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Wasps & Hornets in Maine: What They’re Doing Around Your Home — and How Pine State Pest Solutions Can Help
When winter finally lets go and Maine starts to thaw out, we’re all eager to spend more time outside. But as soon as the sun warms up our porches, decks, and gardens, wasps and hornets are waking up too—and they’re not just passing through. If you’ve noticed buzzing near your eaves, nests forming on the shed, or yellow jackets crowding your cookouts, you’re not alone.
Here at Pine State Pest Solutions, we’ve helped homeowners across Maine—from Augusta to Westbrook to Belgrade—deal with these aggressive stingers. Whether you’re seeing them in early spring or fending them off in late summer, we understand what these pests are doing, when they’re most aggressive, and how to keep them out of your way.
Let’s take a look at the seasonal life of wasps and hornets, what to watch for, and how we can help you reclaim your outdoor space.
Common Wasps & Hornets in Maine
Different species have different behaviors, but they all share one thing in common: they’re not afraid to sting.
Paper Wasps
Paper wasps are slender, wasp-waisted insects with long legs that dangle when they fly. Most are reddish-brown to dark brown, with yellow markings on the body, but coloring can vary a bit depending on the species. They build umbrella-shaped nests in visible areas like porch ceilings or eaves. They’re less aggressive than hornets but will sting if they think you’re a threat. Their nests tend to appear early in the season, especially on homes that have had problems in previous years.
Bald-Faced Hornets
Technically a type of wasp, these black-and-white insects are known for their large, papery nests, often built high in trees or under rooflines. They’re extremely territorial and won’t hesitate to defend their nest.
Yellow Jackets
They’re often mistaken for bees, but unlike bees, they’re smooth-bodied, faster moving, and capable of stinging multiple times. In Maine, the most common species include the Eastern yellow jacket and the German yellow jacket. The worst offenders at backyard picnics, these wasps build nests underground, inside wall voids, or in hidden corners—and they sting multiple times without much provocation. By late summer, they’re the ones swarming your trash can or buzzing around the grill.
What Wasps & Hornets Are Doing in Spring and Early Summer
Even if you’re not swatting at wasps in May, they’re already around.
Spring: The Queens Are House-Hunting
When the weather warms up each spring, fertilized queens emerge from winter hiding. They’ve been tucked away in woodpiles, attics, or tucked into tree bark, waiting for the frost to clear. Now, they’re scouting out places to start new colonies—usually under eaves, inside sheds, behind shutters, or tucked under deck railings.
Using chewed-up wood fibers, these queens build small starter nests, often no larger than a golf ball. You might not notice them yet, but this is when prevention makes all the difference.
Early Summer: Building the Workforce
By early summer, queens will have laid their first round of eggs, and the newly hatched workers will take over nest building and food gathering.
Most nests are still relatively quiet in June, so many Mainers are caught off guard when activity spikes later in the season. What looks like a peaceful backyard now might become a stinger hotspot in just a few weeks.
Why Wasps Get Meaner in Late Summer
By August, the game changes.
Wasps and hornets have now built up a full colony, sometimes housing hundreds or thousands of individuals. The queen has done her job, and the workers are no longer focused solely on nest building or hunting insects. Natural food sources dry up, and they become scavengers.
That’s when they start showing up where people are—your cookout, your trash cans, your deck railings, and your kids’ juice boxes. Sugary drinks, greasy meats, fallen fruit—it’s all fair game to a hungry wasp colony looking for calories before winter.
As resources shrink, their behavior becomes more erratic. They’re more aggressive, more easily provoked, and more likely to sting—even if you’re just passing by.
How to Keep Wasps & Hornets from Ruining Your Summer
You don’t have to wait until your Labor Day cookout turns into a sting-fest to take action. Whether you’ve seen a nest or not, here are our best prevention tips for keeping wasps and hornets out of your yard:
Seal Up Garbage Bins
Outdoor trash cans should have tight-fitting lids. Sticky, sweet, and meaty scraps attract wasps from across the yard.
Clean Up Fruit and Yard Waste
If you have fruit trees, gardens, or berry bushes, pick produce before it overripens and keep the ground clear of fallen fruit.
Feed Pets Indoors
Pet food left outside is a feast for wasps. If your pets eat outside, clean up promptly.
Cover Food and Drinks at Cookouts
Use food covers and drink lids, and wipe down sticky surfaces after outdoor meals.
Watch for Early Nest Activity
Spring and early summer are your best shot at catching small nests before they grow. Look around porches, sheds, attic vents, and grill areas.
And whatever you do, don’t try to remove an active nest yourself. Even small ones can result in painful stings or allergic reactions. Call the professionals—we’ve got the training and gear to do it safely.
Need Help? That's What We're Here For
At Pine State Pest Solutions, we know Maine pests because we live here too. We’re proud to help our neighbors across Auburn, Portland, Yarmouth, and beyond keep their homes and yards safe all year long.
Our trained technicians specialize in wasp and hornet control. They identify species, locate nests, and remove them if they’re within 20 feet of the ground. If you see activity, we’ll get to the root of the problem fast.
Even better? Stinging insect control is included in our year-round Home Protection Plans. That means we’ll monitor and knock down nests before they grow—and you’ll get coverage for other household pests like ants, spiders, and rodents, too.
*initial start-up fees may apply.
Let’s Take Back Your Backyard
Don’t let wasps and hornets take the joy out of your Maine summer. Whether it’s your first sighting of the season or you’re already dodging yellow jackets at the grill, Pine State Pest Solutions is here to help.
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