Getting Rid of Wasps

A solitary wasp or two is not really a problem. In fact wasps can actually be beneficial, as they are predators on other insects. But if you see lots of wasps you have a problem.

You can make or buy wasp traps, these can be very effective in eliminating your wasp problems. If this does not work well, you may have to locate and kill the nest.

Look for wasp activity in your yard and around your house. Wasps can build paper nests under the eaves of your home, hanging in trees, and inside of trees with visible holes. Some wasps, such as yellowjackets, live in nests underground.

Once you locate the nest you have two options. You can, of course, call an exterminator. They will come prepared with the appropriate pesticide and protective clothing to safely rid you home or yard of the nest.

The other option is to get rid of them yourself. You will need to kill the nest. This is best done at night when most of the wasps are inside. Be sure to wear protective clothing. For the do it yourselfer, that would mean multiple layers of clothing and gloves at the very least. A net type face covering is also recommended. Protective eyewear is also a good addition.

There are various types of wasp sprays available in the garden department of home improvement stores or your local garden center may also carry them. You will need a projectile type spray for the nests that are out of reach. Be sure to saturate the nest, for optimal results. If the nest is underground you will need a different type of spray. You may have to repeat the application several times to ensure that all of the wasps are dead. This can be done over a couple of days to include any individuals that might have not returned to the nest in the evening.
Note: Even using a good pesticide in this killing process will not guarantee that you will not be stung.

Once you see no more wasp activity, you should be able to remove the nest safely. You may wish to wear your protective clothing and gloves just to be safe.

Once you have killed the wasps you might want to take preventative action in the future to discourage their return. Put traps out early in the summer. In the fall you might add a bit of hot dog, as the wasps are seeking protein later in the year. Maintenance your traps for cobwebs around the entry holes as the wasps will ignore the trap if there are webs. Paper nests in the eaves can be knocked down before they become too large. Unfortunately, the underground nests of yellowjackets are not as readily noticeable in the early stages.