The Powerful Powdered Deterrents
Powdered deterrents such as talcum powder, boric acid, and cinnamon can solve the problem quickly. Sprinkling boric acid around into the hole will poison the wasps. This method usually works right away. However, repeat this process for a couple of nights in a row to be sure the wasps are gone.
Since cinnamon and talcum powder act as repellents, use them after you are done with boric acid to prevent ground wasps from coming back. Also, seal the existing holes with bricks or rocks. Wasps rarely return to their previous nests, but repellents are recommended just in case.
Repel Ground Wasps Away With Plants
Even though a typical wasp is attracted to nice-smelling flowers, certain plants these ground pests cant stay close to.
These plants present a good method to repel wasps nesting naturally. Irrespective of how you choose to distribute these strong-scented plants across your lawn, this wasp pest control offers effective means to remove these pests.
Furthermore, you must know that wormwood is poisonous to animals, humans, and plants. As a result, it is not a good option, especially if you have small children or pets.
You Dont Have To Put Up With Wasps
Wasps might be necessary to the ecosystem, but that doesnt mean they make pleasant neighbors.
There are plenty of ways to control a wasp population so that you can enjoy outside time without worrying about stab-happy insects ruining your day. Following these easy steps to get rid of a wasp nest without being stung will help you get the most use out of your porch, patio, garage, or garden.
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Ways To Be Smart & Safe When Dealing With Wasps
It is possible to get rid of a wasp nest without getting stung. You just must be very careful and very smart. Whenever you set out to deal with wasps, be prepared! Wear protective clothing and shoes, and be ready to run.
#1 Plot your escape route before you do anything else.
#2 Dress for the occasion!
When you move in, youll need:
- Head and face covering. A scarf wrapped around your head and face, covered by a hood is recommended.
- Long pants tucked into socks
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Goggles
- Gloves
Make sure all your garments are closely fitted and there is no gap where a wasp could slip in and sting the dickens out of you. Remember that wasps can sting multiple times.
#3 Go at night. Wasps sleep at night and you will have much better luck moving or eliminating them when it is dark out. Use shielded, tinted, or dimmed lights so as not to rile them.
#4 Tackle your wasp problem early on. If you let the nest stay in place for a long time before dealing with it, it will just get bigger and more difficult to manage or eradicate.
#5 Only attempt to deal with nests that are easily accessible. If you have to climb a ladder or squeeze through a narrow opening to get to it, call in a professional. If things go wrong, you dont want to fall off a ladder or get stuck while being swarmed.
How To Get Rid Of Wasps And Hornets
Wasps are a pesky summer insect that can make outdoor life uncomfortable. But fear not, well show you how to identify them, kill them and remove their nests to keep your home wasp free in this handy guide.
Step 1Step 1Identify the Right Insect
Though bees and wasps may look similar, theyre quite different. The body shape of a bee is a bit more bulbous and hairier, while wasps are much skinnier with a shiny appearance. Beehives are honeycomb-shaped while wasp nests are round and made of fibres and saliva.
Step 2Step 2Get Rid of Wasps and Hornets Nests
First things first, never swat a nest down or try to hit it off of your home. Its best to leave wasp nest removal to professionals, but if you attempt it, be sure to do so at night when wasps are less active. Wasp traps can also be effective to capture and kill them while theyre out hunting. Wasp sprays are a great option as well but be sure to use them in well ventilated areas.
Step 3Step 3Keep Wasps and Hornets from Invading Your House
Use wasp traps to help prevent them from building nests. If you can find one with the attractant already included thats great, otherwise, bait them with sugar water or juice. You can also purchase fake wasp nests, as theyre territorial and seeing an existing nest in the area can be a deterrent.
Step 5Step 5How to Treat Wasp Stings
Wasp stings can be painful, but theyre easily treatable. Some of the symptoms they can cause are:
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How To Get Rid Of Wasp Nests
Getting rid of wasp nests seems like a simple job, but it can be complex, since aggravated wasps will swarm and sting.
To keep yourself safe and guarantee good results, always spray the nest with store-bought wasp killer at least 24 hours before trying to remove it. If you still see wasp activity, spray the nest again.
Once the nest looks quiet, follow these tips:
If the nest is in a hard-to-reach area, dont try to remove it yourself. Instead, contact Smiths Pest Management to remove the nest safely for you.
