Wasp nest at your home?
Are you looking for a wasp exterminator on the South Shore? Nova Extermination’s specialized technicians solve your wasp problem safely. If a wasp nest is found hanging on your house, or in a branch of one of your trees, our team is able to intervene quickly. Our experts then exterminate the wasps there. Want to know more? Find out how to remove a nest and exterminate wasps.
The biology of the wasp
Recognizing the wasp problem
How to end wasps for good?
Wasp requests according to summer sectors
Common wasps Vespula vulgaris and germanica make up 80% of our calls between July and September. In Longueuil and its neighbourhoods, nests are concentrated in the attics and soffits of triplexes in Old Longueuil. In Brossard and the south of the South Shore, our technicians remove nests hanging from the soffits of single-family homes in sectors A to R. Our wasp extermination offer on the South Shore intervenes in less than 48 hours in high season. In Boucherville (Vieux-Boucherville), the land bordering the national park produces a sustained volume of underground nests. Further east, the service in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu deals mainly with nests in garden sheds and sheds. In Saint-Hyacinthe and the surrounding area, agri-food farms and silos concentrate the largest nests.
Identification of common wasps in Quebec and associated risks
In Quebec, four species dominate the summer extermination calls. The common wasp Vespula vulgaris nests underground, in crawl spaces or under rear galleries, and makes up nearly 50% of our residential interventions. The German wasp Vespula germanica is more aggressive, prefers attics and soffits, and accounts for about 25% of cases. The polistes Polistes dominula, identifiable by its legs hanging down in flight, suspends small open nests under the ledges and makes 15% of the calls. The larger European hornet Vespa crabro (25 to 35 mm) forms nests of up to 5,000 individuals at the end of the season in hollow trees and attics. All four have repeated stings and cause anaphylactic shock in 0.4 to 0.8% of the population. According to Health Canada, wasps and hornets cause an average of 6 to 8 deaths from anaphylaxis in Canada each year.
The precise identification of the species conditions the intervention protocol. For underground nests of Vespula vulgaris, we apply a PMRA-registered cyfluthrin insecticide powder directly at the entrance of the burrow, as a twilight intervention to neutralize the entire colony. Aerial nests of Vespula germanica in the soffits are treated by injection of pyrethroidal aerosol into the cavity, followed by mechanical removal 48 hours later. The polistes, which are not very aggressive and useful as predators of caterpillars, can be left in place if they are far from the passage areas: we recommend it when possible. Hornets require a complete beekeeping suit and a two-phase protocol: chemical neutralization and removal from the nest at nightfall. Our technicians wear a reinforced beekeeping suit and a CNESST-compliant ventilated mask.
Quebec wasp identification table
| Species | Adult size | Nest Type | Typical location | Aggression | Seasonal peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vespula vulgaris | 10 to 17 mm | Closed papier-mâché | Underground, crawl spaces | High at the end of the season | August to mid-September |
| Vespula germanica | 12 to 18 mm | Closed papier-mâché | Soffits, attics | Very high | July to September |
| Polistes dominula | 15 to 20 mm | Open paper (visible cells) | Under cornices, sheds | Low if not disturbed | June to August |
| Vespa crabro (hornet) | 25 to 35 mm | Brown papier-mâché, bulky | Hollow trees, attics, walls | Moderate (except nest) | July to October |
| Dolichovespula maculata | 12 to 22 mm | Paper balls (large) | Tall trees, shrubs | High nearby | July to September |
Wasp extermination: indicative costs for 2026 and response times
In Quebec, the extermination of an accessible wasp nest (cornice, low soffit, shed) costs on evaluation for a standard intervention. An underground nest or a nest high up (roof, second floor) varies depending on the case. A Vespa crabro hornet nest or a nest in a wall cavity (inside the structure) costs on evaluation due to the reinforced protocol and the extended intervention time. Our technicians intervene in less than 48 hours during the high season (July-September) and offer a same-day emergency service for at-risk cases (presence of known allergy sufferers, children, the elderly). All our interventions comply with CNESST requirements on working at heights and the use of PMRA-registered insecticides. Depending on the case, we can provide a 30-day written guarantee on the return of the colony to the same location. Nests of polistes far from passing areas can be left in place on recommendation: they are excellent natural predators of defoliating caterpillars.
