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wildlife

Yellowjackets in roof

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Just discovered a couple of small masses of hornets (~20 hornets/mass) seething at the edge of the roof, so I assume I have them in my roof trusses. My ceiling is well sealed and I’ve seen no evidence of them inside and I’m wondering if there’s any issue with just leaving them alone.

Matt McSpadden

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Location: Central Maine (Zone 5a)

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I am not an insect expert, so please take this with a grain of salt.

I suspect it would be fine short term, but I worry that over time, moisture and chewing on wood to create the nest might cause problems with the roof trusses.

Yellow jackets (while providing a service to an ecosystem) are known for being more aggressive and territorial than some other insects... which might cause problems with people or pets nearby.

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Anne Miller

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Once the yellow jackets, hornets or wasp nest is removed, if you continue to hear bussing then maybe there is a problem.

I suspect that one the outside nests are removed then there will be no problem.

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Lawren Richards

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Anne Miller wrote:Once the yellow jackets, hornets or wasp nest is removed, if you continue to hear bussing then maybe there is a problem.

I suspect that one the outside nests are removed then there will be no problem.

There are no exterior nests, just a bunch of hornets grouped around what I assume are entrances to their nest. Goodness knows how I’d get them out, and I’m kind of wondering if perhaps the queen is gone and the hive is breaking up. I don’t know what time of year that typically happens.

Pete Podurgiel

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As long as they're not presenting a danger to anyone, I'd leave them be. They do get awfully ornery this time of year though, so it's good to give them a wide berth if they're near any doorways or sidewalks. Things like weedwackers, lawn mowers or leaf blowers can be enough to set them off, if too close. Asssuming you're up north, they'll "give up the ghost" once we start having hard frosts.

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