A bald-faced hornet nest is a large, gray, paper-like structure that is typically found hanging in trees, shrubs, or under the eaves of buildings. These nests can reach up to 24 inches in length and 18 inches in diameter, making them quite visible and distinct. Unlike typical wasp nests, bald-faced hornet nests are fully enclosed with a single entrance hole near the bottom.

Bald-faced hornets construct their nests by chewing wood fibers into a pulp, creating a layered, papery appearance. The nests are commonly active from spring through early fall, as the hornet colony grows rapidly. Inside, a nest can house hundreds of hornets, which makes it particularly dangerous to approach, as these hornets are known to be highly aggressive in defending their nests.

Bumble bee nests are often found in hidden, secluded areas, usually close to the ground. These nests are typically located in abandoned burrows, thick grass, compost piles, or even in piles of leaves. Unlike honey bees, bumble bees do not build intricate, waxy hives; instead, their nests appear as loose, clustered cells made from a waxy substance that looks disorganized and lumpy.

A bumble bee nest is small, generally holding 50 to 400 bees, and it consists of individual wax cells where the queen lays her eggs. These nests are usually hard to find because they are often well-camouflaged by grass, leaves, or other natural materials. Bumble bee nests are temporary and seasonal, with colonies only lasting for one year; at the end of the season, new queens emerge to hibernate and start new colonies in the spring.

If you notice increased bumble bee activity near the ground, in compost heaps, or near dense vegetation, you may have spotted a bumble bee nest nearby. Remember, bumble bees are important pollinators, so if their nest isn’t causing a direct problem, it’s best to leave it undisturbed.

A carpenter bee nest is a network of small, smooth tunnels bored into wood by carpenter bees. Unlike honeybees, carpenter bees don’t build hives but create nests by drilling into untreated, exposed wood surfaces like decks, eaves, siding, and fences. The entrance to a carpenter bee nest is usually a perfectly round hole, about ½ inch in diameter, leading into a series of narrow, connected tunnels where the bees lay their eggs.

Inside the nest, female carpenter bees create individual chambers within the tunnels, filling each with pollen to provide food for their larvae. Over time, these nests can become extensive and may weaken the wood, especially if the same area is reused year after year. The presence of sawdust (known as frass) around entry holes and sightings of large, hovering bees near wood surfaces are common signs of a carpenter bee infestation.

A honey bee nest, also known as a hive, is a structured and organized home created by honey bees to house their colony. These nests are typically found in hollow tree cavities or sheltered spaces and are constructed from wax produced by worker bees. Inside a honey bee nest, there are intricate honeycombs made up of hexagonal cells, where bees store honey, pollen, and brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae). Honey bee nests serve as both a food storage facility and a nursery, providing essential resources to support the colony. Each nest contains a single queen, drones, and thousands of worker bees, all working together to maintain the hive, care for young bees, and produce honey. The nest's honeycomb structure and organized division of labor are essential to the survival and efficiency of the colony, making honey bee nests a marvel of natural engineering and social cooperation.

A wasp nest is a paper-like structure built by wasps, commonly found in sheltered areas such as eaves, attics, trees, or wall voids. Wasps create their nests by chewing wood fibers mixed with saliva, forming a durable, grayish-brown material. The nest has a distinctive honeycomb pattern inside, where individual cells house wasp larvae. Nests can vary in size, from a few inches to over a foot in diameter, depending on the wasp species and time of year. Late summer and early fall are when nests are typically largest, as the colony has grown to its peak size. A wasp nest near your home can pose a threat, as wasps become more aggressive if they feel their nest is threatened.

A yellow jacket nest is a structure made by yellow jacket wasps, often found in sheltered or hidden areas around homes, gardens, and wooded spaces. Typically constructed from chewed wood fibers, these nests have a papery, layered appearance. Yellow jacket nests can vary in size, from small, golf ball-sized structures early in the season to large, basketball-sized or even larger nests by late summer or fall. Common places for yellow jacket nests include underground burrows, wall voids, attics, and eaves. Unlike honey bees, yellow jackets are aggressive defenders of their nests and will sting multiple times if disturbed, making it essential to avoid close contact. Identifying a yellow jacket nest early and keeping a safe distance can help prevent painful stings and potential allergic reactions.

A mud dauber nest is a unique, tube-like structure built by solitary wasps using mud. These nests are commonly found in sheltered areas like under eaves, on porch ceilings, in garages, or along walls. The female mud dauber constructs each tube to house her eggs, collecting mud and carefully molding it into long, cylindrical shapes. Inside, she provisions each cell with paralyzed spiders, which serve as food for her larvae after they hatch. Unlike other wasps, mud daubers are generally non-aggressive and rarely sting, focusing their efforts on nest building and spider hunting. Their nests, however, can be an eyesore, and over time, the dried mud may fall, leaving a mess behind.