Having a wasp's nest in or around the house is not a pleasant situation at all, especially if there are small children or someone allergic. In addition to the fear of being stung, you must also deal with the constant and lively hum of these winged creatures that keep flying around your garden. But don't worry, there are several effective measures you can take to kill the wasps, get rid of the nest, and prevent them from returning again the following year. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Planning and Safety
Step 1. First of all, make sure you are not allergic to wasps
If you are unsure, it is a good idea to get tested before attempting to tackle the nest.
- If the test confirms that you are not allergic to stings, then you can go it alone to get rid of the wasps.
- If, on the other hand, you are allergic, you must ask for someone else's intervention to eliminate the nest, or call a specialized exterminator company, as if you get stung you could put your health at risk.
Step 2. Contact your local Pest Control Office
Although not available everywhere, in this department you can find professionals who can handle the presence of potentially harmful insects and animals. They can help you identify them, advise you on what to do and perhaps take care of the removal of the wasps.
Do a quick search on the internet to find the nearest office and all the information you need to contact them
Step 3. Consider contacting an exterminator
In most situations, it's best to leave it to the professionals.
- This is especially important if the nest is in an awkward or hard-to-reach location, such as inside a wall, in the attic, or under a concrete slab.
- You should contact a specialist company even if you are allergic to wasps, as getting rid of the nest on your own could be dangerous.
Step 4. Consider leaving the nest undisturbed
If it's far enough from home and doesn't pose a significant threat, you can consider leaving it alone, especially if it contains a less aggressive species of wasp, such as Polistes dominula. If you find that the nest actually belongs to bees rather than wasps, don't destroy it. Bee populations are in significant decline, so you must try to do everything possible to preserve existing ones. Wasps are an important part of the ecosystem, as they pollinate plants and flowers and eat other garden pests, such as caterpillars.
Step 5. Identify the type of wasps
Before dealing with them, you need to know which species you are dealing with, so you can have more guidance on finding the best way to get rid of them. The three main types of wasps that can be encountered are the following:
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Polistes dominula:
it has a longer body and legs than other wasp species. It builds large exposed nests where the cells are clearly visible. Nests are often compared to upside-down umbrellas and are generally built in sheltered areas, such as the gutter of a house or the end of an open pipe. It only attacks if it feels threatened, but the sting can be very painful and potentially dangerous.
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Yellow wasp:
this species has thick black antennae and shorter legs (compared to Polistes dominula). It builds covered nests that look like paper and prefers enclosed spaces, such as empty walls or hollows in the ground. It can be very aggressive, even stings multiple times and attacks in swarms.
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Hornet:
this insect is the largest type of wasp. In North America, Dolichovespula maculata is the most common species and you can recognize it by the white spots on the head and chest. The European hornet, on the other hand, is brown in color with orange spots. Hornets tend to build paper-like nests and often settle in tree trunks and on walls.
Step 6. Put on protective clothing
You need to be very cautious and protect yourself adequately when you want to get rid of a wasp nest, to avoid getting stung. Even if you're not allergic, a wasp sting can be painful!
- Wear long pants, socks and boots, a hooded sweater over your head and gloves.
- You should also wrap a scarf around the lower half of your face and wear protective or ski goggles.
- If you use a spray insecticide, be sure to put on old clothes, as the residue from the spray could seep into the fabrics. Immediately after that you should wash your clothes or throw them away.
- If you are accidentally stung while cleaning the nest, read the instructions for treating the sting.
Step 7. Never stand on a ladder to reach a high-positioned wasp nest
If the nest is too high that you cannot access, such as on the eaves of a two-story house or the tall branch of a tree, do not use a ladder in an attempt to reach it.
- If you find yourself standing on a ladder and a swarm of wasps fly around you when you disturb the nest, you could easily fall and be seriously injured.
- In this case, it is advisable to call a company that specializes in pest control or use other methods, such as smoking (see below), to get rid of wasps.
- You can only attempt to destroy the nest yourself when it is within reach.
Step 8. If you are using insecticides, make sure there are no children or pets around
If you are using a spray or powdered product to kill wasps, it is important to delimit the area and make sure that no one, especially small children or pets, comes around for at least 24 hours. The chemicals in insecticides are extremely potent and poisonous.
