Hornet Control in Schertz, TX
When someone in Schertz says "hornets," they nearly always mean one of three insects: yellowjackets living underground or inside a wall, a baldfaced hornet with its gray carton hanging from a branch, or an outsized cicada killer burrowing into the lawn. True hornets of the Vespa group, the European hornet and the northern giant hornet, have no documented presence in Texas. The quickest way to sort it out is by where the nest is, and any enclosed nest near a door, a path or a mowed lawn is worth having treated. To set up a visit, book online or reach the office by call or text at (210) 281-1064.
What people call it vs. what it usually is #
| What you called it | What it most likely is | Texas status |
|---|---|---|
| "Hornets in the ground" | Yellowjackets | Common; AgriLife says they are often called hornets |
| "Hornet nest in the tree" | Baldfaced hornet or Mexican honey wasp | Baldfaced hornet is reported in Texas; honey wasp ranges Texas to Nicaragua |
| "Giant hornet digging holes" | Cicada killer | Native, solitary, rarely stings |
| "European hornet" | One of the above | Not documented in Texas in our sources |
| "Murder hornet" | One of the above | Never found in Texas |
In AgriLife's wasp bulletin, the baldfaced hornet is the single "hornet" on the Texas record, and even it belongs to the yellowjacket family (E-239).
Sort it by height #
Ground level. A hole in the lawn, a bed edge or an old rodent burrow with a steady stream of 1/2-inch black-and-yellow wasps is a yellowjacket nest. They account for most "hornet" stings, and late summer through fall is their worst stretch; read yellowjacket control in Schertz. A single huge wasp with a rusty red front hovering over dime-size holes in sunny dirt is a cicada killer instead; see cicada killer control in Schertz.
House level. Wasps going in and out of a gap in siding, a soffit or an attic vent are usually yellowjackets in a wall void. An uncovered comb under the eave belongs to paper wasps; see paper wasp control in Schertz. An enclosed gray nest stuck to the side of the house may be a baldfaced hornet, since AgriLife says they occasionally build on buildings.
Tree level. A closed, pear-shaped gray carton up to about 3 feet long, entrance at the bottom, black-and-white wasps: baldfaced hornet. See baldfaced hornet control in Schertz. A gray ball in the canopy covered with tiny dark wasps may be Mexican honey wasps; see Mexican honey wasp control in Schertz.
Mowing season and the city's tall-grass rule #
Ground nests are the ones that catch people off guard. A yellowjacket entrance disappears in thick turf, and the shaking of a mower passing over is a well-known trigger for a mass attack. The City of Schertz lists weeds or grass over 8 inches among its common code violations and takes reports through 311 or online (Code Enforcement).
Before mowing long grass in late summer or fall, walk it and look for a hole with traffic. Flag it, mow around it, and have it treated.
Trails, parks and tree nests #
The city's parks page points residents to natural parks and hike-and-bike trails. Baldfaced hornets mostly build in trees, frequently well overhead, and Texas sources say that out-of-the-way placement is why they sting people less often than paper wasps or yellowjackets do. A nest you notice above a trail is one to admire from a distance. If it is on public property, let the city know rather than trying to knock it down; the City Hall main line is (210) 619-1000.
What about European and giant hornets? #
Neither is a Schertz problem. The European hornet's western records are in the Ozarks and eastern Oklahoma, with no Texas finds in our sources; see European hornet control in Schertz. The northern giant hornet, formerly the Asian giant hornet, has zero Texas records, and U.S. officials declared it eradicated in 2024; see what a giant hornet in Schertz most likely is.
Before anyone touches a nest #
- Never mist only the shell of a carton nest; Penn State warns it leaves the colony stirred up for days.
- Keep gasoline and water out of ground nests, and leave wall entrances open while the colony is still alive.
- Distance matters. E-239 says to work from 10 to 15 feet or more, dressed in protective gear such as a bee suit, or to hire a professional.
- If a colony boils out, shield your head and retreat to a car or building. Swatting and diving into the pool only make it worse.
- Skip do-it-yourself work entirely with a venom allergy or heart condition.
Pest Trappers and hornet nests in Schertz #
The technician identifies the insect, finds the nest, and tells you whether it can stay. For nests that need to go, they explain the options, work in protective gear and apply any product only as its label directs, taking special care with wall voids. Pricing follows the inspection. All work is done by Pest Trappers LLC (TPCL #0887549), a family-run company with a Texas Department of Agriculture license. See the Schertz page, or the yellowjacket guide for the most common "hornet" of all.