David,

It's best to confirm the identification of the insects before doing anything else.

If they're honey bees, it's best to have a beekeeper remove the nest which, as you might suspect, can involve removal of part of the wall, then replacement. When left in place, the honey can causes all sorts of undesirable problems.

If the insects are wasps, and are at the eaves or higher, the nest can be ignored until the end of the year when all the nest mates, except the newly mated queens, die. The queens survive the winter elsewhere and rarely re-colonize the same nest the following year.

One thing for certain, do not plug the exterior entry hole. If you do, and if the insects are wasps, they will create a new exit which may be into an indoor room.

Wasp sprays are intended for use against free-hanging nests, such as from the eaves, or a branch of a tree or shrub. The reason: After the insects enter the wall, it's impossible to guess where in the wall (or attic) the nest might be.

I look forward to receiving your images. If you have a digital camera, use the "burst" function because it automatically takes numerous images with just one click of the shutter. At least one of those rapid-fire images will be helpful for ID.

Sent from my iPhone



Dave,

Thank you for the image. The wasp appears to be a European Paper Wasp, Polistes dominulus, an invasive insect which was identified for the first time in Oregon about 10 years ago. They resemble yellowjackets with several important differences. Their antennae are golden orange on the tips( instead of all black) and their abdomen is a tapered shape (instead of blunt at the head end).

These particular paper wasps are quite feisty and easily annoyed. It's wise to avoid their nesting area whenever possible. Their nests are small paper nests which resemble small umbrellas. The nests are often tucked into small spaces such as ends of posts, or a pipe. (Those at my place tend to select a spot just under the eaves, adjacent to the siding.)

Paper wasps are considered beneficial insects as they help limit other insects, many of them pesky. Thus, the recommendation is to ignore them as long as they are not a threat to people or pets. If you see a nest, you can safely knock it down but only if none of the adult wasps are present because they are easily annoyed.

For images and further information, see European Paper Wasp.