Trai Bisher did an amazing job! They were professional, on time, and very knowledgeable. They explained everything clearly and made the whole process easy and stress-free. their customer service was excellent from start to finish. I highly recommend them to anyone needing reliable and affordable pest control services!
Hornet Control
Hornets are large wasps that build big paper nests in trees, shrubs, eaves and hollow walls. They aren't part of Liberty's plans, so hornet treatment starts with a free inspection.
How to identify
- Large wasps, about 1 to 1½ inches long.
- European hornets are brown with yellow markings on the abdomen.
- Bald-faced hornets are black with a white face and white markings.
Common hornets in our area
Bald-faced hornet
Dolichovespula maculata
- Look for
- A black wasp, about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, with ivory-white markings on its face and body.
- Where you'll find it
- Builds a gray, football-shaped paper nest hanging from tree limbs, in shrubs or on the side of a building.
European hornet
Vespa crabro
- Look for
- A large hornet, about 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, with a reddish-brown head and thorax and a yellow-and-brown striped abdomen.
- Where you'll find it
- Nests in hollow trees and sometimes in barns, attics or wall voids, and may bump against lit windows at night.
Signs you have them
- A large, round paper nest in a tree, shrub or under eaves
- Hornets flying around porch lights at night (European hornets)
- Stripped bark on shrubs or tree branches
Where they're found
Bald-faced hornets hang large paper nests in trees, shrubs and under eaves, and European hornets nest in hollow trees, attics and wall voids.
How Liberty treats it
Starts with a free inspection
Inspection
Hornet treatment starts with a free inspection. A local Service Advisor does a thorough inspection to find the nest and see how big it is, where hornets are coming and going, and what draws them, like sheltered trees, eaves and hollow walls.
Treatment
- Treat the nestYour Service Specialist treats the nest, whether it hangs in a tree or shrub, sits under an eave or is inside a wall.
- Remove reachable nestsOnce a nest is no longer active, they remove it if it can be reached.
- Find other nestsThey check trees, eaves and outbuildings for other hornet nests and treat any they find.
Follow-up
Your Service Specialist comes back for follow-up visits as needed to check the nest. Hornets aren't part of our plans, but a pest control plan, with visits every 3 months, helps keep everyday pests like ants, spiders and first-floor wasps away.
What our customers say
Reviews from our Google Business Profile.
Reviews and rating from Google, updated September 20, 2026.
Voted best pest control
Paducah Sun readers chose Liberty as the best pest control three years in a row.
- The Paducah Sun Readers' Choice · Best Pest Control 2024, 2025, 2026
- Marshall County Tribune-Courier · Best Pest Control 2025, 2026
- West Kentucky Star · People's Choice 2026
- Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce · Entrepreneur of the Year: John Stopka 2025
What it costs
FreeInspection
Your Service Advisor looks at the problem first and goes over your options.
DIY prevention tips
- Keep outdoor trash cans closed and pick up fallen fruit, which draws hornets in.
- Turn off porch lights and floodlights near a known European hornet nest, since these hornets fly toward lights at night.
- Seal cracks around pipes, vents and exhaust ducts in early spring so queens can't start nests in walls.
- Leave hornet nests alone and call a professional if a nest is near a door, walkway or play area.
Common questions
Are hornets covered by my plan?
No. Hornets aren't part of our plans. They start with a free inspection.
What does a hornet nest look like?
Bald-faced hornets build gray, papery nests shaped like a football or teardrop, often hanging from a branch or eave. The opening is usually near the bottom.
What's the difference between hornets and wasps?
Hornets are a type of wasp, but they are larger, with thicker bodies. Bald-faced hornets are black and white, and European hornets are brown and yellow.
Are hornets active at night?
Most hornets are active during the day, but European hornets also fly at night and are often drawn to porch lights.
Do hornets reuse their nests?
No. A queen starts a new nest in spring, and it grows through the summer. Old nests are empty by winter and aren't used again.
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