Did you know?
– There are more than 30,000 species of wasps identified!
– There are species of wasps for all colors! Indeed, there are red, green, blue, orange and of course yellow and black wasps!
Wasp Exterminator: Nest Removal
Removing a wasp nest and relocating it to the forest is a very risky and unsafe task. Wasps are more aggressive than bees. They attack intensely and sting anyone who threatens their nest. Depending on the location of the nest, it is sometimes possible to wrap it with a plastic bag and cut it from the top to remove it. But then the wasps must be exterminated, even if they are useful insects for pollination.
It is best to act after sunset, for the removal of a nest. This is because the wasps are then resting inside it. We don’t use flashlights so we don’t wake them up with light.
WASP EXTERMINATION WITH A PESTICIDE
Spraying a pesticide is an effective way to solve a wasp problem. Our experienced technicians know which methods to use for pesticide wasp extermination. To do this, our team wears appropriate protective clothing and uses safe equipment for working at heights.
Our trained and certified exterminators have many years of experience in wasp nest extermination on the South Shore. When we carry out wasp extermination by spraying pesticides, we make sure that no pets (cats or dogs) are near our spraying site.
Learn more about wasps
It can be very annoying to end up with a wasp nest inside or outside your home. It is important to understand their lifestyle and the reasons why they come to live in your home.
It is possible to take measures before a colony arrives, here is some additional information that will help you better understand them.
Do not try to exterminate a wasp nest yourself, they can be aggressive! Contact an exterminator at the first signs.
Contact us for more information
Contact an experienced team of wasp exterminators for the removal of a nest and the extermination of wasps near your home.
Our techniques comply with the regulations of the Ministry of the Environment. We can make sure, if you wish, that wasps do not sneak into your shed, garage or barn again to make their nest.
We can seal the cracks or holes through which wasps enter.
Nova Extermination is a wasp exterminator that holds all the necessary permits, licenses and liability insurance for wasp extermination. Nova Extermination’s certified technicians travel to all cities on the South Shore of Montreal. You can contact us by email or by phone at 514-MON-NOVA.
Frequently Asked Questions: Wasps
Where do wasps build their nests around the house?
Wasps set up their paper nests under eaves, in soffits, sheds, hedges, porches and sometimes under terraces or in walls. In Montérégie, their activity is especially noticeable from late summer to early fall, when the colonies reach their maximum size. In Chambly and Sainte-Julie, nests near entrances and crossing areas are particularly problematic.
Why are wasps more aggressive in late summer?
By the end of summer, the colony is populous and natural food sources become scarce, making wasps more aggressive and attracted to sugary foods and drinks. This is the period when the risk of stings increases during meals and outdoor activities. A well-established nest can contain hundreds of individuals ready to defend the colony.
Is it dangerous to remove a wasp nest yourself?
Yes, disturbing a nest causes a defensive reaction and multiple stings, which is especially risky for allergy sufferers who can have a severe reaction. Nests in walls or soffits are all the more delicate to treat without proper equipment. Our technician intervenes with the appropriate protection and approved products to neutralize the nest safely.
How is wasp nest removal done?
Our technician locates the nest and entry points, then applies a targeted treatment at the right time of day to maximize the effect on the colony. When the nest is in a wall cavity, it treats the access without immediately blocking it so that wasps pass through the product. We then tell you the time before removing the nest or resuming use of the area.
What is the price to eliminate a wasp nest?
The price is established on the basis of an evaluation, depending on the location of the nest, its size and its accessibility (height, wall cavity, etc.). A nest that is difficult to access requires more time and equipment, which is why an evaluation is important. The price is communicated to you before the intervention, our services being paid.
Can wasps come back to the same place after treatment?
The treated nest does not reactivate, but new queens may choose a similar location the following season, providing shelter and warmth. We are therefore talking about sustainable results evaluated on a case-by-case basis and can suggest preventive measures at suitable sites. Our technician will advise you on what to look out for around the house.