In addition, it is important that at the end of the treatment you collect and properly dispose of dead wasps that have fallen on the ground near the nest. Otherwise the cat or dog, or even other animals in the area, could ingest them and consequently poison themselves in turn
Step 9. Try to eliminate the nests possibly early in the year
The period you choose can greatly affect your chance of success. To understand this, you need to know how these varieties of wasps (Polistes dominula, yellow wasp, and hornet) operate.
- In early spring, the queen wasp (which has hibernated over the winter) chooses a nest site and a small structure to house the first brood of worker wasps. Once hatched, worker wasps work tirelessly to expand their nest and protect their queen.
- The wasp colony continues to grow throughout the spring and summer, reaching its peak in late August. In this period, a colony of yellow wasps can contain up to two thousand.
- Furthermore, towards the end of the summer, the last brood is born. This contains male wasps and the queens of the following year, so the colony is very protective of them and becomes more aggressive towards anyone who threatens the nest.
- Consequently, the best time to destroy the nest is early in the year, if possible, when the colony is smaller and the wasps are less aggressive. Plus, if you manage to kill the queen, you won't have to worry about forming a new nest that year.
- However, if you can't locate the nest until late summer or fall, it may not even need to be destroyed (depending on where it's located), as low night temperatures kill the colony naturally. At that point it is sufficient to throw the nest when winter arrives.
Step 10. Destroy the nest at night
If you want to eliminate it yourself, it is best to do it at night. This is when wasps are least active, so their reaction time is slower and they are less aggressive.
- Do not use a normal flashlight to view the nest, so as not to attract the wasps. Instead, use a red or yellow light to see when you want to destroy the nest at night.
- Alternatively, you can try to get rid of it very early in the morning, before the wasps become active, as you have the benefit of morning light at this stage of the day.
Step 11. Plan an escape route
Before preparing the plan of attack it is important to identify a path to get away. When you spray the insecticide on the nest, the wasps quickly come out in swarms and may surround you. Therefore you have to find a quick way to escape before this happens.
- Set up an escape route so that you can quickly find a place to take cover once the nest is attacked.
- Also make sure there are no obstacles in the way, such as children's toys or gardening equipment, that you could potentially trip over.
Part 2 of 3: Destroy the Nest
Step 1. Use a spray insecticide
Purchase a spray insecticide product designed specifically to kill wasps at your nearest supermarket or hardware store. Products to kill small insects such as ants may not be powerful enough to kill wasps.
- Wear the proper protective clothing and follow all safety measures outlined in the previous section, then spray the insecticide towards the nest opening. Maintain the flow for about 10-15 seconds (or according to the instructions on the package), then leave the area quickly.
- Wait for the spray to take effect overnight. The next day, observe the nest from afar. If you still notice activity nearby, repeat the process a second time.
- When activity has ceased and most of the wasps have been killed, you can safely destroy the nest using a long stick. With the stick, break it into several pieces and spray it again with the insecticide spray.
- Dispose of the broken nest and any dead wasps immediately.
Step 2. Use a powdered insecticide
If the nest was built on the ground (such as those of yellow wasps), the powder insecticide is much more effective than the spray one, which cannot penetrate the heart of the nest.
- Get a powder product and place about ¼ cup of it in a bulb sprayer (or disposable plastic cup).
- During the night or early in the morning, spread the powder over the nest opening, making sure you are wearing the proper protective gear. Leave the area immediately.
- Do not obstruct or cover the nest, let the wasps enter and exit freely. As they pass through the opening, the legs and wings cover themselves with insecticidal dust, which they carry with them inside the nest, contaminating the other wasps.
- Once the insecticide powder is applied, the wasps should die within a day or two. If not, try repeating the process.
Step 3. Use dish soap
If you don't want to use pesticides and other chemicals, a simple solution of dish soap and water can be extremely effective in killing wasps, as it covers the wings, preventing them from flying and eventually drowning.
- Prepare the solution by mixing a good amount of dish soap (about ¼ cup) with a liter of hot water, until you see it frothy.
- If you want to destroy a nest located high up, pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray a powerful stream of water directly at the entrance to the nest for 10-15 seconds.
- If the nest is on the ground, simply pour the solution directly onto the entrance, then quickly move away from the area.
- While this method is very effective, it may be necessary to repeat the procedure several times, as the soapy water must come into direct contact with each wasp before killing it.
