While the best way to prevent a wasp infestation is to never disturb their nests, large colonies and hard-to-reach areas may require professional treatment. If you do decide to treat a wasps’ nest yourself, use residual liquid insecticides and spray only where wasps are present.
As with any pest control, wear gloves and closed shoes when working in your yard. Keep food waste, trash, and recycled materials away from your home to avoid attracting wasps.
1. Remove the Nest
Luckily, these wasp killer bug less aggressive than yellow jackets and paper wasps. You can often get rid of them by simply removing the nest.
Look for their tunnels in the ground, they are marked by a dirt mound with a small hole in the middle. You can also use a garden spade to uncover the nest and spray it with a wasp killer powder insecticide from a safe distance.
You can purchase wasp killer sprays at most hardware stores and follow the instructions for using them safely. If the nest is difficult to reach, you should call a professional.
2. Remove the Food Source
These large flying stinging insects hunt and paralyze cicadas to feed their larvae. Unlike other wasps, they are non-aggressive and do not defend their nests, but an infestation can still interfere with outdoor activities.
Also known as digger wasps, they look like a hornet or European wasp and can be up to 1 1/2 inches long. They have a black abdomen with yellow markings and orange tint to their wings. Control them by dusting cicada killer wasp tunnel entrances with 5% carbaryl (Sevin). Or, for larger aggregations, spray the area.
3. Remove the Nest Location
Cicada Killer Wasps love to nest in areas with a lot of cicada activity, such as lawns, gardens, and golf courses. These wasps dig coin-sized holes in the ground and create piles of soil around their entrances.
If you see a nest, spray it with a commercial wasp and hornet spray from 20 feet away and at nighttime. These wasps tend to be more motionless at those times. Also, soaking the site with water can deter them from nesting there. Alternatively, hang a fake wasp nest.
4. Repel the Wasps
Wearing bulky, long-sleeved clothing and a hat can help prevent stings. If you want to avoid using pesticide, spray the nest from a safe distance with a mixture of water and dish soap. The soap clogs the wasps’ breathing pores, causing them to die instantly.
To prevent future wasp problems, regularly inspect sheds, garages and fences for new nests. Cover outdoor food scraps and clean up any spills as soon as they happen, and tightly seal garbage pins and compost piles. You can also repel wasps by planting decoy plants that mimic their appearance, such as fennel and thistle.
5. Kill the Wasps
To kill the wasps, use a wasp killer spray. This can be found at most hardware stores. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label and use it from a safe distance. Also, be sure to close any open doors or screenless windows in your home before spraying.
It’s best to find and destroy the nest early in the season, before it gets too large. This will reduce the risk of angry wasps attacking you or your family. Also, it will prevent the wasps from rebuilding their colony the following year.
6. Remove the Stinging Area
Many common solitary wasps build their nests in open areas like attics and wall voids. They will defend their nests with painful stings. Sealing crevices, screening vents and keeping garage doors closed can reduce wasp nesting around homes.
Often, a simple solution of soap and water can be used to treat nests. Fill a hose-tipped spray bottle with a 1:4 solution of dish soap and water. Target the nest entrance and spray for about 15 seconds. Then quickly leave the area and seek shelter. This treatment will kill the wasps.
7. Repel the Wasps
The stinging insect family can cause serious problems. Whether they are clinging to the side of your house or buzzing around your head, they are a danger that should not be ignored.
Use store-bought insecticide spray to treat any voids or wall cavities where wasps may build nests. You can also plant wasp-deterrent plants like pennyroyal, marigold, wormwood, and mint on your property. This will keep solitary wasps from building their homes near yours. Keep windows and doors closed, and seal any cracks or tears in your home’s exterior.
8. Remove the Stinging Area
Many bees and wasps live in colonies and use stinging to obtain and defend their food sources. Solitary wasps such as mud daubers, cicada killer wasps, and potter wasps do not build colonies but may aggressively protect their nests.
Attacking a wasp’s nest puts people at risk of being stung multiple times and can result in life-threatening anaphylactic shock. Pouring boiling water on a nest can also provoke stinging responses, particularly when the alarmed wasps are defending their hives. Attempting to burn or destroy nests can also trigger an angry swarm and pose other safety risks.
9. Kill the Wasps
Individual wasps can be eliminated with store-bought wasp killer sprays. Follow the instructions on the label when using these products. Be sure to treat potential nesting areas as well, such as wall cavities and sheds.
If you are trying to remove a wasp’s nest without killing the wasps, try working at night when they are less active. Be sure to wear long clothing and gloves when doing so. Ensure that there are no children’s toys or gardening equipment nearby that could get knocked over and trigger a sting.
10. Repel the Wasps
There are many products available at home and hardware stores that spray wasps and prevent them from collecting cellulose for their nests. Essential oils such as clove, geranium, lemongrass, and peppermint oil also repel pestemite.
Regularly inspect your walls and eaves for new wasp nests each spring, and treat any openings as soon as you notice them. Cover any outdoor drinks and food containers, and remove ripening fruit from under trees. Keep garbage cans tightly sealed and compost piles covered. These simple steps will discourage wasps and prevent them from relocating to new areas.