Hornet Control in New Braunfels, TX
When someone in New Braunfels says "hornets," they usually mean one of two things: angry black-and-yellow wasps boiling out of a hole in the lawn, or a big gray paper ball hanging in a tree. The first is almost always a yellowjacket colony and the second a baldfaced hornet, which AgriLife counts as the only "hornet" reported in Texas. Either way, the right first move is to stop mowing or trimming, keep people back and figure out which one you have. Call or text (210) 281-1064, or book online, if the nest is anywhere people walk.
What "hornet" usually means here #
The word gets used loosely. AgriLife's venomous animals bulletin notes that yellowjackets are often called hornets (AgriLife B-6118). The one insect AgriLife and TAIS do call a hornet in Texas, the baldfaced hornet, actually belongs to the yellowjacket group too (TAIS hornets). And the big-name hornets people read about online, the European hornet and the giant hornet, have no Texas records in any source we use.
Sort it by what you saw #
- Black-and-yellow wasps streaming from a hole in the ground or a wall gap. A yellowjacket colony inside a hidden paper carton. These defend hard, especially in late summer and fall. See yellowjacket control in New Braunfels.
- A closed, gray, pear-shaped paper nest in a tree or under an eave, with black-and-white wasps. A baldfaced hornet nest, up to 3 feet long per AgriLife. See baldfaced hornet control in New Braunfels.
- A very large wasp with a reddish front and a black-and-yellow abdomen, hovering over bare lawn in summer. A cicada killer, which nests in the soil and rarely stings. See cicada killers in New Braunfels.
- A big brown-and-yellow wasp at a lit window at night. People often suspect the European hornet, but no source places it in Texas. See European hornets in New Braunfels.
- Something huge with an orange head that looked like a "murder hornet." The northern giant hornet has never been found in Texas. See giant hornet look-alikes in New Braunfels.
If what you found is an open comb with no paper cover, that is a paper wasp, not a hornet; start at our wasp control page for New Braunfels.
The lawn and the canopy: where "hornet" nests show up #
In the lawn. Most homes in New Braunfels, 68.4% by Census survey count, are single-family detached houses, which means a lot of private yards and a lot of mowing. The AgriLife field guide says southern yellowjacket nests are usually underground in yards and along roadsides, and AgriLife's Insects in the City warns that mower vibration can set off an attack. If you mow your own yard, walk it first in late summer and watch for a steady stream of wasps at one spot.
In the trees. Baldfaced hornets hang most nests in trees, often high, and only sometimes on a building, according to AgriLife. Big trees are part of the local scenery; the city describes Landa Park as 51 acres beneath giant oak trees (City of New Braunfels). No source says how common baldfaced hornets are in New Braunfels, so we won't guess. If a gray paper ball turns up in a yard tree, note its height and whether anyone walks beneath it.
How dangerous are these nests? #
- Yellowjackets can sting repeatedly and attack in numbers when a nest is disturbed. E-239 says colonies peak in August and September.
- Baldfaced hornets sting painfully, but AgriLife says hornets are less likely to attack than paper wasps or yellowjackets because their nests are high or out of the way.
- Cicada killers look scarier than they are. Males cannot sting, and females seldom do.
AgriLife says a severe allergic reaction usually begins within 20 to 30 minutes of a sting and needs emergency care.
Before anyone treats a hornet nest #
- Don't spray only the outside of a paper nest. Penn State says that tends to anger the colony for days.
- Don't pour gasoline or water into a ground nest, and don't plug a wall hole while the colony is alive.
- If wasps pour out, cover your head and get into a building or car rather than swatting or jumping into water.
- Don't treat a nest yourself with a heart condition or venom allergy, and stay off ladders. AgriLife advises treating from at least 10 to 15 feet in protective clothing, or hiring a professional.
How Pest Trappers handles hornet nests in New Braunfels #
A technician identifies the insect, locates the nest and every entrance, and judges how close it sits to people. Remote tree nests can often be left. For the rest, you hear the options and how the product label applies, and you get a price after the inspection. Pest Trappers LLC (TPCL #0887549) is family-owned and licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Book online or by phone and the office confirms the appointment. Our New Braunfels service page lists the other pests we cover.