Wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets are a real hazard that homeowners sometimes must manage. The stings from these creatures are painful and in some cases, deadly.
So, how do you get rid of wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets? There are many methods including homemade remedies and commercial preparations, to apply to the nests of wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets to kill them and keep them away. Also, preventing an infestation of these insects can end the need for killing them.
This article will offer an in-depth examination of how to identify wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets approach to killing or controlling them, and also the steps to take to make a home pest free.
Wasps, Yellow Jackets, and Hornets are in the Same Order
The first step to ridding a home of wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets is understanding what they are and their habits. All three insects are wasps, just with different methods of preying on their food sources and their outer appearance.
Wasps belong to the order Hymenoptera and are the third largest of all insect orders with over 115,000 species. Besides the various forms of ordinary wasps, this order of insects includes yellow jackets, and hornets are closely related sub-groups within the wasp order.
One way to tell any member of the wasp family, including yellow jackets, from bees is that most wasps have a narrow waist separating their thorax (the end section of the insect) from its abdomen. Another way to tell is that wasps appear shiny and smooth while bees appear fuzzy.
Unlike bees, wasps do not die after one sting and, despite a few exceptions, one sting will not cause a person to die. However, attacks from wasp with stings over thirty or forty times due to a swarm attacking the unsuspected person who runs across their nest can be fatal. The same can be said of yellow jackets and hornets, and the pain and the danger they bring to a home are the main reasons to rid the home of these pests before someone gets hurt.
Killing Wasps
There are several diverse types of wasps ranging from mud daubers to those who prey on the pesky worms that destroy tomatoes in a garden. However, all wasps are aggressive and will become angry if provoked, causing painful stings.
There are two methods to kill wasps, each with its own form;
- Using commercially prepared insecticides
- Using materials around the home
We shall examine both ways to kill wasps and the pros and cons of each method.
Wasp Pest Control Using Commercially Manufactured Chemicals
Using chemicals, as was mentioned at the beginning of this article, is a highly effective way for homeowners to rid themselves of all members of the wasp family, including wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets.
The first order of the day is safety. Not only will the homeowner need a ladder and the chemicals they are going to use, but also a full set of protective gear for their bodies.
This equipment should include:
- A long-sleeved shirt
- Long pants
- Thick work gloves
- Closed-toe shoes
Some people prefer to wear a full beekeeper suit, but these can be expensive, and while they offer some measure of safety beyond dressing correctly, they are not, in most cases, necessary.
There are three stages to killing a nest of wasps, yellow jackets, or hornets, including:
- Drenching the nest
- Dusting the nest
- Removing the nest
The following is a closer look at these three stages.
Drenching the Nest
After locating the nest through observing the insects, prepare the chemicals that will be used then wait for nightfall when wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets are asleep and much less active.
Next, assemble your chemicals, including a concentrated liquid insecticide such as Cyzmic CS with water into a hand pump sprayer and a can of pyrethrin aerosol to spray any wasps that emerge from the nest. Always mix chemicals according to the directions that come with them.
Spray a 2-3 square foot area around the nest, then adjust the nozzle to a pin stream and spray the insecticide mixture directly into the interior of the nest.
Spraying around the nest will prevent the wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets from reestablishing a colony and kill any that try.
Dusting the Nest
Homeowners can dust a nest that does not appear to be active any longer to make certain the wasps, yellow jackets, or hornets are gone for good.
Choose insecticide dust labeled for wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets and load it into a hand duster following the manufacturer’s instructions on the label. Apply the dust liberally to the direct entrance hole of the nest and move quickly away in case any wasps still reside there. If no wasps, yellow jackets, or hornets appear, dust again and once again move back quickly.
Continue dusting the nest until the entire nest is covered with dust. Depending on the size of the nest, it may be necessary to re-dust to make sure the colony cannot reestablish a nest within the old one.
