Texas is among the hottest states in America. And where there’s heat, there’s insects. Wasps are no exception. If you’ve ever been stung by a wasp, the first whir of a buzz may send you running inside, especially if that wasp is a glaring bright red. The predatory red wasp is considered a nuisance to Texas residents, and there is no denying that these insects conjure panic. But are these rusty red arthropods dangerous or just slightly bothersome? Learn how to spot red wasps in Texas, including where you can find them and if they pose a threat to humans.
How to Identify Red Wasps in Texas
The red paper wasp inhabits the eastern part of the United States from Texas to Florida, as far north as New York and west as Nebraska. These paper wasps are around an inch long with slender, narrow waists. Their bodies are a rusty red coloring all over, except for their wings, which are a smoky black.
There are two species of red wasps in Texas: Polistes rubiginosus and Polistes carolina. Rubiginosus has coarser ridges on its first abdominal section. Both are social wasps in the Vespidae family and prefer to build their nests in protected areas. Paper wasps differ from yellowjackets and hornets by building their nests with open cells, not covered with a cap.
Red wasps build their nests from wood fiber that they collect from plant stems and posts. They chew the fiber and then shape the paper-like material into hexagonal cells; nests typically have between 20 and 150 cells, sometimes more. The primary purpose of a wasp nest is to protect the queen, her eggs, and larvae. Colony members also rest on the nest at night.
During the day, red wasps feed on the sweet nectar produced by flowers. They also forage and prey on insects like caterpillars, flies, and beetle larvae, which they provide to their larvae.
Where Can You Find Them?
P. rubiginosus is more common in the Deep South and Texas, while P. carolina is more abundant in the eastern and southeastern states.
These wasps prefer to hang their nest in protected areas like hollow trees in woodland environments, but given the opportunity, they will also build a home near humans.
Because red wasps make their nests from wood fiber, they tend to settle in areas with plenty of resources. Check for these honeycomb nests under porch ceilings, roofs, inside walls, and attics. Also, check behind shutters and nearby trees on your property.
Are Red Wasps Dangerous?
Red wasps may look menacing, but they are pretty docile compared to other wasp species. However, they may feel threatening due to the likelihood of them building nests near your home. Red wasps typically won’t attack or sting humans unless provoked. They are protective of their nests and may try to chase people and pets away if they get too close.
Unlike bees, their stingers don’t come off. When they do sting, they sting multiple times. If you don’t leave the area immediately, you may get stung more than once. Wasp stings are painful but usually start to fade within 24 hours (Though stings can cause delayed swelling up to 48 hours later, so monitoring is important). Most people who get stung don’t develop severe complications and can treat the affected area with cold packs and mild pain medicine. Some people develop life-threatening allergic reactions to wasp stings, like anaphylaxis, which require emergency treatment. Seek emergency care if you are allergic or think you may have developed an infection.
How to Get Rid of Red Wasps
We value and respect the lives of all animals on the planet. But when certain creatures try to co-habit with us, sometimes it poses a risk to our safety. As much as you may want to respect the red wasp nest nestled in a corner just above the front door of your home, you also don’t want you or your children to be stung trying to enter or exit your house! So how can you get rid of red wasps safely and effectively?
One tactic (that is also quite humane) is to remove their nests. This is best reserved for small nests in the early stages of being built. Some ways to remove the nest include spraying it with a water hose or knocking it down with a garden tool. Wear protective clothing and work at night. You’ll need to make sure that you are far enough away from the nest not to invite an attack. It’s also important to think about how you can escape in case wasps do happen to swarm at you. While DIY removal might be the most humane, note that experts (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the EPA) recommend using commercial wasp spray at night when wasps are inactive and standing at least 10–15 feet away.
There are plenty of products in hardware stores to deal with red wasps, whether they be sprays that kill them (some are designed to shoot long distances), or traps. These can not only be effective when going after nests, but may be necessary if you get red wasps in your house.
Red wasps are inactive at night and retreat to their nests. So if there’s any yard work that you can get done at night, that’s another idea to avoid provoking them.
Other Wasps in Texas
Texas is home to 130–150 wasp species. Take a look at some of the most common.
Bald-Faced Hornet
The bald-faced hornet is a yellowjacket species and is not a true hornet. It gets its name from its intimidating size and aggressive behavior. Its body is predominately black with a white-patterned face. This wasp likes to build its nest in residential areas on tree branches, and its sting is similar to a red wasp’s.
Tarantula Hawk Wasps
Tarantula hawk wasps live in desert habitats in Texas and are just as horrifying as they sound. They are around two inches long, with black and blue bodies and rust-colored wings. They are among the largest among the wasp family, and their sting is one of the most painful insect stings in the world. As their name suggests, they feed on tarantulas by paralyzing them and then dragging them to their nest. They then lay an egg on the spider, which hatches into larvae and eats the still-living prey.
Cicada Killer
Cicada killers, or sand hornets, are digger wasps that inhabit areas east of the Rocky Mountains. They prey on cicadas, controlling their population and benefiting deciduous trees. Texas has two species of cicada killers, with the eastern killer being more common throughout the state. Despite their scary-sounding name, cicada killers are considered the “gentle giants” of the wasp world. Males don’t sting; females only deploy their stingers in extreme cases. Cicada killers are black, with yellow stripes and brown wings, and they prefer sandy soil for their ground nests.