3 Ways to Kill a Wasp

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Wasps are quite annoying common insects. Since they can often cause allergies to some people, they are very dangerous if they settle on your property. Whether you want to get rid of a single wasp or destroy an entire nest, the important thing is to stay safe and protect yourself as you kill these pests effectively. There are several ways and techniques to be able to keep the house free from wasps. Keep reading.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Tackling a Single Vespa

Step 1. First of all, make sure it's not a bee

Not all yellow-black insects with a sting are wasps. There is a big difference between wasps, hornets and bees and as there is never any reason to kill a bee it is important to learn early on how to distinguish the different insects so you don't make a mistake and kill. a good pollinator.

Wasps and hornets usually have a thin and smooth body and build small cone-shaped nests with a paper-like appearance. Wasps are not pollinating insects and are quite annoying, so it is usually allowed to hit them when they enter your space.
Bees are hairy, shorter and more rounded than wasps. If left undisturbed they are harmless and, given that they perform a fundamental function in the ecosystem, they must not be killed, as they are already in danger of extinction.

Step 2. Open all windows and doors in the room

If a wasp has been trapped in the house, the easiest way to get rid of it is not to crush it, but to provide it with a way out, as she herself does not want to be there. Open the windows and the door to the outside, close the access to the other rooms of the house and wait for the wasp to go out by itself. This shouldn't take more than a few minutes.

Before opening the window, make sure it's not right next to an outside wasp nest.
If you are outdoors and you see the wasp, just leave it quiet. Crushing a single wasp could attract others and it would become very dangerous.

Step 3. Try to trap the insect in a vase

Use a jar with a lid to catch the wasp and release it outside. Wait for it to rest on a surface and then carefully place it on top of an open pot. Then slide a piece of paper under the jar to trap it inside.

Always wait for the insect to land on an easily accessible surface before attempting this method. If you get upset and try to catch it "fly", you irritate the insect that will try to sting you several times to defend itself.
If you are allergic, do not attempt this type of catch on your own. Ask another person to trap the wasp or simply open the windows and wait for it to come out. But if you have no other choice, at least make sure you are wearing thick gloves and covering all exposed areas of your body before trying.
The easiest and most non-violent way to get rid of the wasp is to release it. If you use a piece of paper, simply turn the jar while keeping the paper still resting on the opening and move away. The wind will blow the paper away and eventually the wasp will be able to escape.

Step 4. Make a trap out of a plastic bottle

This is a bit like a funnel with a slippery bottom based on soap and water in which the wasps get stuck. You can find similar ones, usually made of glass, even in specialty stores, but you can build your own using just a plastic bottle.

With a utility knife, cut the conical top of an empty two-liter plastic bottle. Water or soda is fine. At this point, turn the cut part upside down and insert the neck of the bottle inside the lower section. Seal the two parts with masking tape. Fill the bottle halfway with water.
Add a few drops of dish soap and shake the container to create foam, then coat the neck of the bottle with honey, jam, or some other sweet but sticky product to attract wasps. These should slide inside the bottle and fall into the water. With their wings wet with detergent they will no longer be able to fly and get out.

Step 5. Crush the wasp if necessary

Anything that flies can be hit with a fly swatter. It is a very inexpensive plastic tool and is one of the most popular tools for killing all kinds of flying insects. It is easy to use and very effective if you know how to use it correctly.

Stay still with the blade raised and wait for the insect to rest somewhere close and comfortable. Wasps tend to buzz and move a little more than flies, but eventually they stop on some surface and you can crush them.
Quickly move your wrist to snap the paddle onto the wasp. At this point the insect is usually quite stunned, so you can pick it up with the fly swatter and release it outdoors, where it can recover and fly away or die. Don't keep hitting it hard with the paddle.
If you don't have a fly swatter, shoe, heavy book, magazine, or even a glove are all effective alternatives for this technique.

Method 2 of 3: Tackling a Nest

Step 1. Destroy the nests early in the year

The nests are designed by the queen wasps and built by the worker wasps in the spring, while the colonies grow throughout the late spring and early summer until they reach their maximum size in August. At the end of the summer, wasps become more aggressive and protective, so this is the most dangerous time to try and get rid of them.

At the beginning of the year the nests are smaller and more manageable. Get in the habit of inspecting the entire area around the house for wasp nests before their development season begins and before the colony takes on dangerous size. If you manage to kill the queen, it is very likely that the nest will not be rebuilt that year.
If you are late in the season, it may be best to wait and let the frost kill the bugs for the next 30-60 days. At that point you can destroy the empty nests to be sure they will not be repopulated the following year.

Step 2. Put on protective clothing

Whenever you want to deal with wasps, you need to carefully protect the body. You probably don't need a full suit for chemical protection, but a few precautions can save you from nasty and dangerous stings if wasps attack you.

You must wear long-sleeved clothing and thick pants, heavy gloves, a hood that covers as much of your face as possible, and a mask to protect your eyes. Even if it's terribly hot, you don't have to skimp on the layers and thickness of your clothes.
If you get attacked by wasps, don't think too much about it - run away as fast as you can. Although some people say that shaking clothing or turning sharply around the corner can be effective in warding off a swarm, the best way to get rid of it is to run as fast as possible and go back into the house.

