Be careful

European paper wasp

Polistes dominula

Also called paper wasp

It can sting if you bump its nest, and the sting hurts, but it is usually calm and only dangerous for people with a sting allergy.

Call 911 for trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, dizziness or hives after a sting.

Photo: Alexandria 'Alex' Wenninger, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist

SizeAbout 13 mm (1/2 inch) long for workers

Where in the houseOutside near the house, attic, windows and walls, garage

WhenMost often seen from spring through late summer around the outside of the house; single queens may show up indoors in fall, winter and early spring.

Check these features

Black body with bright yellow bands and spots, easy to mistake for a yellowjacket
Antennae are orange toward the tips
Slim body with a thin, pinched waist
Long hind legs that hang down below the body when it flies
Nest is a single open comb of paper cells shaped like an upside-down umbrella, with no paper cover

Bites and stings

The sting causes sharp pain, redness, itching and swelling at the spot that usually fades within a day or two. Wash it with soap and water and use a cold pack. Get medical care for many stings, a sting in the mouth or throat, or swelling that keeps spreading. Call 911 right away for trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face, lips or throat, hives all over, dizziness or fainting, which are signs of a severe allergic reaction.

What to do

If a single wasp is indoors, stay calm and do not swat it; open a window or trap it under a cup or bug catcher and release it outside.
If you are stung, wash the spot with soap and water and apply a cold pack; call 911 for any trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat.
Look for nests under eaves, in light fixtures, grills, mailboxes, deck railings and other sheltered spots outside.
Leave nests that are out of the way alone; they are abandoned at the end of the season.
If a nest is where people walk or work, have a professional remove it, or use a product labeled for wasps and hornets at night and follow the label exactly.
Anyone with a known sting allergy should stay away from nest removal and keep any prescribed epinephrine on hand.

Look-alikes

YellowjacketYellowjackets are stockier with all-black antennae, tuck their legs up in flight, and build covered nests in the ground or wall voids instead of an open comb.

Native paper waspsMost native paper wasps are darker, in browns, reddish tones and black, rather than the bright yellow and black of the European species.

Why it came inside

Mated queens look for sheltered spots to spend the winter, such as behind siding, in wall voids and in attics, and some wander into living spaces on warm days. A wasp found indoors in winter does not mean there is an active nest.

Keep it out

Caulk cracks in soffits, eaves and siding and repair holes in walls.
Screen attic vents and louvers and keep window and door screens tight.
Check grills, birdhouses, outdoor fixtures and seldom-used equipment in early spring, when a new nest has only the queen.
Knock down small new nests early in spring while wearing protective clothing, if no one in the home is allergic.

What helps

Links go to Amazon search results so you can compare current options. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Always follow the product label.

Caulk and sealant

Silicone or siliconized acrylic caulk closes cracks around windows, pipes and baseboards. Bigger gaps need foam backer rod or expanding foam first.

See options on Amazon

Screen repair kit

Patches or replaces torn window and door screens, one of the most common ways insects get in.

See options on Amazon

Bug catcher

A long-handled catcher moves a spider or insect outside without you having to touch it.

See options on Amazon

Sources

Checked October 18, 2026. Rating backed by 3 sources. How we rate danger.