Wasp, yellowjacket & hornet nest removal

Bee & Wasp Removal in Pueblo, CO

Same-day removal of paper wasp, yellowjacket and hornet nests from licensed local technicians, with honey bee swarms sent to beekeepers instead of being sprayed.

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Honey bees relocated, not killed

Technician removing a wasp nest from a Pueblo home

Same daynest removal across Pueblo County

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Reviewed by A & M's licensed applicator team Updated October 8, 2026 10 min read Written for Pueblo County, CO

Bee and wasp removal in Pueblo: the short answer

Quick answer

Wasp and yellowjacket nest removal in Pueblo, CO typically costs $125–$300, depending on the species, nest size and how hard the nest is to reach; after-hours emergency calls cost extra. Most nests are treated in a single same-day visit of under an hour, ideally at dusk, and activity stops within 24–48 hours. Honey bee swarms are referred to local beekeepers for live relocation, not killed.

Typical price: $125–$300
Visit length: Under 1 hour
Results: 24–48 hours
Peak season: July–October
Honey bees: Relocated first

European paper wasps on an open-comb nest under a Pueblo roof eave

Most stinging-insect calls we get in Pueblo are not bees at all. They're wasps: European paper wasps building open combs under eaves and inside grill lids, and western yellowjackets nesting in the ground or inside a wall void. Getting the identification right matters, because each one nests differently, behaves differently when disturbed, and needs a different treatment.

Pueblo's long, hot summers give colonies a long season to grow, and irrigated lawns, gardens and patios give them water and food. A paper wasp nest the size of a quarter in May can hold dozens of wasps by July. A yellowjacket colony that started with one queen in spring can hold thousands of workers by late August, right when backyard cookouts, school starts and the Colorado State Fair put the most people outdoors.

A & M Pest & Termite Control's licensed technicians identify the insect first, treat the nest with the least product that will do the job, remove the nest where it's reachable, and tell you what will stop the next one. If it's honey bees, we help you get them to a beekeeper instead.

Is it a bee, a wasp or a yellowjacket?

Before anyone treats anything, it helps to know what you're looking at. Here's how to tell the four insects Pueblo homeowners call about most often apart from a safe distance:

Common stinging insects in Pueblo, CO
Insect	Looks like	Nest	Temperament
European paper wasp	Slender, yellow and black, long legs dangling in flight	Open, umbrella-shaped paper comb with visible cells; eaves, railings, grills	Defensive near the nest, otherwise calm
Western yellowjacket	Stout, bright yellow and black, fast zig-zag flight	Hidden: underground in old rodent burrows, sometimes wall voids	Aggressive near the nest; scavenges food and drinks in late summer
Bald-faced hornet	Black and white, larger than a yellowjacket	Enclosed gray paper football hanging in trees, shrubs or under eaves	Very defensive of the nest
Honey bee	Fuzzy, golden-brown, slower flight	Wax comb inside a cavity: walls, chimneys, hollow trees; or a hanging swarm cluster	Gentle when foraging; defends an established hive

Wasps around trash and soda

Insects hovering over garbage cans, pet food or open drinks in August and September are almost always yellowjackets.

A steady line into the ground

Insects flying in and out of a hole in the lawn or under a step mark a yellowjacket nest. Don't mow over it.

Buzzing inside a wall

A hum behind drywall, or insects at a light fixture indoors, means a nest in a wall void or attic.

A ball of bees on a branch

A cluster of thousands of bees hanging in a tree or on a fence is a honey bee swarm. It's resting, not attacking.

Stinging insects we remove in Pueblo

Western yellowjacket wasps at a ground nest entrance

Western yellowjackets

Vespula pensylvanica

Most common stinging pest in Colorado
Ground and wall-void nests
Most aggressive Aug–Sept

The yellowjacket responsible for most stings in Colorado. Colonies usually nest underground in abandoned rodent burrows or landscape voids, and sometimes inside wall voids and crawlspaces. By late summer the colony stops raising young, the workers switch to scavenging meat, sweets and sugary drinks, and they become the uninvited guests at every Pueblo picnic. Colonies die off after a hard freeze; only new queens overwinter, and old nests are not reused.

