The yellow jacket wasp is the species most often considered "problematic" for humans. Unlike bees and paper wasps, these wasps are aggressive and socially active food-gathering insects, and are vicious when disturbed. Even though they are considered beneficial insects, sometimes you do need to permanently eradicate "fierce" wasps and their nests.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Killing a Wandering Wasp
Step 1. Make sure the insect you see is not a honey bee
You may find it difficult to tell the difference from more honey when the wasp is flying and buzzing around your head, but it's important that you know the difference. The yellow jacket wasp is one of the more aggressive wasp species. Different from the common wasp, this species has a pattern of alternating black and white stripes, like a honeybee. However, the yellow jacket wasp has a slimmer body than the honey bee, does not appear fat and hairy, and has a wing length equal to its body length.
- It is important that you do not kill honey bees which play an important role in the ecosystem and do not show aggression towards humans. As an illustration of its contribution to the ecosystem, one in three bites of the food we enjoy is the result of the hard work of honey bees!
- Bees will die after stinging once, and generally show no aggression when interacting with humans. Honey bees are docile animals that will only sting to protect themselves and warn the herd. Meanwhile, wasps can sting humans multiple times and will not hesitate to attack.
Step 2. Open doors and windows if you are indoors
The goal is to reduce the threat. Sometimes a wasp attack can be avoided by providing an escape route for the wasp. However, it is not recommended to lead wasps into doors or windows as there is a risk of stinging you.
Do not open windows or doors that are directly near the yellow jacket wasp nest
Step 3. Leave the food that the wasps like
The wasp swarms will get angry if you try to take the food or drink that is there. Leave whatever the wasp is crawling on. Quickly cover and secure other food and drink, then keep them out of reach of wasps.
Step 4. Stay calm if a wasp lands on you
Sudden movement will actually increase the risk of getting a wasp sting. If a wasp lands on you, refrain from making any sudden movements. Ideally, wait for the wasp to fly. If this tactic doesn't work, remove or repel the wasps slowly and carefully.
Step 5. Don't provoke the wasps
You can kill a wasp with a rolled up newspaper or a mosquito-killing racket, but this kind of physical resistance runs the risk of hurting you. A blow that fails to kill the wasp actually leaves you vulnerable to a sting.
- In addition, spraying insecticides on a wandering wasp is also not recommended. In addition to making the room dirty, insecticides are also dangerous for anyone near the area of use.
- You can also provoke a vicious attack from a swarm of wasps when you kill a wasp (or make it sting you). Wasp venom contains “alarm poison” that can attract the attention of other wasps and mark you as a target for attack.
Step 6. Bait and trap the wasps with food
Problems between yellow jacket wasps and humans are often caused by food. Yellow jacket wasps usually fly around trash cans and are attracted to fruit, meat and sugary drinks. However, you can take advantage of what he likes. If the wasps haven't been seen flying around the food you brought with you, use a piece or a bit of the food to entice them to land on the food.
Place food in sealed containers or soda bottles with lids. Once the wasp is in, immediately close the lid and dispose of the bottle (or remove the wasp where appropriate)
Step 7. Make a more sophisticated soap trap
Fill a bottle or bucket with soapy water, and hang protein foods (you can use leftover lunch meat) on a piece of string 2.5-5cm above the water. Once the wasp lands on the meat, it will fall and drown in the soapy water.
You can place the gauze over the bucket if you're worried that other animals will eat the meat you hang
Method 2 of 2: Handling Wasp Nests
Step 1. Make sure you don't have an allergy to wasps
It's a good idea to find out whether or not you have an allergy to wasps before dealing with the nuisance and, in the worst case scenario, getting stung several times. If you have any doubts about an allergy, contact your doctor or healthcare provider for an allergy test.
Wasp stings can be life threatening, depending on the seriousness of the allergy sufferer. The sting can trigger an anaphylactic attack within minutes and trigger swelling, fainting, and difficulty breathing
Step 2. Find the nest
Yellow jacket wasps are insects that nest in enclosed areas. Wasps build their nests underground, under roofs, under decks/terraces, and sometimes in holes in walls. The treatment steps taken will depend on the location of the nest.
If you still don't know where the nest is, you may need to treat it with a sweet treat, then follow its flight to the nest. Yellow jacket wasps fly directly into their nests, both on and off, and don't dive or turn the other way first. Cutlets, jelly, tuna, wet cat food, or fizzy drinks can be effective baits
Step 3. Check for disturbance caused by the wasp swarm
Small nests can be handled using the quick spray-and-run method, but large nests require more thorough protection measures. In addition, the places that wasps choose to nest in are usually difficult to reach and handle. If you feel uncomfortable, threatened, or unsafe to handle the hive, contact a professional pest control service to take over your duties.
- Wasp nests are usually first built by a female wasp in the spring and develop throughout the year before the female dies. In hot climates with low frequency of cold weather (eg the tropics or the southern states of the United States), wasp nests can "survive" year after year and grow larger, with very high wasp populations. However, this condition is quite rare.
