Paper Wasp Control in Cibolo, TX
In Cibolo, paper wasps usually show up as a few long-legged wasps hovering at a soffit corner or porch light, and then a gray, open-faced comb no bigger than a coaster. Your first move is to judge where it hangs and how big it has grown: a starter comb out of the way can stay or be knocked down early, while one above a door or a walkway is worth treating before midsummer. To set up an inspection, call or text (210) 281-1064 or book online.
How do you know it's a paper wasp comb? #
Look for one flat layer of six-sided cells, open on the bottom, hanging from a single short stem. AgriLife says these combs seldom pass 200 cells, and the Texas Apiary Inspection Service notes that an untouched nest can reach 6 to 8 inches across with a few dozen wasps on it.
The wasps themselves are slim, between 3/4 inch and an inch long, with a narrow waist and smoky dark wings. Body color runs from rusty orange to deep brown, often trimmed in yellow. A wasp that is rusty red all over is still a paper wasp; our red wasp page for Cibolo covers it. A closed gray ball or a busy hole in the lawn points to yellowjackets instead.
Why Cibolo rooflines get so many starter combs #
Cibolo is a young city by housing age. Census survey figures for 2020 to 2024 show that 36.9% of its homes went up between 2000 and 2009 and another 36.8% between 2010 and 2019 (Census ACS). That is a lot of modern soffit, boxed eave, covered patio and garage overhang, which are exactly the sheltered undersides AgriLife lists as the usual nest sites.
The building has not stopped. The Census Bureau puts Cibolo at 37,816 residents in July 2024, a 17.2% jump from the 2020 count of 32,262 (Census estimates). Each new street adds rooflines for spring queens to scout.
Starter comb or full colony? Read the calendar #
| Time of year | What is on the comb | Sensible move |
|---|---|---|
| March to May | Often one queen | Knock it down early, as LSU AgCenter suggests |
| Summer | Workers hatching, comb growing | Treat if it sits near people |
| Late summer and fall | Males and new queens | Colony starts to fade |
| Winter | Comb empty; queens in attics or chimneys | Clear the old comb; it is not reused |
AgriLife notes that a mature colony usually holds 20 to 30 adults. Queens build a new comb each year, often in the same general part of the house, so last year's corner is the first place to check.
Leave it, or have it treated? #
Paper wasps hunt caterpillars, and plenty of gardeners count them as helpers. A comb on a back fence board or the far side of a shed can usually stay.
Treat it when the comb:
- hangs over an entry door, garage door or patio table
- sits near a pool gate, play set or window you open
- needs a ladder to reach
- is close to someone with a venom allergy or heart condition
Only the females sting, and each one can sting more than once. Stings usually bring local pain and swelling, but AgriLife warns that sensitive people, or anyone stung many times, can have a severe allergic reaction. A wasp that faces you and shakes its front legs is warning you off.
Before you grab a spray can #
Do:
- Walk the outside of the house every week or two from March through May.
- If you handle a small, low comb yourself, AgriLife's Wizzie Brown suggests early morning or right before dark, using a spray that reaches 8 to 10 feet (Insects in the City).
- Give the colony up to two days to die off before scraping the comb, then wash the spot.
Don't:
- Climb a ladder to a second-story eave without protective gear and practice.
Pest Trappers' paper wasp visit in Cibolo #
The technician walks the house and outbuildings, checking soffits, porch ceilings, attic vents and fence lines. You hear which combs need treatment and which can stay, along with the options for each, and any product goes on as its label directs. The price is quoted after that walk-through. Pest Trappers LLC (TPCL #0887549) is family-owned and licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Tell the office about any sting allergies when you book, and they will confirm the time with you. For the rest of what we treat in town, see the Cibolo service page or our paper wasp guide.