How we treat it: An insecticidal dust or foam placed directly into the nest entrance at dusk, which returning workers carry deep into the nest. We never seal a wall-void entrance before the colony is dead, because trapped yellowjackets will chew through drywall into the house. For heavy foraging pressure around patios, we also recommend lure traps that target western yellowjackets.

European paper wasp nest under a deck railing

European paper wasps

Polistes dominula

Very common in Colorado yards
Open paper combs
Eaves, grills, railings

Now the most common wasp around homes in Colorado. Queens start small, exposed combs in April and May under eaves and soffits, inside grill lids, mailboxes, play sets, porch light fixtures and the hollow ends of patio furniture and railings. Nests rarely exceed a few dozen wasps, but because they're built at hand height near doors, stings happen when people reach without looking.

How we treat it: A targeted contact treatment to the comb, then physical removal of the nest once activity stops, plus a residual application on the eave lines and overhangs where queens like to start new nests the next spring.

Bald-faced hornet aerial paper nest hanging in a tree

Bald-faced hornets

Dolichovespula maculata

Technically a yellowjacket
Large aerial paper nests
Defends the nest hard

Despite the name, the bald-faced hornet is a black-and-white aerial yellowjacket, not a true hornet. It builds the gray, football-to-basketball-sized paper nests seen in trees, shrubs and under rooflines in late summer. Workers rarely bother people at a picnic, but they will defend the nest in numbers if a mower, ladder or hedge trimmer gets close.

How we treat it: Treatment through the single entrance hole using extension equipment and full protective gear, timed for dusk when the workers are inside, followed by bagging and removal of the nest. Note: the European hornet is not established in Colorado, so a “giant hornet” in Pueblo is usually a bald-faced hornet, a cicada killer or a large paper wasp.

Honey bee swarm clustered on a tree branch

Honey bees & swarms

Apis mellifera

Valuable pollinators
Swarms: relocate, never spray
Wall colonies need comb removal

In late spring and early summer, established honey bee colonies split and send out swarms: clusters of thousands of bees that hang on a branch, fence or eave for a few hours to a few days while scouts find a new home. A swarm is usually docile because it has no comb or brood to defend. The problem starts if it moves into a wall, soffit, chimney or shed and builds comb.

How we treat it: We do not exterminate swarms. We refer you to local beekeepers who collect swarms and remove established colonies alive. We treat an established colony inside a structure only when live removal isn't possible, and then the comb and honey must be opened up and removed. Left in the wall, it melts, ferments, stains drywall and draws ants, rodents, wax moths and robbing bees.

Our bee and wasp removal process

Correct ID first, then the smallest effective treatment, then prevention.

Call and triage
Tell us where the nest is, what the insects look like and whether anyone in the household is allergic. Allergy cases and nests at doorways get priority, and same-day service is available across Pueblo.
Identify the insect and find the nest
We confirm the species and trace flight paths to the actual nest, which for yellowjackets is often well away from where people are getting stung. Honey bees are routed to relocation.
Treat at the right time
Where possible we treat at dusk or early morning, when foragers are home and the colony is slow. We use the product type the nest calls for: dust for ground and wall voids, contact sprays for open combs.
Remove the nest
Exposed paper wasp and hornet nests are removed once dead. Ground nests are left to break down; wall-void openings are sealed only after activity stops.
Prevent the next one
We point out the eaves, vents, gaps and attractants that invited the nest, treat favored nesting surfaces and, for recurring problems, schedule a spring visit before queens start building.

How much does wasp nest removal cost in Pueblo?