- If the nest appears large and spiral-shaped, you may actually see a wasp's nest. If the nest looks like a dull white honeycomb, it may belong to a swarm of paper wasps, a less aggressive relative of the yellow jacket wasp.
Step 4. Choose the right time
Yellow jacket wasps are much less likely to fly when the temperature is below 10°C. This means that the wasps are dormant in winter, regaining their energy in late spring and summer in order to feed the young wasps, and becoming more active and aggressive towards humans in the fall when food reserves start to run out. Therefore, the best time to eradicate the wasp nest is in late spring or early summer when the young wasp colony is still in the nest.
- Yellow jacket wasps are also much more active during the day. While it will be more difficult for you to look around, at least you won't have to face as many active wasps as you want to eradicate and destroy their nests at night.
- If you don't live in a hot climate all year round, there's a good chance the wasp nest will "die" in the winter. If you're in late autumn, it's a good idea to wait until the wasps leave the nest. Keep in mind that wasp aggressiveness reaches its peak in the fall.
Step 5. Wear protective clothing
If you want to destroy the wasp nest yourself, don't let your skin show. Wear long sleeves, long pants, long socks, and a beanie that is pulled up to cover your ears. Dress in layers, and wear boots and gloves. A bandaged scarf over the mouth and nose can protect the lower face, while safety glasses can be purchased inexpensively from home supply stores to protect your eyes.
- Although annoying to humans, yellow jacket wasps still have an important role in nature. These insects pollinate flowers and feed on flies, caterpillars, spiders, and plant-destroying pests. Therefore, it's a good idea not to wear brightly colored clothes so as not to be "misconstrued" as flowers.
- Cover the flashlight with red cellophane or use a red light. Yellow jacket wasps can't see in red light so they won't be surprised by a flashlight when you approach their nest at night (depending on the timing). If you don't have red cellophane, keep the flashlight away from the nest as you destroy the wasp nest at night.
Step 6. Destroy the wasp nest
Synthetic wasp nest destroyers work quickly and can be applied directly to the wasp swarm by spraying it on the nest. However, this product contains dangerous toxins so it should not be exposed to food, pets, and humans. As an alternative, organic wasp-killing chemicals use oils and acids that are biodegradable, and are safe to use around other living things. Both options are available in the form of a spray or powder product.
- Aerosol products are usually designed to be used within a maximum distance of 6 meters. Use a product like this to allow you to spray the nest, without having to climb stairs or climb onto a chair (if possible). Stairs actually reduce your mobility significantly and pose an added risk of harm if a swarm of wasps attack you while climbing.
- If the nest is underground, cover the nest with soil or sand after spraying or applying insecticide.
- For nests that are above the ground, spray the product directly on the nest according to the instructions on the package. For powder products, it's a good idea to use a large pipette or turkey baster.
- You can also spray the hives with hot soapy water, although this mixture doesn't work as fast. Mix 80 grams of detergent with 2 liters of water, then spray on the hives using a spray bottle. You may need to spray several times a day for a few days.
- Plan escape routes (especially into the house) from the start. After the nest has been sprayed, you have about 10-15 seconds to return to the house or room.
Step 7. Wait for a week to ensure the effectiveness of the product
If you spray the hive with chemicals, you will usually need to leave the nest for about a week. There is no guarantee that all the wasps are in the nest when you spray. Therefore, let the wasps that are roaming back to their nests. When they return, the wasps will be exposed to the deadly chemical you sprayed.
Step 8. Remove the nest
It is important that you dispose of the nest properly after exterminating the "inhabitants". If the nest is knocked down and left unattended, your neighbor's dog or pet could be exposed to the harmful chemicals you used earlier. If you eradicate the nest by spraying insecticide, hit the nest with a broom or shovel, then place it in a plastic bag.
- You can also leave the wasp nest hanging or in place, for whatever reason. Usually, a swarm of yellow jacket wasps will not reuse an old nest.
- Some people like to “keep” wasp nests because they are attracted by their natural beauty and intricate design. Although not as exotic as other nests, you are free to hang or “show off” your existing wasp nest. The eggs that are still left in the nest will not hatch and survive without feeding and care from the mother. If no activity is seen in the vicinity of the nest within a week or so (according to the information stated on the insecticide product packaging), the wasp nuisance problem has been successfully resolved.
Tips
The best way to prevent yellow jacket wasp nuisance when you're outdoors is to seal trash cans and protect food
Warning
- People who have serious allergies to wasp stings usually carry an Epi-Pen to prevent or ward off anaphylactic attacks. If someone has been stung by a wasp and seems to be having trouble breathing, ask if they have an Epi-Pen and are allergic to wasps. He may need immediate medical attention.
- Before applying a wasp repellent product to the ground, read the warnings on the product label to make sure the product is safe for the soil and water.