Removing the Nest
Once the nest has been treated, and all the insects are dead, you may successfully remove the nest. Place the nest into a double-lined trash bag, seal it, and dispose of it properly. Homeowners can also place the nest into a bucket of soapy water first as an extra precaution to make certain there are no living wasps, yellow jackets, or hornets still alive in the structure.
If the nest is inaccessible or the homeowner simply cannot remove the nest, retreat it with insecticide every fourteen days until all the immature insects inside have been killed.
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Wasp Control Using Substances Around the Home
Wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets can be killed without using costly and dangerous chemicals by using substances found around the home. These mixtures can be sprayed around the home, in the yard, and in the garden without harming children or animals.
First, gather the ingredients. For this recipe, you will need:
- Large bowl
- 2 cups apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups of sugar
- Wisk or stirring utensil
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons, liquid dish soap
- Clean, 2-liter, plastic, soda bottle
- Clean, 16-ounce spray bottle
- Heavy string
- Scissors
Next, combine 2 cups of apple cider vinegar, 2 cups of sugar and 1 cup of water into a large bowl. Wisk or stir the mixture until the sugar is dissolved. This mixture will attract insects.
Second, add 1/4 to 1/2 cups of liquid dish soap into the mixture and stir gently to prevent bubbles from forming. The dish soap will act as a degreaser to begin the dissolving of the insects’ outer shell plus inhibiting their ability to fly so that they drown faster in the solution.
Third, pour 4 cups of the mixture into a clean 2-liter soda bottle and put the remaining mixture into a 16-ounce spray bottle, adding an additional 2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap plus 1/2 cup of water to fill the spray bottle.
Next, place the 2-liter bottle of the mixture on the ground in an area easily accessible by the wasps but away from where household activities can disturb it. Homeowners can also tie a strong string to the neck of the bottle and hang it from a tree branch or fence post. Remove the bottle cap to allow the wasps to be attracted to and trapped within the bottle.
Use the spray bottle containing the stronger mixture for when there is a sighting of wasps in the backyard or other places on the property. Homeowners can also spray small nests by saturating the nest thoroughly with the solution until the wasps stop moving.
Unfortunately, the wasp trap will attract and kill other insects, including ones that are beneficial to a garden.
Treating When the Nest Cannot Be Located
If homeowners can’t find the nest or if it is located underground, treating the areas where the wasps, yellow jackets, or hornets have been seen is vital to eliminate the nest. The following method will not completely eliminate wasp colonies but will reduce the population of wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets to a manageable level.
First, mix an insecticide with water according to the manufacturer’s specifications and fill a hand pump sprayer. Next, apply the solution to areas where wasps congregate, including:
- Overhangs
- Shrubs and bushes
- Around light fixtures
- Eaves
- Around door and window frames
Spraying areas where wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets love to build their nests, homeowners can control any that decides to try to populate these areas.
Baiting for Wasps, Yellow Jackets, and Hornets
Baiting a home for wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets will quickly control these invasive pests.
Depending upon what type of insect the homeowner is dealing with, there are several types of bait. For instance, a yellow jacket may prefer sweet bait, while certain hornets prefer the scent of and taste of meat.
After choosing the bait that is needed for the infestation homeowners have at their home, it is necessary to mix the bait. It is best to use a disposable spoon or a measuring spoon that you can simply discard after use.
Important: Make certain to dispose of the spoon or measuring spoon properly and NEVER return it to the kitchen for reuse.
Once the bait is added to the bait stations, hang them around the outside of the home every 5-6 feet off the ground fifty feet apart in the yard. Make sure to hang the bait stations where children and pets cannot reach them.
Check the bait stations every few days to see if the bait has been consumed or if it is rotting. Replace the bait as needed with new until the pest problem is under control.
The Costs Involved in Removing Wasp, Yellow Jacket, and Hornet Nests
It depends on what is it that you decide to do to remove the wasp nest. If you choose to relocate it or hire a professional the cost will vary accordingly.
If you decide to destroy any life in the wasp nest then the cost also varies according to what type of insecticide you choose to use.
