is the giant hornet. See our European hornet guide.
Wasp and Hornet 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.
Getting Rid of Wasps and Hornets
- Small, open nests: A small paper wasp nest found early in spring can be treated at dusk, when wasps are inside, with a labeled wasp spray, using care and protective clothing.
- Leave these to a professional: Yellow jacket ground nests, anything in a wall or attic, enclosed hornet nests, high nests, and any nest if someone is allergic.
- Never seal a wall nest: Blocking the entrance can drive them into your living space.
- Traps help, but only a little: Traps catch foragers but don’t eliminate a nest.
See our wasp removal service.
How to Prevent Wasps and Hornets
- Check eaves, porch ceilings, railings, and play sets in spring and knock down new nests while small
- Seal gaps in siding, soffits, and vents
- Keep trash cans lidded and clean up fallen fruit
- Cover food and drinks outdoors in late summer
- Fill ground holes and old burrows in winter, after colonies die off
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of wasps are in Tennessee?
Common ones include paper wasps, red wasps, yellow jackets, bald-faced hornets, European hornets, mud daubers, cicada killers, and velvet ants.
Are there murder hornets in Tennessee?
No. The northern giant hornet was found only in Washington State and British Columbia. Large wasps reported in Tennessee are usually European hornets or cicada killers.
What’s the difference between a wasp and a hornet?
Hornets are a type of wasp. In Tennessee, the European hornet is the only true hornet; the bald-faced hornet is actually related to yellow jackets.
Which wasps are the most aggressive?
Yellow jackets and bald-faced hornets defend their nests most aggressively, especially in late summer and fall.
Can I remove a wasp nest myself?
Only a small, open paper wasp nest early in the season, treated at dusk with care. Ground, wall, enclosed, or high nests should be handled by a professional.
