How do I safely get rid of a wasp nest outside my house?
I’ve got what I think is a rather large wasp nest beginning to form on my backyard veranda. I’m hoping to get rid of these things before the problem really gets out of hand, but I’ve heard horror stories about wasps going nuts when you try to remove the nest. What’s the best way to deal with this safely?
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It would be helpful to identify the type of hornet/wasp to better understand if they even need to be removed. Having pollinators in your yard can be a good thing! If you’re set on removing the nest, I’d recommend waiting until evening when they’re less active. Wear a few layers of clothing and an apiary hat to protect yourself. It sounds like this is NOT a cavity nest, meaning it’s not inside of a wall/soil and you can see all sides of the nest. That will make this an easier job. Purchase an aerosol can with a good spray distance – I would recommend EcoVia Wasp Spray since it’s FIFRA exempt. Purchasing a pole attachment like a Gotcha Sprayer would provide even longer reach if you’re concerned about getting too close. Spray the nest from far away and give it ten minutes or so to take effect. Repeat the application as needed until you stop seeing activity. Bag the nest and throw it in the trash.
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Hornets and wasps are very aggressive when it comes to colony defense, so I generally recommend hiring a professional to reduce the odds of being stung. The other reason to hire a pro here is that proper removal requires positively identifying the species, which requires a trained eye.
If you do want to give it a shot yourself, treatment can be done a number of ways. I’d use a conventional pesticide that’s designed for wasps and follow the label instructions. Wear personal protective equipment, including a bee suit and bee veil. Approach the nest quietly and slowly to avoid startling the wasps and just observe them. After observing and identifying all entry/exit points, treat these areas directly with the pesticide by injecting it into the cavity or nest itself. After sufficient time has elapsed and you don’t see any more wasps, remove and destroy the nest by hand.
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If you do want to give it a shot yourself, treatment can be done a number of ways. I’d use a conventional pesticide that’s designed for wasps and follow the label instructions. Wear personal protective equipment, including a bee suit and bee veil. Approach the nest quietly and slowly to avoid startling the wasps and just observe them. After observing and identifying all entry/exit points, treat these areas directly with the pesticide by injecting it into the cavity or nest itself. After sufficient time has elapsed and you don’t see any more wasps, remove and destroy the nest by hand.
To safely get rid of a wasp nest outside your house, spray it with a wasp insecticide at night when wasps are less active, then remove the nest after 24–48 hours. Wear protective clothing and keep a safe distance. If it's large or hard to reach, call a professional.
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Get some fake decoy wasp nests and hang them up around the outside of your house. Wasps are extremely territorial, so when they see the decoy nests they will go away and look for a new home.
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Tip: wait until it's night so that there's a higher likelihood of all the wasps being in the nest. Then spray the nest liberally with a can of wasp spray. You should be able to safely knock down the nest and dispose of it the next morning! Good luck.
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Good tip! If you're concerned about safety, you can also wear heavy-duty long sleeves, pants, and gloves. Leather and denim are decent materials for protecting against wasp stings.
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Fill a spray bottle with some water and dish soap and spray it all over the wasps and nests. The soap will weigh tthem down so they can't fly and blocks their airholes so they can't breathe. After they suffocate, you can crush up the nest and vacuum everything up.
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