Price depends on the species, how many nests there are, how high or hidden they are, and whether we need to open a wall or soffit to reach them. Typical Pueblo ranges:

Bee and wasp removal pricing in Pueblo, CO
Service	Typical Pueblo price	Notes
Paper wasp nest(s), reachable	From $125	Includes removal and treatment of common nesting surfaces
Ground yellowjacket nest	$125–$200	Dusk treatment directly into the nest entrance
Wall-void, attic or soffit nest	$175–$300	Hidden colonies; access work varies
Bald-faced hornet nest, high or large	$175–$300	Extension equipment, bagging and removal
After-hours / emergency call	Added fee	Nights, weekends and allergy emergencies, 24/7
Honey bee swarm	Referral	We connect you with local beekeepers for live collection

You get a firm quote before we start. If treated nests become active again within the warranty period, we come back and re-treat at no charge. New customers get 10% off their first service.

Why wasps are worse in late summer in Pueblo

Every Pueblo stinging-insect season follows the same calendar, and knowing it tells you when to act:

Stinging insect season in Pueblo County
When	What's happening	What to do
April–May	Overwintered queens start new nests alone; paper wasp combs are the size of a coin	Knock down small combs early; best time for prevention treatments
June–July	Workers hatch and colonies grow fast; honey bee swarming season	Check eaves, grills and play sets weekly; call a beekeeper for swarms
August–September	Yellowjacket colonies peak in size, switch to scavenging food and sugar	Cover food and drinks outdoors; treat ground and wall nests now
October	Colonies decline and die after the first hard freeze; new queens seek shelter	Treat only nests that are still active; seal gaps over winter

Local conditions add to it. Irrigated lawns and gardens in Belmont, Sunset Park and the North Side give wasps water in a dry climate. Acreage lots in Pueblo West have sheds, outbuildings and rodent burrows that yellowjackets love. Picnic areas near Lake Pueblo State Park, the Arkansas River trail and City Park draw scavenging yellowjackets from August on. Older homes in Bessemer and Mesa Junction tend to have gaps in soffits, siding and attic vents that let colonies move inside the walls.

The same warm months bring mosquitoes and spiders to the yard. Many homeowners pair a spring wasp-prevention visit with mosquito control or a quarterly prevention plan.

DIY wasp spray or call a professional?

A small, exposed paper wasp comb at the start of the season is a reasonable DIY job for someone who isn't allergic. Most other nests are not. Here's where we'd draw the line:

When to call for bee and wasp removal
Situation	DIY reasonable?	Why
Golf-ball-sized paper wasp comb in May, reachable from the ground	Usually yes	Few wasps; use a labeled wasp spray at dusk from a distance
Paper wasp nest above a doorway or on a second story	No	Ladders and stinging insects are a dangerous mix
Yellowjackets going in and out of the ground	No	Colonies are large and hidden; disturbing them triggers mass stinging
Insects in a wall, attic or soffit	No	Plugging the hole can drive them indoors
Bald-faced hornet nest	No	Aggressive mass defense; needs protective gear
Honey bees, swarm or colony	No	Call a beekeeper; spraying a swarm kills pollinators and rarely solves it
Anyone in the household is allergic	No	One sting can be a medical emergency

Mistakes that make it worse

Pouring gasoline down a ground nest or using fire. It's a fire and burn hazard, contaminates the soil, and often fails.
Sealing a wall-void entrance with caulk or foam while the colony is alive
Spraying a nest in the middle of a hot afternoon when every forager is out
Swatting or running past a ground nest with a mower or string trimmer
Leaving honeycomb in a wall after the bees are gone

How to prevent wasp nests

Walk the eaves, deck, play set and grill in April and May and knock down new combs
Screen attic, soffit and dryer vents; caulk gaps in siding and trim
Keep trash cans tightly lidded and away from patios in late summer
Cover food and drinks outdoors, and pick up fallen fruit
Fill abandoned rodent burrows in the lawn before spring
Hang western yellowjacket lure traps away from seating areas in mid-summer

What to do if you're stung, and when to call 911

Most stings cause a painful local welt that fades in hours to a few days. Wash the site, apply a cold pack, and keep the area elevated if swelling spreads. A honey bee leaves its stinger behind; remove it right away by scraping or pulling, because speed matters more than method. Wasps and yellowjackets don't leave a stinger and can sting more than once.