Step 4. Use the smoke
Another method of eliminating a high-positioned wasp nest that does not involve the use of pesticides is by smoking.
- Set up a small bonfire or light the barbecue directly under the nest. The smoke rises and penetrates the nest, suffocating the wasps and forcing them to flee.
- Let the smoke rise for an hour or two, and when you are sure the nest is empty, you can put out the fire and knock down the nest with a stick before disposing of it. However, it is recommended to keep a spray bottle with soap and water handy in case there are still some live wasps in the nest.
- Keep in mind that this method is only suitable for nests raised above the ground, hanging from tree branches or in other exposed areas. You must not use it for nests in doorways, eaves or in any area too close to your home, as the flames could accidentally cause a fire.
Step 5. Use water
You can try to drown a hanging nest with a cloth bag and a bucket of water.
- Put on your protective clothing and prepare a bucket of water under the wasp nest. Get a canvas bag, without holes or tears.
- Quickly and very carefully, place it over the nest and close the top tightly with a piece of string. In doing so, pull the nest away from the tree branch.
- Put the bag in the bucket of water and place a heavy stone on top so that the bag stays underwater.
- Leave the sack in the water all night and by morning all the wasps will be drowned.
- Be aware that this procedure involves close contact with the wasp nest, so you don't have to be clumsy or fearful!
Part 3 of 3: Preventing the Return of the Wasps
Step 1. Seal the access points
During the winter, do a thorough check of the entire exterior perimeter of the house for potential entry points for wasps, such as loose siding, unsealed vents, and cracks around windows and door frames. These are all ideal spots for wasps to build a nest, so sealing them now could prevent a potential infestation next spring.
Step 2. Cut down empty nests during the winter
Although wasps never return to a previously used nest, several species build the new one on top of the previous one. Therefore it is appropriate to destroy all abandoned and empty nests during the winter and to thoroughly clean the area before the queen claims the area when spring arrives.
Step 3. Make sure you seal the garbage cans
The smell of stale food can attract wasps, so it's a good idea to seal them up carefully. You should also clean them with water and disinfectant on a regular basis, to get rid of any food residues that always attract insects.
Step 4. Be careful with fruit trees
Fruit trees, and especially fallen and decaying fruit, are a magnet for wasps and bees, so consider carefully before planting one too close to home. If you already have fruit trees, you should regularly harvest ripe fruit and all that fallen to the ground and properly dispose of it before it can attract wasps.
Step 5. Hang fake nests
Wasps are extremely territorial and do not build their nest near another colony. Therefore, hanging a few false nests is a great way to discourage them. You can buy some at garden centers and hardware stores (many are almost perfectly built by the way), but you can get just as good by hanging a brown paper bag!
Advice
- If you have a nest on the house, another natural but very effective method is to place a bucket full of boiling water (or as close to boiling as possible) under the nest. Use a long stick to drop the nest into the bucket. Then use a shorter stick to destroy it, to make sure that any adults present, as well as the larvae, are burned by the heat or drowned. Remember to always protect yourself by wearing protective clothing, so as to prevent adult specimens escaping from the bucket from biting you (if you are willing to use chemicals, you can ask a second person to spray the insecticide on the last surviving adults, to facilitate the operation). When the queen (inside the nest) dies, all the adults who were not present also die because they can no longer find their nest.
- Mint-based insecticides are just as effective and less toxic for you and pets.
- Spray glue works just as well (better than some vespicides) and is the same price. The wasps try to get out but remain attached first to the nest and then to each other, blocking the exits. Sprinkle plenty of them even when they no longer come out to prevent outsiders from returning to the nest. Spray glue, however, does not work with bees, which, unlike wasps, break through by eating what clogs the hole.
- If you are allergic to wasp or hornet venom, contact a company that specializes in pest control and completely avoid approaching the nest.
Warnings
- You can only attempt to destroy the nest if it is relatively small, conspicuous and within reach of a spray can. If even one of these conditions doesn't happen, don't try to get rid of them yourself, it's too dangerous. Call an exterminator.
- Be very careful and don't stay near the nest too long to prevent the wasps from detecting you and stinging you.
- Do not spray the insecticide if the wasps are irritated. They may not all be in the nest when you want to use the product. Give them a few hours to calm down.
- Wasps can be very dangerous, use extreme caution.