How To Get Rid Of Yellow Jackets
Yellow jackets can build their nests both above and below ground, making them especially pesky pests. Youll want to hire a professional if youre dealing with a large nest or one underground . Smaller yellow jacket nests can be removed with the following method:
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Removing Nests Inside Structures
The most challenging of all social vespids to get rid of are those that construct concealed nests inside walls, attics and other areas inside homes and structures. Wasp sprays are seldom effective against these nests because the nest is often located some distance from the entrance and the spray never reaches the core of the nest. Insecticidal dusts are very effective when blown into the nest opening, but the most widely available dust, Sevin 5 Garden Dust, cannot be legally used in structures because structures is not listed on the label as an approved site for application. Sevin 5 Garden Dust can only legally be applied to turf and plants growing outside.
My neighbor took this picture of a hole under his siding thatyellow jackets were using as an entrance to a nest they had builtinside his walls.
Although highly effective, Sevin 5 Dust cannot be legally used to control wasp nests in or on a structure. My neighbors friend didnt know this. He filled an empty water bottle with the dust and then blew into the nest opening. The colony appeared dead that day and no further activity was seen around the nest opening.
If you discover yellow jackets nesting inside your home, you can choose to ignore it or call a pest control company to destroy it. Never plug the outside opening of these nests because this will force the wasps to chew their way into the interior of the house and this is never a good thing.
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How To Prevent Wasps From Building A Nest
Wasps are not only a nuisance for many homeowners since they construct their nests near and around structures, but they may also be harmful, particularly if you have an allergy to them.
Its simpler to prevent wasps from nesting in the first place than it is to get rid of an existing nest. So, lets talk about ways to prevent wasps from building nests near and on your house.
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How To Get Rid Of Wasps
If you already have a wasp problem and you need to know how to kill wasps, then it helps to understand what type you are dealing with and their particular nesting habits.
Yellow jackets, for instance, normally build their nests in the ground, and unfortunately, you may not even know theyre there until its too late. Nothing is worse than going out to the garden and coming back with a dozen or so stings. These aggressive wasps can also be found nesting in trees and shrubs, beneath eaves, and within other areas like wall voids in old buildings.
Hornets, too, commonly nest in trees or under the eaves of buildings.
Paper wasps, which are the least aggressive, can be found just about anywhere, building their nests under nearly any horizontal surface including eaves, overhangs, tree limbs, and within abandoned structures.
Most of the time all of these wasps prefer quiet, out-of-the-way places. Of course, it doesnt always seem to work out like that. This is when getting rid of wasps is our only option through the use of sprays or other means.
Fill Up Cracks In The Walls
To prevent wasps from constructing nests in and around your house, do a thorough inspection of all structures on your property and look for any cracks or holes in their exteriors.
If you see any holes or cracks on the outside of your house, seal them immediately since this is an access site for wasps.
While doing this outdoor sweep, make sure your houses screen doors and vents arent damaged in any way, since wasps might use them to gain access to your home. If they have holes, you should replace them as soon as possible.
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How Do I Keep Wasps From Coming Back
The last way to keep get rid of wasp nests without being stung is to keep them from ever showing up in the first place.
Wasps are territorial. They dont like to nest near other hives, so, if theres another wasp nest around, they stay away. They just dont see the point of competing for resources with other hunters.
Which is where a decoy nest comes in.
Just hang them in areas that wasps might like so any incoming insects will assume the territorys been claimed and go elsewhere.
A quick note, if you actually have wasps in your home, take a look at our guide on the ways that wasps got into your house here.
Get Rid Of Wasps With Sprays
Got those safety measures checked off? Its time to get to work.
The most common and most effective method of control, says the UNH article, is a pressurized can of wasp and hornet jet spray. The brand is not important. Its spraying action is.
With some know-how and planning, that spray is all you need to get rid of your pesky wasp problem.
Pelham says to make sure you get one labeled for wasps.
Cockroach and ant killer will have the same active ingredient, but the wasp-specific stuff will have the special nozzle that lets you spray the nest without putting yourself in danger.