When planning or calculating the cost for this process remember to consider any tools that you might need such as protective suit and gear and disposable tools.
There are also dummy nests that can be purchased that deter the establishment of a new wasp nest by appearing to be full of an established colony. There are diverse types available online.
Hiring a Professional to Remove a Nest of Wasps, Yellow Jackets or Hornets
Wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets can infest some very unusual spaces, including inside the walls of the garage and underground. To remove these nests, it is better to hire a professional exterminator.
The costs for removing each type of wash, yellow jacket and hornet vary depending on the site of the problem and the type of insect being removed.
Wasp removal is a one-time pest removal, and it can cost between $300 to $1000 depending on the area where the home is located. Professional exterminators can go places and do things that homeowners cannot, such as:
- Reaching hard to get nests in attics or walls, high up in a tree, or under eaves that need extra equipment
- Have and use equipment including ladders, protective gear, and other tools
- Utilize chemicals in professional strengths including residual chemicals that kill pests that are not inside the nest when it was treated
Professional exterminators can and do safely remove the nests of wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets from the home, making it safe once more for the homeowners and their families.
The Damages a Nest of Wasps, Yellow Jackets, or Hornets Can Do To a Structure
While homeowners may think that wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets nests are only a danger because the insects can sting humans and their animals, this is not quite true. These insects can and do cause extensive structural damage if not controlled.
For instance, yellow jackets can cause structural damage if their nest is built inside a wall or in the attack because they will eat through the wood in trusses and drywall to expand their nest. Also, to keep warm and raise their young, the nests of wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets are moist, and this moisture can and does damage drywall and invites the growth of mold.
That is one of the main reasons that the nest should not just have its occupants exterminated, but it needs to be removed.
However, if the nest a homeowner finds is already empty and dried out, removal is not necessary, especially if it is wedged between two walls or inside an attic space. Simply leaving it to the elements will find it disintegrated and illuminated soon enough.
Why Homeowners Should Not Attempt to Treat for Yellow Jackets Themselves
Yellowjackets are one of the most aggressive of the wasp family and will stop at nothing to defend their nests. No matter what method you choose to treat, homeowners are subjecting themselves to the danger of inciting a swarm attack upon their person and endangering anyone or thing that is nearby. In fact, they will chase people or animals they feel are attacking them for up to a mile.
A brief list of senseless and dangerous remedies homeowners should not try including:
- Bug sprays
- Gasoline poured into the nest entrance
- Attempting to pour a bleach and ammonia mixture down the entrance to the nest
- Dumping boiling water into the entrance of the nest
The reason these remedies are dangerous is that they all involve having close contact with angry and aggressive yellow jackets. However, any insect such as wasps and hornets will react the same if attacked by a homeowner using any of these methods.
There is also the chance that the pesticide the homeowner has chosen might not work well. Most of the chemical bug killers on the market today are mainly repellents and are not formulated to destroy flying, stinging, wasps.
Two Reasons Not to Kill Wasp Family; the Wasps, Yellow Jackets, or Hornets
Wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets are normally docile creatures that are beneficial to farmers and gardeners alike. These small creatures are not normally aggressive unless their nest is disturbed, then they can become a dangerous swarm with stings that are painful and can become deadly.
Killing each type of insect in the wasp family concerned with this article, the wasp, the yellow jacket, and the hornet is very possible. Yet, first, it might be valuable to understand a little more about wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets so that an informed decision can be made as to how dangerous the insects truly are to a homeowner’s property versus how valuable they are to gardens and yards.
There are two enormous reasons to allow wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets to remain in the yard or garden. They are to help control pests and to pollinate.
Wasps, Yellow Jackets, and Hornets Help Control Pests
Wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets are highly beneficial to gardeners and farmers in that they feed their young on insects that would otherwise damage crops and ornamental plants. They also eat insects such as the house fly and blowfly larva so that a homeowner’s home would be less likely to be bothered by these filthy invaders.
Controlling wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets sometimes become necessary as although they are not normally aggressive, they can come into conflict with humans over their choice of foods such as juices, sodas, and other sweets.
