The bald-faced hornet is a useful species of wasp that feeds on garden insects. This species has a dark body and a white patterned face, and resembles the yellowjacket wasp, another wasp species. Its ability to sting while foraging makes this species dangerous to humans. The best way to keep wasps away is to prevent and reduce their food sources around the house. However, if the wasps build nests near the shelter and you cannot tolerate them, the only possible solution is to remove or destroy the nest.
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Method 1 of 3: Using Traps and Wasp Repellents
Step 1. Make a wasp trap from a 2 liter soda bottle and jam
Cut the bottle just below the neck, then turn the neck of the bottle so that it becomes a funnel. Glue the two halves together using duct tape or adhesive tape, make two holes (one each) on opposite sides of the bottle lip, and thread the string through the holes. Fill the main part of the bottle with water and a few drops of dish soap to remove any tension on the surface of the water. After that, put a tablespoon of jam in the water and hang the trap on the tree. When entering into it, the wasps will be trapped and eventually die.
- Dishwashing soap removes the tension on the surface of the water so the wasps will sink.
- When the trap is full of wasps or the water level is very low, empty the bottle and refill it with water, dish soap, and jam.
- You can also buy a wasp trap from the store and put some jam in it to keep the wasps out of the house.
Step 2. Spray wasp repellent products on areas where wasps are likely to nest
Wasp repellent spray is an effective product to prevent wasps from nesting in your home. Use the product in the corners of the high ceilings in the barn or patio, as well as recesses and holes in the exterior walls of the home.
- Spray the product on areas where wasps are likely to nest in early spring and fall (around the transition from wet to dry, and dry to rainy).
- Some of the most popular wasp repellent products include the Raid Wasp & Hornet Killer, Ortho Wasp Hornet Killer, and Black Flag Killer.
- You can buy wasp repellent products from hardware stores (eg ACE Hardware), supermarkets, and the internet.
Step 3. Mix clove, geranium, and lemongrass oils to make a natural repellent mixture
Fill a spray bottle with water and add a few drops of the aforementioned essential oil to the bottle. Shake the bottle to mix each ingredient and spray the mixture onto areas outside the house where wasps usually nest (e.g. under eaves, patio ceilings, and balustrades).
- Spray the mixture in spring and fall (early or mid-year) to keep wasps from nesting near your surroundings.
- If there have previously been wasps nesting in your home, spray the mixture on the old nesting site to prevent the wasps from returning.
Step 4. Hang the fake wasp nest to keep the wasps away
The effectiveness of this method is still not fully ascertained. However, because wasps are highly territorial animals, a fake nest of string, brown paper, or papier-mâché (paper pulp) installed can prevent wasps from nesting around the house. You can search and purchase fake wasp nests online and select a specific area (e.g. a high ceiling corner or other prime location) to set up the nest.
Find an area protected from wind and rain to prevent the nest from falling
Step 5. Place bird feeders around the house to attract birds' attention
In addition to coming to eat, birds will also scare the wasps and prevent them from coming to your home. Position the bird feeder in the yard and keep the feeder filled with seeds so you can attract the birds' attention constantly.
Also place a bird bath to attract more birds to your home
Step 6. Plant citronella, thyme, or eucalyptus to keep the wasps away
Wasp repellent plants will naturally keep wasps away from the area where you live. Plant these plant species in the garden to add beauty and fresh fragrance to your yard.
- You can also chop thyme stalks to add to food.
- Lemongrass can also repel mosquitoes.
Method 2 of 3: Throwing Bait or Wasp Food
Step 1. Immediately pick up fruit that falls from the tree so as not to attract the attention of the wasps
These insects love fruit and are attracted to their scent, so don't let the fruit or the peel sit on the ground. If a wasp finds fruit in your area, it may nest around the house. Therefore, immediately take the fruit that falls and is lying on the ground around the house.
- If you have a compost pile, bury the skin or fruit at least 5 centimeters deep so the wasps can't see and smell it.
- Certain fruits, especially bananas are very attractive to wasps. Therefore, make sure you dispose of the peel in a closed trash can.
Step 2. Make sure the trash cans and recycling containers are always closed
Open food containers or trash cans can attract wasps looking for food. Always cover trash cans and food waste containers. If the wasp finds a new food source, it may build a nest around it. Therefore, covering trash cans or food waste containers is an effective way to keep wasps away.
Tie or tie the trash bag so the wasps can't get into it
Step 3. Cover the cracks in the wall with putty to prevent the wasps from nesting
Wasps can enter the walls of the house through small cracks or crevices, and lodge in them, making wasps more difficult to eradicate. In addition, wasps can also damage the wall structure. Therefore, to protect yourself and your home, use putty to seal any cracks in the wall so they don't leave open.
Step 4. Cover the food and watch the drink when you are eating out
Wasps will fly around in search of food (including any food or drink you enjoy outdoors) to carry to their nest. Always keep food plates covered and serve drinks in cups or wide-mouthed glasses so you can see the contents easily and don't accidentally sip the drink from a glass with a wasp in it. After finishing eating outside, immediately bring dirty plates and cutlery into the kitchen.