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Even After Your Best Efforts A Wasp Colony May Still Find Their Way Into Your Yard:
If you do find a nest in your yard, its best to call pest control professionals to neutralize and get rid of it for you. There are some DIY solutions for small nests such as wasp traps or decoys but you need to be careful! Pestout has the tools and experience required to get the job done.
Wasp super nets and large colonies can seem overwhelming and scary. But its important to remember that wasps arent always a nuisance! Its true they can sting us repeatedly, but they also perform some much-needed pest control. For example, cicada killer wasps prey on cicada eggs, while digger wasps hunt insects and larvae. If you see these wasps in your yard, you dont need to worry about them.
The best way to keep wasps out of your yard this summer is to clean up after yourself and stay on top of home maintenance. But if you do end up with wasps on your hands, you dont need to stay inside! Instead, give Pestout a call. Well come take care of your Wasp problem, so you can enjoy being outside.
For more information about Pestouts Insect Treatments, call our office at 814-2923 or
Kill Ground Wasps With Diatomaceous Earth
A versatile white powder composed of tiny fossils, food-grade diatomaceous earth kills several types of insects by cutting their bodies. At nighttime, sprinkle DE around and inside the wasps nest. As the pests travel back and forth, theyll carry the lethal powder with them.
Add more DE every few weeks or after it rains to continue to benefit from this wasp-killing solution. DE is an easy way to kill ground wasps and regain control of your garden.
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Smart Wasp Repellent Recipes & Ideas
In addition to making your surroundings unattractive to wasps and setting up passive repellents, you can and should actively use natural repellents. There are many natural concoctions you can mix up that will help keep wasps and other undesirable insects away.
Essential oils are also handy wasp and insect repellents. Peppermint oil is the go-to oil for repelling a wide variety of insects such as cockroaches, bedbugs, fleas, ants, and wasps. There are many ways to use this simple oil.
Avoid Providing Other Foods That Might Attract Wasps
Pet foods, nectar, and bird foods can also attract wasps and other pests. Keep this put-away or relegate them to an unused part of the yard when you are using the deck or patio.
If you like the hummingbird feeder near your window where you can see the birds, be aware that it will also attract wasps and other insects. Move it away when using the outdoor space. Since how to make hummingbird food also applies to how to make wasp food, it can be challenging to feed one species and not the other.
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Wasp Trapping Bowls Can Get Rid Of Wasps
All you need is a big bowl of water, apple cider vinegar, a little sugar, and a little dish soap.
Think of this as a land mine for wasps, who love sugary liquids. They get attracted by the sugar water, land in it, get covered in soapy water, and well, lets just say that this isnt the way you want your soda runs to end.
Theres a concern about attracting more than wasps with this method, but if you want to keep your bee population and not your wasp population, apply some apple cider vinegar to the rim of the bowl. Bees cant stand the stuff, but wasps cant get enough.
All youll need to do is empty the bowl every few days and refill it. Set out your homemade wasp bowls wherever you see wasps.
Deter Wasps With Strong Scents
Smells that can be used to discourage wasps from certain areas include tomato stems, fresh mint, ground coffee and cloves, says Catherine Alyons at Garden Buildings Direct .
Consider growing herbs indoors that are strong smelling on a kitchen windowsill to keep wasps out. Essential oils can also be used to keep wasps at bay.
According to a study in the journal of pest management science in 2013, peppermint oil is almost guaranteed to keep wasps away. Add a few drops of peppermint oil to a tissue or cotton wool balls and scatter them around the garden. Place between decking, porch roofs and any other gaps in which wasps could congregate.
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Repel Wasps Using Chili Spray
If you dont want to spend a lot of money to keep wasps from nesting in and around your house by purchasing various oils, you may use chili peppers to assist repel wasps from your property.
To accomplish this, go out and get a couple of cups of spicy chili peppers and chop them up into little pieces. Then put two cups of water in a saucepan and bring it to a boil.
Place the cut-up chili peppers in the boiling water once the water in the saucepan begins to boil, and cook for two minutes. Turn off the burner when the two minutes are up and keep the pan on the stove until the mixture has cooled.
Fill a spray bottle with the chili mixture and spray it over the surfaces of your house where wasps are drawn to establish nests.
Ways To Get Rid Of Wasps Naturally
Minimize the things that might attract wasps to your home and yard. By preventing them setting up shop in the first place, you will have won the war without a battle.
- Peppermint
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