Not a full solution, but painters tape to seal the gaps might stop further nest building
this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2025
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Thank you so much. Doing this immediately!
Do you have access to the space above the ceiling? It’s pretty likely there is already a good sized nest in there and the light fixture is just an access hole that one wandered out of and is now trying to get back in. These kind of wasps will eat the wood up there like termites.
That looks more like a mud dauber, which are solitary and do not eat wood.
(Then again, I am only familiar with some NE US insects, and poster is probably not in the US)
The legs do look a bit longer than the ones currently eating my house, but still worth a peek.
It does look like a mud dauber and, for what it's worth, they don't attack humans like wasps (at least where I am). If it's not doing any damage you could possibly even let it be and they'll be gone after the summer.
Turn off the breaker that feeds that light. If you don't see any activity, get up on a ladder and listen. If you don't hear insect noise knock on the ceiling near the light and listen again. If clear, look for a screw that is holding up the conical shaped cover, that should be a decorative piece that can be slid down the pole. You should then be able to see what you are dealing with.
You can use wasp spray up into the gangbox if you want. The suggestion to use painters tape to cover hole under the decorative cover is a good one. Just be sure that you allow the wasp spray to completely dry before turning on the breaker again.
I have approached this kind of situation similarly.
Good luck!
Burn down the house and rebuild. It's the only way to be sure.
This is the way
Try buying them off with sugar water.
Get some diatomaceous earth and squirt it into the hole. It’s a non-chemical insecticide that will kill them and keep them from coming back.
Wait for it to be inside in the evening. Seal with tape for a week. Problem solved.
When it starts getting cool out, sometimes one will come inside and find a warm place to hole up for the winter.
Catch it in a jar and release it outside?
Maybe I should have specified that where I live it's summer now, so windows are always open and will be so for many more weeks. Meaning, releasing it outside would not prevent it from coming back in.
Buy screens for your windows.
Maybe use mosquito netting with that painter tape you got as a temporary solution?