Medical emergency

Call 911 immediately for trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat, hives spreading beyond the sting, dizziness, a racing heartbeat, or fainting. These are signs of anaphylaxis. Use a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector right away if one is available. Many stings at once can also be dangerous for small children, older adults and people with heart conditions, even without an allergy.

If someone in your home has a known sting allergy, tell us when you call. We'll prioritize the visit, and we'll ask that person to stay indoors with windows closed while we work.

Are bee and wasp treatments safe for kids and pets?

Yes, when applied by a licensed technician. Nest treatments are placed directly into the nest or onto the comb, not broadcast across your yard, so the amount of product is small and localized. Keep children and pets indoors during the visit and away from treated areas until sprays have dried, usually within an hour or two. Dust placed in ground and wall nests stays inside the nest where the wasps carry it.

We protect pollinators, too. We don't apply insecticides to flowering plants where bees are foraging, we don't spray swarms, and we follow every product label as Colorado law requires. On commercial jobs such as restaurant patios, schools and apartment complexes, we schedule around open hours and use tamper-resistant placements.

Our safety standard

Every product we use is registered with the U.S. EPA and applied by Colorado Department of Agriculture licensed applicators, strictly according to its label.

Want to get ahead of next season? Read our pre-treatment checklist or call (719) 283-7071 any time, day or night.

Frequently asked questions

How much does wasp nest removal cost in Pueblo, CO?

Most wasp and yellowjacket nest removals in Pueblo cost $125–$300. Reachable paper wasp nests are at the low end; hidden wall-void, attic or large hornet nests cost more. After-hours emergency service carries an added fee, and you get a firm quote before work starts.

Can you remove a wasp nest the same day?

Yes. Same-day wasp and yellowjacket removal is available in most of Pueblo, Pueblo West and nearby areas, and we answer the phone 24/7. Nests near doorways or homes with an allergic family member get priority.

Do you kill honey bees?

No, not as a first option. Honey bee swarms are referred to local beekeepers for live collection. We treat an established colony inside a structure only when live removal isn't possible, and we explain why the comb and honey must then be removed.

What should I do about a swarm of bees on my tree?

Leave it alone and keep people and pets back. A swarm is usually calm and often moves on within hours to a few days. Call a local beekeeper to collect it; if you're not sure it's honey bees, call us and we'll help identify it.

Why are yellowjackets so aggressive in August and September?

By late summer, western yellowjacket colonies are at peak size and stop raising young, so workers switch to scavenging sweets and protein. That puts them at trash cans, drinks and picnic tables, and the large colonies defend their nests hard. The season ends after the first hard freeze.

Should I seal the hole where wasps are going into my wall?

Not until the colony is dead. Blocking the entrance of an active yellowjacket nest can push the wasps to chew through drywall into your home. Treat first, confirm activity has stopped, then seal.

Is the bald-faced hornet a real hornet?

No. The bald-faced hornet is a black-and-white aerial yellowjacket. The European hornet, a true hornet, is not established in Colorado, so large paper nests in Pueblo trees almost always belong to bald-faced hornets.

Will the wasps come back after treatment?

A treated nest is not reused, but new queens may build nearby next spring. If a treated nest becomes active again within the warranty period, we re-treat at no charge, and a spring prevention visit greatly reduces new nests.

When is the best time to treat a wasp nest?

At dusk or very early morning, when foragers are back in the nest and cool temperatures slow them down. That's how we schedule most nest treatments, and it's the safest time if you're handling a small nest yourself.

Bee and wasp removal near you

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See all service areas

Sources & further reading

We cite independent, science-based sources so you can verify our guidance.

Bee & Wasp Removal in Pueblo, CO

Bee and wasp removal in Pueblo: the short answer