Red Wasps in Texas: How to Identify Them and Handle a Nest
A red wasp is a paper wasp: a rusty-red, nearly inch-long wasp that hangs an open, umbrella-like comb under eaves, fence rails and patio furniture. They defend that comb hard, and the stings burn, so a nest anywhere people walk should come down, ideally in early spring while only the queen is on it. High nests, nests inside vents or soffits, and homes with a sting-allergic person are jobs for a professional.
Questions about a nest at your place? Call or text (210) 281-1064, or book a visit online.
Which wasp are Texans talking about when they say "red wasp"? #
The name is looser than most people think. AgriLife's venomous animals bulletin, B-6118, describes the common red wasp simply as one type of paper wasp. Beyond that, sources draw the line in different places:
- TPWD's magazine (2026): Polistes carolina, which it also calls the fine-backed red paper wasp, red paper wasp or Carolina paper wasp.
- LSU AgCenter: both P. carolina (fine-backed) and P. rubiginosus (coarse-backed) go by "red wasp."
- TPWD's magazine (2015): also groups P. exclamans with red wasps, though AgriLife describes that species as brown with yellow markings.
For a homeowner the label matters less than the behavior, which is the same across the group. If you want the full picture of the genus, see our paper wasp guide.
How do you recognize one? #
Look for these traits together:
- Size: about 3/4 inch to 1 inch, which TPWD rounds to nearly an inch.
- Color: a rusty-red body with dark, smoky wings. AgriLife calls P. carolina reddish brown overall.
- Shape: slender, with the pinched waist typical of paper wasps.
- Nest: an open comb on a single stalk, no paper wrapper, cells facing down.
LSU notes that P. carolina usually shows more black on the thorax than P. rubiginosus, but admits telling them apart for certain is hard. Dark wings, by the way, are normal for paper wasps generally; they don't single out the red ones.
A large reddish wasp digging in bare soil is a different insect, most likely a cicada killer. A closed paper ball with a single entry hole belongs to yellowjackets or baldfaced hornets.
Where do red wasps hang their nests? #
LSU AgCenter's list reads like a tour of a typical Texas backyard:
- under the eaves of the house
- inside hollow spots in trees
- sheds and other covered structures
- electrical boxes and meter housings
- patio furniture, especially the undersides of tables and chairs
- wooden fencing
AgriLife adds attics, garages and shrubs for paper wasps in general. TPWD places P. carolina in the eastern half of Texas and calls red wasps common across much of the state; no source we rely on breaks that down to Bexar County.
The furniture and fence sites are what catch people out. Someone grabs a chair or leans on a rail and puts a hand right next to the comb.
Why are red wasps in the house during winter? #
They're queens. A mated queen spends the cold months tucked into bark or building cracks, and TPWD says the rest of the colony dies off in fall, leaving only those young queens. Paper wasp queens also cluster in attics and chimneys, and on a mild winter afternoon some find their way into rooms below.
AgriLife says these overwintering queens are not aggressive. Swat one or ease it outdoors with a cup and card. Finding a few each winter is a hint that they're sheltering somewhere above you, which is worth mentioning at an inspection.
How bad is a red wasp sting? #
TPWD's 2026 article doesn't soften it: red wasps can sting over and over, and the welts are red, swollen and burning, sometimes painful enough to bring tears. Its 2015 piece calls them fairly aggressive yet scores the sting a 2 on the Schmidt pain index, which Schmidt describes as merely painful. LSU calls them aggressively defensive once disturbed.
The warning sign to watch for is workers lifting and shaking their front legs at you. Step back slowly.
For allergic people, or anyone hit many times, AgriLife warns that whole-body reactions can follow, including allergic reactions that may be fatal. Those reactions typically begin within 20 to 30 minutes. Difficulty breathing or swallowing, dizziness or sudden weakness after a sting calls for 911. Otherwise, clean the sting with soap and water, ice it, and resist scratching.
Timing makes removal easier #
Red wasp nests are far easier to deal with early than late.
March through May. LSU suggests looking over eaves, fences and furniture during these months. A nest with a single wasp on it is the founding queen, and knocking it down then ends that colony before workers exist.
Summer and fall. An established nest needs more care. Treat it in the evening, when the whole colony is home and least active; Wizzie Brown of AgriLife also suggests early morning or right before dark, with a spray that throws 8 to 10 feet. Give it up to two days for every wasp to die before you touch the comb, then remove it and clean the surface so leftover scent doesn't attract the next queen.
Don't try any of this with a heart condition or venom allergy.
What doesn't work? #
Fake paper nests are sold as a way to keep wasps from moving in. LSU AgCenter says there's no data showing they work, so don't count on one in place of checking your eaves each spring.
Pulling the comb down the moment you've sprayed it is another common misstep. Some wasps may still be alive at that point, which is why AgriLife advises waiting until the whole colony is dead before the comb comes off.
Signs it's time to call a pro #
- The comb is high enough to need a ladder. AgriLife's E-239 says ladder work on a nest is unsafe without protective gear and prior experience.
- Wasps are flying in and out of an attic vent, soffit or wall void, so the nest is hidden.
- The nest is inside an electrical box or meter housing, where reaching it means working next to live wiring.
- An allergic person lives in or visits the home often.
How Pest Trappers handles red wasps #
We start by inspecting the places red wasps favor: eaves, fences, outdoor furniture, sheds, utility boxes and attic openings. Checking all of them matters, because a comb under a chair can be easy to miss while you're focused on the one by the door. The technician explains each option, from removing a nest to leaving one in a spot nobody uses, and any product applied follows its label to the letter.
Pest Trappers LLC (TPCL #0887549) is family-owned and works with both residential and commercial customers. We quote after seeing the job, so call for pricing.
Local red wasp pages: Kerrville, Fair Oaks Ranch, Schertz and San Antonio.