Having a wasp nest in or around your home is an unpleasant situation, especially if you have small children or family members who are allergic to wasp stings. Aside from the fear of being stung, you'll also have to deal with the buzzing of wasps and wasps scurrying around your yard. Don't worry – there are some effective measures you can take to kill the wasps, get rid of the nest and prevent them from coming back next year. Just start with Step 1 to find out more.
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Part 1 of 3: Planning and Security
Step 1. Make sure that you are not allergic to wasp stings
If you're not sure whether you have an allergy to wasp stings or not, it's a good idea to arrange an allergy test with your doctor before you try to tackle the hive.
- If testing confirms that you are not allergic to the sting, then you can proceed with removing the hive yourself.
- However, if you find that you have an allergy, you should ask someone else to deal with the hive or call an exterminator, as being stung can be dangerous to your health.
Step 2. Contact your local health office
The health office may have a program for controlling and eradicating disease vectors. If this program is available where you live, there will be staff who will come and help identify, recommend, and even remove wasp nests.
Look for "vector control programs" available online so you can find contact information and ask for help
Step 3. Call an exterminator
In most situations, it's a good idea to find a professional exterminator to get rid of wasp nests. If you don't have a vector control program in place, or if they can't help you get rid of wasp nests in your home, contact an exterminator instead, especially if you encounter yellow jacket wasps nesting in the ground.
- If the wasp nest is located in a hidden or hard-to-reach place, such as inside a wall or ceiling, or under a layer of concrete, an insect repellent will be needed.
- You should also contact an exterminator if you are allergic to wasp stings because this reaction can be very dangerous. In fact, even if you're not allergic to wasp stings, just getting close to a wasp's nest is dangerous enough and could result in death, if anything were to happen.
Step 4. Consider leaving the nest
If the wasp nest is far enough from your home and doesn't pose a significant threat, you should consider leaving it alone, especially if it belongs to a less aggressive wasp species such as the paper wasp. Wasps are an important part of the ecosystem, as they pollinate plants and flowers and eat other garden pests such as caterpillars.
Step 5. Find out what kind of wasp nest you have
Before you tackle the hive, it's a good idea to know what type of wasp you're dealing with, as this will give you an indication of the best way to get rid of them. The three main types of wasps you will deal with are as follows:
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Paper Wasp:
paper wasps have long bodies and long legs, relative to other wasp species. They build large, open nests whose cells are clearly visible. Their nests are often compared to inverted umbrellas and are usually built in sheltered areas such as the roof of a house or the end of an open pipe. They will only attack if they feel threatened, but their sting can be very painful and potentially dangerous.
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yellow jacket:
yellow jackets have thick black antennae and shorter legs (compared to paper wasps). They build nests that look like paper and are enclosed and prefer closed spaces such as hollow walls or cavities in the ground. They can be very aggressive, stinging several times and attacking together.
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Hornets:
Hornets are the largest type of social wasp. In North America, the bald-headed hornet is the most common - it can be identified by the white markings on the head and chest. The European hornet is brown with orange markings. Hornets tend to build paper nests, which are often found in tree trunks and wall burrows.
Step 6. Wear protective clothing
It is very important to wear protective clothing when you are trying to get rid of wasp nests, to prevent being stung. Even if you're not allergic, wasp stings can be painful!
- Wear long jeans, socks and boots, a sweater with a hood and gloves.
- You should also wrap a scarf around the bottom of your face and wear protective goggles or ski goggles.
- If you use a pesticide spray, make sure your clothes are old, as residue from the spray can get on the fabric. You should wash or throw away the clothes immediately afterwards.
- If you happen to be stung while removing the hive, see the treatment instructions here.
Step 7. Never stand on a ladder to reach a tall wasp nest
If the wasp's nest is somewhere high, such as on the underside of a two-story house or a tall tree branch, don't use a ladder to try to reach it.
- If you are standing on a ladder and a swarm of wasps are flying at you when you disturb the nest, you are very likely to fall and be seriously injured.
- In this situation it is best to call a professional exterminator or use something like the smoke method (see below) to get rid of the wasps.
- You should only attempt to remove the wasp nest yourself when it is easily accessible.
Step 8. If you use pesticides, make sure no children or pets are present
If you decide to use pesticide sprays or powders to kill the wasps, it is important to delimit the area and make sure that no one - especially small children or pets - comes near, for at least 24 hours. The pesticide used in the wasp-killing spray is very strong and toxic.
