Hornet Control in Comfort, TX
In Comfort, TX, the insect people call a "hornet" is almost always one of three things: a yellowjacket, a baldfaced hornet (which is really a yellowjacket too), or a big solitary wasp such as a cicada killer. The true hornets that make the news, the European hornet and the so-called murder hornet, are not recorded in Texas by the Texas A&M sources we use. Enclosed paper nests near doors, play areas or mowing paths are the ones worth treating; to have one checked, call or text (210) 281-1064, or book a visit.
What gets called a hornet around here #
- Yellowjacket: about 1/2 inch, smooth black and yellow. AgriLife notes yellowjackets are often called "hornets." The nest is a closed paper carton, usually underground, sometimes in a wall. See yellowjackets in Comfort.
- Baldfaced hornet: 3/4 inch, black with white face markings. AgriLife calls it the only "hornet" reported in Texas, yet places it in the yellowjacket family. Its gray, pear-shaped paper nest usually hangs in a tree. See the baldfaced hornet page.
- Cicada killer: up to about 1 1/2 inches, rusty red and black with yellow bands. A solitary wasp that digs in lawns and rarely stings. See cicada killer help.
- Red wasp: nearly an inch, reddish brown, with an open umbrella-shaped comb. See our red wasp page.
Two hornets that aren't in Texas #
European hornet. Texas A&M AgriLife's E-239 bulletin says the baldfaced hornet is the only "hornet" reported in Texas (AgriLife E-239), and a 2025 review of European hornet records west of the Mississippi doesn't list Texas. See European hornet facts for Comfort.
Asian giant hornet, now called the northern giant hornet. The Texas Apiary Inspection Service says it does not exist in Texas, and federal and Washington state officials declared it eradicated from the U.S. in December 2024 (TAIS). See giant hornet look-alikes in Comfort.
Reading nests on hilly ground #
Kendall County's overview describes about 663 square miles of rolling to hilly Edwards Plateau terrain, from 1,000 to 2,000 feet in elevation (Kendall County). On that kind of ground, "hornet" nests sort out by height:
- High in trees: a gray paper ball or pear shape with a bottom entrance is likely a baldfaced hornet. TAIS says these hornets sting people less than other wasps largely because they nest high or in remote spots.
- At ground level: a hole on a slope, bank or fence line with constant traffic is a yellowjacket colony. AgriLife lists embankments and roadsides among their sites, and mowing vibration can set them off.
- Inside a structure: a wall gap or attic vent with wasps going in and out could be yellowjackets; AgriLife says their nests occasionally end up in wall voids.
What we can't tell you is how common baldfaced hornets are around Comfort. AgriLife confirms the species is reported in Texas but gives no regional detail.
Getting a positive ID locally #
If you'd like a second opinion before deciding anything, Kendall County has a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office (Extension office). Bring or send:
- A photo of the insect, taken from well back.
- A photo of the nest, or a note on where it is: tree, ground, wall or eave.
- Its approximate size compared with a coin or ruler.
A technician can also identify it during an inspection.
When does a hornet nest need treatment? #
- Leave it if it's high in a tree or far from where people walk, work or play. AgriLife's guidance is to let baldfaced hornet nests in those spots be.
- Treat it if it's by a doorway, eave, play area or mowed lawn, if someone in the home has a venom allergy, or if you're about to trim the tree or work nearby.
- Never spray only the outside of an enclosed nest; Penn State warns it angers the colony for days. Don't pour gasoline into ground nests, and don't plug a wall entrance while the colony is alive.
AgriLife's advice is that established yellowjacket and hornet colonies should be handled by professionals.
How Pest Trappers handles hornet calls in Comfort #
The technician starts by identifying the insect, since a yellowjacket ground nest, a tree-hung baldfaced hornet nest and a cicada killer burrow call for very different responses. You'll hear whether treatment is needed at all, what the options are, and how any product will be applied according to its label. Pest Trappers LLC (TPCL #0887549) is family-owned and quotes after the inspection, and the office confirms your appointment time. Our Comfort service page lists the other pests we handle locally.