Step 3. Find the hive

If you have a constant wasp problem in your area, it can be quite frustrating. But don't try to crush one at a time. The best way is to get rid of them at source and move them away from home. Locate the nest and destroy it, the problem will resolve itself. Hornets 'nests are quite small, but wasps' nests are a bit larger and bulbous, like a paper balloon.

Wasps tend to build their nests in stacked lumber, along rafters, or in garbage cans that are rarely used. Check under open porch spaces and any other area of the house where there is a large empty space or under construction.
Sometimes, the nests can be hidden inside the walls, which makes it very difficult to reach them. Use a stethoscope or a glass of water to lean against the wall to listen for the hum. It may be necessary to drill the wall to spray insecticides.

Step 4. Spray insecticide on the nest

Once identified, you need to get rid of it as quickly and safely as possible and the most effective technique is to use an insecticide spray to kill the wasps at their source.

There are some sprays on the market that can be applied even 6 meters away, thus maintaining a safe space from the nest. The ecoPCO line of spray insecticides is mainly composed of natural elements and is somewhat safer than other chemical-based products.
Alternatively, you can find other sprays on the market that can be applied in the area immediately surrounding the nest, killing the wasps indirectly from a safe distance.
Make sure you always follow the directions on the package when applying any type of spray product.

Step 5. Use a powder repellent

The powdered insecticide is an effective long-term solution, since it remains active for up to six months and in some cases is able to deter wasps for even longer. It is easy to use and easily available in the market.

You can look for different products in supermarkets or specialty pet stores. Look especially for the ones best suited for wasp nests.
First apply the powder around the nest opening in the morning, distributing about 60g. Don't block the opening, though, so the wasps can move freely and spread the dust.
One of the dangers associated with the use of powdered insecticides is precisely what makes them effective: they are dangerous for a long time. If you have pets or small children, it may be a risk to put this chemical dust around a nest near your home. Be very careful.

Step 6. Use soap and water

It may seem a bit old-fashioned method but, in some cases, the use of water and a simple soap is effective enough to destroy a nest and kill wasps.

Mix about 80ml of dish soap in 2 liters of water and put the solution in a spray bottle with the highest power and pressure possible. You have to try to be quite far from the nest when you spray the mixture.
Shake the solution to mix the ingredients and load the detergent water, then spray it freely and abundantly all around the opening of the nest and then leave. Reapply the mixture several times over the next few days.

Step 7. Use smoke and water

A natural and effective way to keep wasps away is to combine natural wood smoke and water. When the wasps sense the danger of fire, they spontaneously leave the nest allowing you to destroy it safely.

Use a barbecue to light a small, contained bonfire under the nest using all possible precautions. Let the smoke rise steadily for an hour or two to get the wasps away.
Come back later with a garden hose and spray the water by dropping the nest, or hitting it with a stick, if necessary, to destroy it.

Method 3 of 3: Making the House Inhospitable for Wasps

Step 1. Destroy the nests abandoned during the winter

Once you have killed the wasps or during the winter, when the frost has done it naturally for you, you can safely collect the remains of abandoned nests by wearing thick clothing and heavy rubber gloves.

If you have sprayed the insecticide on the nest, it is important to dispose of it in the trash, correctly. Use a hammer or plank to knock down the nests and remove them from the area. It is important to destroy them, because if you leave them intact, they can be repopulated the following spring.
It is always a good idea to wear protective clothing, just to be totally safe. While it is very likely that most wasps have strayed or been destroyed, you still need to protect yourself from chemical residues, as well as any surviving insects.

Step 2. Seal the cracks and crevices in the house

Wasps often build their nests in small crevices and outward-facing areas where they feel safe. Check these areas carefully as they form and close them to prevent colonies from settling, so you can solve the problem upstream, even before it occurs.

Use a sealant putty and apply a small drop along any cracks you find, then smooth the product with a scraper or finger. Let it dry following the instructions on the package

Step 3. Eliminate piles of wood and grass clippings or other organic elements from the garden

Wasps love to build nests in these very materials that are accumulated outdoors. If you tend to pile gardening equipment and tools, other objects or different materials on your property, try to change your habits and keep the yard as clean as possible, otherwise the wasps will settle easily.

Step 4. Eliminate rotten fruit that has fallen from trees

Wasps are more likely to populate areas where they find a lot of food. If you have fruit trees in your garden, it's a good idea to get rid of all fallen and rotting fruit as quickly as possible to avoid attracting these pesky insects.

In fact, wasps are attracted to fruit trees in general, regardless of whether they are cared for or not. However, it is certainly helpful to clean up the area to keep the wasps under control

Step 5. Keep rubbish outside the home airtight in bins

Decaying leftover food also attracts wasps, so keeping outdoor trash cans tightly closed to prevent insects from making a nest there. If necessary, replace the bins regularly if you notice that they are attracting wasps.