Bees, Wasps & Hornets: When to Call a Wasp Exterminator in Vancouver
For the most part, bees, wasps, and hornets are a valuable part of the ecosystem — bees pollinate, while wasps and hornets keep other insect and spider populations in check. But when a nest turns up near your home, these same insects can become a real risk to your family. Knowing which one you're looking at is the first step to deciding whether you can leave it be or need a professional. If a nest is near your door, deck, or play area, we provide fast, safe wasp removal in Vancouver.
Like us, these insects are fiercely protective of their territory and won't hesitate to sting if they feel threatened. Safely treating a nest takes the right experience, tools, and technique — which is exactly what a professional wasp exterminator brings. Pest Detective has been removing wasp and hornet nests across the city for over 40 years.
Bees are fuzzy, gentle, and protected — we don't exterminate honey bees; we'll point you to a local keeper for relocation. Wasps and hornets are smooth-bodied, aggressive, and sting repeatedly — a nest near your home should be removed professionally. Pest Detective handles wasp and hornet removal across Vancouver from $195. Call 604-685-3377.
Not sure what's nesting on your property? We'll identify it — free.
Call 604-685-3377 Get a Free Quote →The Difference Between Bees, Wasps & Hornets
Although they look similar at a glance, there are clear differences in how these insects look, behave, and nest. Here's how to tell them apart.
🐝 Bees
Look: Fuzzy, rounded bodies with distinct black-and-yellow colouring; up to about an inch long.
Behaviour: Gentle and reluctant to sting. Honey bees can only sting once and then die. They feed on nectar and are vital pollinators.
Nests: Honeycomb hives in tree hollows and sheltered cavities; colonies can survive over a year. Bees are protected and beneficial — if you have a honey bee swarm, we'll help connect you with a local beekeeper for relocation rather than extermination.
🧸 Wasps
Look: Little to no hair and a shiny, slender body. Black and yellow, but without the fuzzy striped look of a bee.
Behaviour: Aggressive and quick to sting — and because their stingers don't detach, they can sting repeatedly. Drawn to sugary drinks, fruit, meat, and food waste, so they gather around patios and garbage bins.
Nests: Under overhangs, porches, eaves, deck railings, and inside wall voids. Yellowjackets also nest underground. Each colony lasts a single season.
🐛 Hornets
Look: A larger type of wasp. In BC, the bald-faced hornet is the common one — large, black with white face markings.
Behaviour: Extremely defensive near the nest and will attack in numbers; their stings are especially painful. Best given a wide berth.
Nests: Large grey, papery nests made from chewed wood pulp — in trees, on building exteriors, and sometimes in attics and wall cavities. Can grow to basketball size by late summer.
When Is It Time to Call a Wasp Exterminator in Vancouver?
While they're good for the environment, wasps and hornets thrive through Vancouver's summer, and a nest close to your home is genuinely worth taking seriously. It's time to call a professional if:
- The nest is larger than a tennis ball, or you can't tell how big it is
- You see yellowjackets or bald-faced hornets (not gentle paper wasps)
- The nest is in a wall void, soffit, attic, or underground
- It's near a doorway, deck, patio, or play area
- Anyone in the household has a sting allergy
- You'd need a ladder to reach it, or you've already been stung trying
How Pest Detective Removes Wasp & Hornet Nests
When you call Pest Detective for wasp and hornet control in Vancouver, every job follows our Detect → Treat → Prevent process: we identify the species and locate every nest entrance, apply professional-grade products directly to the nest and entry points (dust formulations reach deep into wall voids where sprays can't), then remove the nest where accessible. Rather than sealing the area, we recommend keeping an eye on the spot and calling early if wasps return next spring — a new nest is far easier to handle while it's small. Every removal includes a follow-up check, and nest removal starts at $195.
Wasp and hornet removal is just one part of our full range of pest control Vancouver services, and we cover the whole region — including North Vancouver pest control from our original North Shore branch. For a season-by-season look at stinging insects across the province, see our guide to wasp nest removal in BC.
Wasp or hornet nest on your property? We'll take care of it — fast.
Call 604-685-3377 Wasp & Hornet Control →How to Keep Wasps Away This Summer
- Watch the usual spots — soffits, eaves, vents, and deck railings — from spring through August, and call early if you notice queens scouting or a starter nest.
- Secure garbage and compost with tight lids — wasps are drawn to protein early in summer and sugar later.
- Clear fallen fruit from plum, apple, and cherry trees; fermenting fruit is a powerful attractant.
- Cover ground holes and burrows where yellowjackets like to nest.
- Inspect monthly from spring through August — eaves, decks, and sheds — to catch nests while they're small.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you remove bees in Vancouver?
Honey bees are protected pollinators, so we don't exterminate them. If you have a honey bee swarm or hive, we'll help point you toward a local beekeeper for safe relocation. For wasps and hornets, we provide full wasp and hornet nest removal in Vancouver.
How much does wasp removal cost in Vancouver?
Wasp nest removal in Vancouver starts at $195, with additional nests on the same property at $105 each. Wall-void and hard-to-reach nests may be quoted after inspection. Call 604-685-3377 for a quote.
Are hornets more dangerous than wasps?
Bald-faced hornets are larger and extremely defensive of their nests, and their stings are especially painful. Yellowjackets, though smaller, are responsible for the most stings in Vancouver because they're aggressive and nest in high-traffic spots. Either way, a nest near your home is best removed professionally.
How fast can you come out?
We respond fast for wasp and hornet control across Vancouver. During peak season in July and August, call early in the day to get on the schedule sooner — 604-685-3377.