In addition, it is important that you pick up and dispose of any dead wasps you find on the ground near the nest. Otherwise, pet cats or dogs, or local wildlife may ingest dead wasps and they are poisoned as a result
Step 9. Get rid of the wasp nest as early as possible in the year
The time of year you choose to destroy the wasp nest can have a huge impact on your chances of success. To understand this, it is useful to be aware of how social wasps (paper wasps, yellow jackets and bees) work.
- In early spring, the queen wasp (which hibernates during the winter) will choose a place for her nest and build a small structure to house the first batch of worker wasps. Once these worker wasps arrive, they will work tirelessly to expand their nest and protect their queen.
- The wasp colony will continue to grow throughout the spring and summer, until it reaches its peak in late August. At this time, a yellow jacket colony can harbor up to two thousand wasps.
- In addition, towards the end of summer, the last batch of wasps is born. This batch contains a male wasp and next year's queen, so the colony is very protective of them and becomes more aggressive towards anyone who threatens the nest.
- Therefore the best time to destroy a wasp nest is as early as possible in the year, when the colony is small and the wasps are less aggressive. Plus, if you manage to kill the queen, you won't have to worry about a new nest being formed that year.
- However, if you don't find a wasp nest by late summer or fall, destroying the nest may not be necessary (depending on your location) as nighttime freezing temperatures will naturally kill the colony. Then you can remove the nest when winter comes.
Step 10. Destroy the wasp nest at night
If you plan to get rid of the wasp nest yourself, it is best to do it at night. This is when the wasps are least active, so their reaction times are slower, and they are less aggressive.
- For lighting do not use an ordinary flashlight to see the nest, as this will attract wasps to you. Instead, use colored red or yellow lights for safe visibility when handling wasp nests at night.
- Alternatively, you can try to target the nest very early in the morning before the wasps become active, as you will benefit from the early morning light.
Step 11. Plan your way out
Before you put your plan of attack into action, it's a good idea to figure out your solution. Once you've sprayed the nest, the wasps will quickly start pouring out and may swarm around you - so you'll need to escape before this happens.
- Plan your escape route so you have a place you can quickly take cover after targeting the nest.
- Also make sure that there are no obstacles such as children's toys or gardening tools in your path that you could potentially trip over.
Part 2 of 3: Destroying the Nest
Step 1. Use a pesticide spray
Purchase an aerosol spray pesticide specifically designed to kill wasps from your local supermarket or hardware store. Pesticides designed for small insects such as ants may not be strong enough to kill wasps.
- Wear proper protective clothing and follow the other safety measures outlined above, targeting the bottom opening of the hive with pesticide streams. Do this for about 10 to 15 seconds (or according to the directions on the can), then quickly get out and empty the surrounding area.
- Let the sprayed pesticide work overnight. The next day, observe the nest from a distance. If you still see activity around the hive, repeat the process a second time.
- Once activity has stopped and most of the wasps have died, it is safe to knock down the nest with a long stick. Use a stick to break the nest, then saturate the fragments with pesticide spray.
- Remove damaged nests and any dead wasps immediately.
Step 2. Apply insecticide powder
When it comes to soil nests (such as those occupied by the yellow jacket), insecticide powders are much more effective than aerosol sprays that cannot penetrate the center of the nest.
- Get an insecticidal powder, such as "Sevin 5 Garden Dust" and measure about cup into a powder-blowing bottle (or single-use plastic cup).
- During the night or early morning, sprinkle as much powder as you deem necessary to the nest opening, while wearing proper protective equipment. Immediately clear the surrounding area.
- Do not block or close the nest - allow wasps to enter and exit freely. As they pass through the opening, their legs and wings will become coated with insecticidal powder, which they will then carry with them to the center of the nest, thereby contaminating other wasps.
- After applying the insecticidal dust, the wasps should die within a day or two. If not, you can try repeating the process.
Step 3. Use dish soap
If you don't like using pesticides, a simple solution of dish soap and water can be very effective in killing wasps, as it coats their wings preventing them from flying and eventually drowning them.
- Prepare a soap solution by mixing a good quantity of dish soap (about cup) with a liter of hot water, until nice and foamy.
- If you are targeting an air nest, pour the soap solution into a hose-tip spray bottle, then direct a strong stream of water directly at the nest entrance for 10 to 15 seconds.
- If you are targeting an earthen nest, simply pour the solution directly into the entrance, then quickly empty the surrounding area.
