Baldfaced Hornet Control in San Antonio, TX
When San Antonio homeowners call about "hornets," they are often pointing at a gray paper ball hanging in a tree or tucked under a high eave, with black-and-white wasps going in and out of a hole near the bottom. That is the classic baldfaced hornet nest. If it is high and well away from doors, paths and the mower, Texas A&M AgriLife's advice is to leave it alone; if it hangs where people pass, it needs careful treatment. Call or text (210) 281-1064 or book online if you're unsure which side of that line yours falls on.
Three gray paper nests you might see in a tree #
Not every gray ball in a backyard tree belongs to a baldfaced hornet. Look at the insects, not just the nest:
- Baldfaced hornet: about 3/4 inch, black with white markings on the face and the tip of the abdomen. The nest is an enclosed, pear-shaped paper carton that can reach 3 feet long, with a single entrance at the bottom (AgriLife Field Guide).
- Mexican honey wasp: much smaller than a honey bee, dark, building a basketball- to football-size paper nest in tree canopies. It is a calm species; see Mexican honey wasps.
- Yellowjacket: about 1/2 inch, black and yellow. Most nests are underground, but AgriLife lists trees and eaves among the less common sites; see yellowjackets.
Are there really baldfaced hornets here? #
AgriLife calls the baldfaced hornet the only "hornet" reported in Texas, and adds that it is technically a member of the yellowjacket family rather than a true hornet. What no source we rely on provides is a Texas range map or any measure of how common it is around San Antonio or the Hill Country. So the honest answer: it is reported in Texas, and the way to know what's in your tree is to look closely at the wasps.
Park trees, yard trees and the space between #
The city's natural-area parks give a sense of scale. Phil Hardberger Park alone covers 311 acres along Blanco Road and NW Military Highway, linked by a land bridge over Wurzbach Parkway (City of San Antonio). A hornet nest high in a tree in a setting like that, or at the back of a large lot, is the kind AgriLife says to leave be. Baldfaced hornets are less likely to attack than paper wasps or yellowjackets, largely because they build up high or out of the way.
Many north-side Bexar County homes also sit in small cities that share the city's ZIP codes: Census land data put about 31% of 78232 in Hill Country Village and Hollywood Park, and nearly 59% of 78231 in Shavano Park (Census ZCTA file). The decision rule is the same whichever city collects your taxes: how close is the nest to people?
Leave it, or treat it? #
Leave it when the nest is high in a tree, at the far edge of the property, and nobody needs to work near it. Most of the colony dies before or soon after the first hard frost, and mated queens winter in cracks before founding new colonies in spring.
Have it treated when it hangs:
- over or beside a doorway, porch, gate or window you open;
- near a play area, pool or patio;
- low enough that a mower, trimmer or ladder will come close;
- anywhere a household member with a sting allergy spends time.
What not to do #
Penn State warns that spraying only the outside of the paper shell stirs up the colony and raises the risk of stings for several days afterward. AgriLife's E-239 says anyone treating a nest should stand at least 10 to 15 feet away in protective clothing such as a bee suit, or hire a professional. Skip it entirely if you have a heart condition or venom allergy.
If hornets come after you, cover your head and get to a building or car. Don't stand and swat, and don't jump into water. A sting can be intensely painful; swelling that spreads more than 2 inches from the sting is a large local reaction, and AgriLife notes about 5% of people who have one later experience anaphylaxis. Trouble breathing, dizziness or fainting needs emergency care.
How Pest Trappers handles baldfaced hornets in San Antonio #
A technician first confirms which insect built the nest, then weighs height, distance from doors and play areas, and who lives in the house. If it can stay, you'll hear that. If not, they explain the treatment options and follow the label of any product used. Pest Trappers LLC (TPCL #0887549) quotes the price after the inspection. More background is in the baldfaced hornet guide, and the San Antonio service page covers our other local services.