If the wasps feel they have found a new food source, more wasps will come and nest in the area around the food source
Step 5. Don't use sweet scented perfumes that can attract wasps
These insects have such an excellent sense of smell that the sweet-smelling chemicals in colognes, perfumes, and soaps can grab their attention and make them think you're a food source. Therefore, use soaps, shampoos, and deodorants that do not contain perfume. Wash clothes in a non-perfumed detergent if there are wasps living or roaming around where you live.
Sweat clinging to clothing can attract the attention of wasps. Therefore, wear clean clothes if a herd of wasps lives or roams around your residence frequently
Step 6. Get rid of light colored items around the residence
Wasps are attracted to bright colors and can attack you. Therefore, remove light-colored objects from the yard (eg lawn chairs, garden decorations, or even frisbees) that could attract the wasps.
Do not wear light colored clothes when you are outside
Step 7. Remove piles of leaves and wood from the yard
Married female wasps can bury themselves in a pile of leaves and eventually come out to make a new nest. Therefore, sweep or collect leaves and pieces of wood from the yard, then discard them so that the wasps don't make new nests around your home.
Female wasps usually hibernate in leaf piles so keep your yard clean during cold weather
Step 8. Hang the raw meat away from the pool or deck to distract the wasps
These insects are attracted to water so swimming in a pool can be a risky activity. Relaxing on the deck or terrace also risks making you attacked by wasps that roam around the house. Distract the wasps from you by hanging strips of steak or ground beef in an area away from the pool, deck, or patio. The wasps will be attracted to the meat and move away from the areas you are protecting.
You can also put cat food or fish scraps in the yard, away from the pool, deck, or patio to keep the wasps away
Method 3 of 3: Destroying the Wasp's Nest
Step 1. Wait for 2 hours after sunset for the wasps to become less active
Wasps are very active during the day and during these hours, various species of insects will come out and look for food and materials to build nests. Therefore, wait until the sun goes down for all the insects to return to their nests and cooler temperatures reduce their activity.
- You will need to spray insecticide on the hive when all the wasps are in it to kill the entire flock at once.
- You can also wait until dawn (before sunrise) when the wasps are still not active.
Step 2. Wear protective clothing so you don't get stung
Wasps provide a painful sting and will crowd you when disturbed. Therefore, it is important for you to protect yourself with clothes that provide good protection. Thick jeans, boots, leather gloves, and a hoodie can protect you from wasp stings.
Even a beekeeper's hat can protect your face and neck
Step 3. Locate the wasp's nest by shining a flashlight that has a red filter on it
Wasps cannot see red light. Therefore, use a flashlight with a red filter or attach red cellophane to the flashlight (and hold it against the body of the flashlight with a rubber band). Point the light at places where wasps nest frequently, such as trees, sheds, or high ceiling corners.
- Also look for the nest on the side of the building. Sometimes, wasps nest inside the walls.
- Savings nests can make a loud buzzing sound. You can use the sound to find a nest.
Step 4. Spray insecticide on the door or opening of the nest for 10 seconds
Look for wide openings through which the wasps enter and exit the nest at the bottom of the nest. Position the spray bottle near the mouth of the nest and spray insecticide over the opening. Keep spraying the product for 10 seconds to ensure the entire hive is exposed to the insecticide. After that, immediately move away from the area around the nest.
- While wasp and wasp insecticides can effectively require wasps, it can take time for the wasps to die. Therefore, you should leave the area after spraying as soon as possible.
- Look for insecticides formulated for wasps and wasps, such as Ultra Kill Wasp & Hornet Killer and Raid Wasp & Hornet at a home supply store, convenience store, or the internet.
Step 5. Check nest conditions the next day and re-spray if necessary
Leave the nest for a full 24 hours for the insecticide to work and kill all wasps, as well as eggs and larvae in the nest. Carefully approach the nest the next day and see if there are any active wasps around the nest. If available, re-spray the insecticide on the hive for 10 seconds.
If you're not sure if the wasps are still active and alive in the nest, take a garden broom and tap the nest to see if any wasps are coming out or buzzing
Step 6. Drop the nest with a garden broom once the nest is dormant
After 2-3 days, the insecticide will kill all the wasps in the nest so that the nest can be disposed of safely. Take a long-stemmed garden broom and hit the nest at the bottom (that's stuck to a tree, ceiling, or something like that). Place the nest in a plastic trash bag and seal or tie the bag tightly before throwing it away.
Wear gloves and protective clothing when you want to drop the nest just in case
Step 7. Check for new nests in spring and summer (or the transition from wet to dry season) and destroy existing nests
Usually, wasps make new nests in late spring and early summer, or the transition from the rainy season to the dry season. Therefore, check areas under fences, porches, eaves, porches, and other structures or structures in the yard (eg children's play areas and sheds). Watch for buzzing sounds from trees or cracks in walls. If you see a small nest that has several eggs, use a garden broom to knock over the nest and stomp on it to destroy it.
- Don't step on a wasp's nest barefoot!
- The best way to prevent wasp nests from getting too big and annoying is to remove them before the nest develops.
Tips
- Keep food sources away from around the house. Thus, wasps will not nest in your yard or dwelling.
- If you see a wasp running around, don't try to hit it. This can actually provoke his anger and make him sting you. Therefore, stay calm and leave the area.
- If you are stung by a wasp, wash the sting area with soap and water, then apply ice to relieve swelling. Do not scratch the sting area as this can cause more serious swelling and lead to infection.