- While soap and water solutions are very effective, you may need to repeat the process several times, as soapy water needs to come into direct contact with each wasp before it can kill them.
Step 4. Use smoke
Another pesticide-free way to clean airborne wasp nests is to use smoke.
- Light a small fire or light a fire on the grill directly under the nest. The smoke will rise and enter the nest, blocking the wasp's breathing and forcing them to empty the nest.
- Let the smoke rise for an hour or two, and when you're sure the hive is empty you can put out the fire and tap under the hive with a stick before throwing it away. However, you may want to have a spray bottle filled with soap and water just in case any remaining wasps remain in the nest.
- Keep in mind that this method is only suitable for aerial nests hanging from tree branches or other open areas. It is not suitable for nests in doors, roofs or anywhere that is too close to your home, as a fire may accidentally set your house on fire.
Step 5. Use water
It is possible to drown a free-hanging air wasp nest using a cloth bag and a bucket of water.
- Put on your protective clothing, put a bucket of water under the wasp nest. Take a large cloth bag that has no holes or tears.
- Quickly and carefully, place the cloth bag over the nest and secure the top with a piece of string. As you do this, pull the nest out of the tree branch.
- Dump the bag containing the wasp nest in a bucket of water, and place a heavy rock on top to hold the bag underwater.
- Leave the bag in the water overnight, and in the morning all the wasps will drown.
- Keep in mind that this method involves coming in very close contact with the wasp's nest - so it's not for the reckless or lack of guts!
Part 3 of 3: Preventing the Wasps from Returning
Step 1. Block entry points
During winter, do a thorough inspection of the exterior of your home for potential wasp entry points, such as loose sides, uncovered vents and cracks around windows and door frames. These are all ideal locations for wasp nests, so sealing them now can prevent potential nesting when spring comes.
Step 2. Destroy empty nests over the winter
Although the wasp will never return to a previously used nest, some wasp species will build their new nests on top of the old ones. It is therefore a good idea to knock down any empty hives left during the winter and thoroughly clean the area before the queen bee returns to the area when spring comes.
Step 3. Make sure to close your trash can
The smell of old food can attract wasps, so it's a good idea to make sure your trash cans are properly sealed. You should also clean trash cans well with water and a disinfectant semi-routinely, to remove any food debris that could attract wasps.
Step 4. Be careful with fruit trees
Fruit trees, and especially rotting, falling fruit are like a magnet for wasps and bees, so think twice before planting those trees too close to your home. If you already have a fruit tree, it is a good idea to regularly harvest ripe fruit and to pick off any fruit that falls off the ground and throw it away before the wasps can get to it.
Step 5. Hang the fake nest
Wasps are very territorial and will not build their nests close to other colonies. Therefore, hanging a fake wasp nest or two is a great way to deter them. You can buy fake nests at gardening centers and hardware stores (many are beautifully designed), but you can be just as successful with hanging brown paper bags!
Tips
- If you have a nest in your home, another natural but effective way is to place a bucket of boiling water (or as close to boiling as possible) under the nest. Use a long stick to drop the nest into the bucket. Use a short stick to destroy the nest afterwards, to ensure that all the adults and their larvae are either cooked or drowned. This is best done by wearing protective gear, so that if an adult wasp manages to get out it can't sting you. (If you're okay with chemicals, having someone else spray the few remaining adult wasps makes this a lot more comfortable.) Once the queen of the nest (inside the nest) is dead, the remaining adult wasps die, having been unable to find a nest..
- The mint-based wasp killer is just as effective, and less toxic to you and your pets.
- Spray adhesives work amazingly well (better than some poisons) and cost about the same. The wasps may start to come out but will stick to the nest and to each other and clog the exit opening. Spray generously at the outlet after they have stopped picking up the newly returned wasps. But spray adhesives won't work on bees because, unlike wasps, bees eat carrion that clogs their burrows, while wasps don't.
- If you are allergic to wasp/hornet venom, contact a professional exterminator and avoid the nest altogether.
Warning
- Be careful not to linger around the nest until the wasps can find and sting you.
- Get rid of the wasps yourself if the nest is relatively small, easy to see and within reach of a hand-held spray can. If even one of these conditions doesn't apply, don't try to do this yourself - it's too dangerous. Contact pest control to do it for you.
- Do not try to spray an already irritated hive. The hornets/wasps may not be all in the nest when you try to spray them. Wait for the nest to subside for a few hours.
- Wasps can be very dangerous, so be very careful.
