Strongly consider calling a pro if you have ground-nesting yellow jackets, which are hard to eliminate even with consumer-level insecticide dust products. [2] X Expert Source Scott McCombePest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2019. If the wasp nest is in an awkward, high, or hard-to-reach location, such as inside a wall or attic or underneath a concrete slab, definitely get help from a professional. Even if you aren’t allergic, approaching a wasp nest can be dangerous and, in rare instances, deadly if things go very wrong. It’s okay to play it safe and call an exterminator instead!
Wear long jeans, socks and boots, and a thick sweater or jacket. Tuck the bottom of your pants into your socks. Cover your head with a thick hood, cinched up tight, or a knit cap. Wrap a scarf around the lower half of your face and wear protective glasses or ski goggles. If you are using a pesticide spray, wear old clothes that you can wash or discard immediately afterwards. If you do get stung while getting rid of the nest, treat the sting by washing the area and applying ice. Get immediate medical help if you’re having trouble breathing or show other signs of a severe allergic reaction.
If you are standing on a ladder and a swarm of wasps flies at you when you disturb the nest, you are very likely to fall and injure yourself. In this situation it is best to call a professional exterminator. You should only attempt to get rid of a wasp nest by yourself when it is within easy reach.
Pick up and dispose of any dead wasps that you find on the ground near the nest. Otherwise, your pet or local wildlife might ingest the dead wasps and potentially poison themselves.
For illumination, use a red or amber colored light—such as by covering your flashlight with red cellophane. Wasps cannot see this red color.
If you manage to kill the queen, which is easier to accomplish early in the year, the entire nest will disperse and/or die off. If you do not find the wasp nest until fall, destroying it may not be necessary since freezing nighttime temperatures will kill the colony off naturally.
The safest place to go is back inside your home. Resist the urge to hang around and watch what happens to the nest! Make sure that there are no obstacles such as children’s toys or gardening equipment in your path which you could potentially trip over.
Wasp spray works best on open nests with exposed hexagonal cells (like paper wasp nests), since you can easily saturate all the cells and wasps. If it’s a closed nest (like with hornets), focus the stream on the main opening. Liquid pesticides are less effective on nests in the ground or in structures (like yellow jacket nests). Buy an aerosol pesticide designed especially for killing wasps. If you still see activity around the nest 24+ hours later, repeat the process a second time. Once wasp activity has ceased, knock down the nest, break it apart, saturate it with pesticide, and dispose of it. [10] X Trustworthy Source Michigan State University Extension Extension program of Michigan State University focused on community outreach, education, and engagement Go to source
Wasp spray works best on open nests with exposed hexagonal cells (like paper wasp nests), since you can easily saturate all the cells and wasps. If it’s a closed nest (like with hornets), focus the stream on the main opening. Liquid pesticides are less effective on nests in the ground or in structures (like yellow jacket nests). Buy an aerosol pesticide designed especially for killing wasps. If you still see activity around the nest 24+ hours later, repeat the process a second time. Once wasp activity has ceased, knock down the nest, break it apart, saturate it with pesticide, and dispose of it. [10] X Trustworthy Source Michigan State University Extension Extension program of Michigan State University focused on community outreach, education, and engagement Go to source
Buy an insecticidal dust, such as Sevin 5 Garden Dust, and measure out about 1/4 c (30 g) into a bulb duster (or disposable plastic cup). Apply the dust liberally onto/into the nest opening. Immediately vacate the area. Don’t block or cover the opening. As wasps pass through the opening, their legs and wings will become coated with the insecticidal dust, which they will then carry with them into the center of the nest, contaminating the other wasps. Following the application of insecticidal dust, the wasps should die off within a day or two. If not, repeat the process.
Prepare a soap solution by mixing about 2 fl oz (59 ml) of liquid dish soap with roughly 32 fl oz (0. 95 L) of water. If you’re targeting an aerial nest, pour the soap solution into a hose-end spray bottle, then aim a powerful stream of water directly at the entrance of the nest for at least 10 to 15 seconds. If you’re targeting a ground nest, simply pour the solution directly into the entrance, then quickly vacate the area. Although the soap and water solution works, you may need to repeat the process several times, as the soapy water needs to come in direct contact with each wasp.
Quickly and carefully place a sturdy, hole-free cloth bag over the nest and tightly secure the top with string or duct tape. As you do so, pull the nest from the tree branch. Dump the bag containing the wasp nest into a bucket of water and place a heavy stone on top to hold the bag underwater. Leave the bag in the water for at least 8 hours to drown all the wasps. Alternatively, use a thick plastic trash bag and put it in the freezer for at least 2 days, or seal it in a 5 US gal (19 L) bucket with a tight-fitting lid for at least a week.
It’s good to know what species of wasp you’re dealing with—this will impact the best way to get rid of it!
A single yellow jacket nest can contain thousands of wasps. Yellow jackets are sensitive to vibrations and may attack in large numbers if you, for instance, run a lawnmower over the opening to an underground nest.
Hornets are generally less aggressive than yellow jackets, but will defend their nest ferociously if you get too close to it. In North America, the bald faced hornet is the most common—look for the white markings on its head and thorax. The European hornet, also found in North America, is brown with orange markings.
Mud daubers can actually be very helpful to have around, since they kill pests like spiders in large numbers to feed to their young.
What’s worse than a wasp nest on your home? A nest that provides wasps with access into your home! Preventing wasps from nesting is always easier (and safer) than dealing with wasps once they’ve nested.
