Different species may set up housekeeping in various spots (bumblebees may nest on the ground, while honey bees don’t, for example), but like many types of pests, bees and wasps prefer undisturbed areas.
Places to look for colonies around your home and on your property include:
Outbuildings, such as sheds and barns
Garages
Attics
Beneath eaves
In trees and shrubbery
In the voids between walls
Note that Africanized bees build small colonies, so you may find them in places such as water meter boxes, mailboxes, old tires, or even a flowerpot. It’s important always to be aware of your surroundings so that you don’t get surprised by an active colony of Africanized bees. Yellow jackets build their nests on the ground, so look for them underneath decks and porches. You may also find them in wall voids or other spaces within the structural elements of your home.