Wasps, Yellow Jackets, and Hornets are Great Pollinators
Wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets actually help pollinate plants. They are not as effective as honeybees because they lack the hairy legs of a bee, but with the growing shortage of honeybees in the world, these little creatures may be our last line of defense against failing crops.
It is because of their ability to pollinate that many believe a nest of wasps, yellow jackets, or hornets should be relocated instead of destroyed. There are a time and a place to destroy a nest, but if it can be conserved, it should be.
Wasps have been known to pollinate such crops as melons, spinach, and all manner of flowering plants.
To remove a nest, wait until the queen leaves the nest and fill in the hole where she emerged with dirt to prevent her reentering the nest. This means having a great deal of patience and doing some detective work to watch for the queen’s activity.
Avoiding Contact with Wasps, Yellow Jackets and Hornets
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) gives the following tips to avoiding contact with members of the wasp family to prevent the need to kill the nests of wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets.
- Don’t leave outside lights on any longer than necessary at night because the light will attract insects and the wasps that eat them.
- Do not squash a wash as doing so will cause the dead wasp to release a chemical alarm signal telling other wasps to attack
- Avoid leaving sugary and meat snacks in open containers
- Keep garbage cans well sealed and as clean as possible
- Pets should be fed indoors or in screened porches
- Make sure to plug the ends of playground equipment to prevent wasps from building a nest in them
It is important to remember that wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets are not enemies of humanity; they are acting purely on instinct and not out of malice when they build a nest or attack. To brutalize them because we are invading their space is both criminal and disgusting.
Other tips PETA states is to remember that killing one or even a dozen wasps will not cure the problem a homeowner may be having as wasps live in colonies. Where there are those dozen, there are hundreds of thousands left in the nest.
If homeowners or their family members do encounter a wasp, yellow jacket, or hornet in the yard, do not panic. Do not swing or swat at them as doing so will make them think they need to defend themselves, and that means stinging.
If a wasp enters the car while it is going down the road, PETA urges drivers to pull over to the side of the road and stop if possible. Then open the car windows or doors and wait for the insect to leave. If the animal is having problems finding its way out, then gently coax it using a piece of paper to the window or door.
Ways to Keep Wasps, Yellow Jackets, and Hornets from Inhabiting Your Home
Benjamin Franklin once stated in 1736, “A pound of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The same holds true for keeping a wasp, yellow jacket, or wasp infestation from happening inside the walls or the gardens of a home.
Homeowners have at least three things they can do to prevent wasps from building nests in or near their homes, including:
- Using a Clove-Geranium-Lemongrass Oil Blend
- Using Peppermint Oil
- Patching Up Cracks
Homeowners need to consider these preventative steps as outlined below.
Using a Clove-Geranium-Lemongrass Oil Blend
According to research published in the Journal of Pest Management Science, a mixture of clove, geranium, and lemongrass oils repels wasps. Homeowners need to apply this oily mixture using several drops mixed with water and dish soap with a spray bottle, coating outside the home where wasps are likely to build their nests. Some of these areas include under eaves, porch roofs, and any other ledges or crevices.
Using Peppermint Oil
Homeowners can use peppermint oil as a natural wasp repellent for hard to reach areas around their homes or use EcoSmart Organic Wasp and Hornet Killer to target established nests.
Patching Up Cracks
Wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets love to build their nests in areas that are open and will not invade by making an opening themselves. If homeowners wish to prevent these animals from building their nests in their homes, they need to seal up any tiny cracks, like those around the edges of siding, or where power lines enter the house. They also need to patch up holes in window screens and make sure the covering for the vent leading into the attic is intact.
The best time to do this is to inspect and fix any openings in the late fall after any wasps that may be present have died or in early spring before any wasps that may be in the areas to be examined become active.
If, while doing their inspection, homeowners discover a wasp, yellow jacket, or hornet’s nest inside a wall, they should not wall it off because the insects will chew through the drywall or find their way out through ventilation vents.
