Peppermint oil: Yellow jackets are not fond of mint-based herbs like spearmint and peppermint. The great thing about peppermint oil is that it naturally repels all sorts of pests, including yellow jackets, wasps, flies and spiders.
An effective method for underground nests is to use a mixture of boiling hot water and dish detergent. Fill a bucket with scalding hot water and soap and pour the entire bucket over the entry and exit holes. This will likely kill the entire colony instantly but is not recommended for above-ground yellowjacket nests.
Use a spray bottle with soapy water once in a while in spots where you've had to remove yellow jacket nests. Soapy water can keep nests from reforming. You can also use organic pest removal products as a deterrent. Carefully inspect your yard before beginning outdoor work to be sure there are no nests nearby.
If you have a problem with wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, or bees, Pine Sol can spare you from painful stings. Remember not to use it on honey bees – we need them to help pollinate our food plants – but for other hive insects, spray full strength Pine Sol as an insecticide.
Spectracide Pro Wasp and Hornet Killer
The Spectracide Pro line works for up to four weeks when sprayed at the nest. It is effective against wasps, mud daubers, hornets, and yellow jackets and kills any insects and the nest within seconds of contact. You'll need to coat the nest for the best results.
Yellow jackets will be drawn to any yard that has a lot of food. If there are many flies, caterpillars, spiders, or other insects on your property, there will also be wasps. Because of this, the only way to get rid of these pests is to treat and stop the problems that cause them to be around in the first place.
The average person can definitely outrun a yellow jacket, but you may need to run a fair distance. Some yellow jackets have chased people up to a mile. Do not run inside your home or a business. The yellow jackets will most definitely follow you into buildings.
What Eats Yellowjackets? Most yellowjackets' predators are mammals that are much bigger than wasps, like skunks, black bears, and raccoons. In Georgia and Indiana, raccoons have been identified as the top yellowjackets predators.
Use Peppermint Oil
The smell of peppermint is a yellow jacket repellant. Combine a few drops of pure peppermint oil, a few tablespoons of dish soap and warm water in a spray bottle. Locate any active wasp nests and carefully spray the concoction around the entrance.
Pheromone is a chemical released when a yellow jacket is killed. This chemical signals to the other members of the colony that a yellowjacket has been killed. As a consequence, it will attract the other members of the colony.
If you cannot find the source of your yellowjacket problem, set up a food bait trap. Yellowjackets will collect the food and allow you to carefully follow them back to their hive location. Be careful to not disturb the hive once you have found it, however, as a disturbed colony is likely to become defensive and attack.
A: All pesticides are lethal to bees. Even soap and water kill them. Soap and water are used to kill bees when they have invaded home walls, block walls or irrigation boxes. Never spray a plant that is flowering with anything.
Repellents – Conventional mosquito and tick repellents will not prevent persistent foraging by yellowjackets.
Yellow Jackets will only die from weather exposure when there's been 5-7 days of weather under 45 degrees in a row.
Yellow jackets are less active at night and most of them will be in their underground nest. Yellow jackets are less active when the ambient temperature is about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If working at night, keep in mind a flashlight may attract the wasps.
A colony of yellow jackets only forages about a mile from home to gather their food, so if you are seeing them frequently, odds are you're close to their colony, or nest. Nests have populations of 2,000 to 4,000 worker yellow jackets (all female), some drone (male) yellow jackets and up to 50 queens at once!
Mothballs And Peppermint Oil Can Keep Yellow Jackets Away
It is important to note that mothsballs are safe for humans, but they can be effective at repelling yellow jackets. Peppermint oil, in addition to being a strong deterrent, may help to control these pests.
A slow, but sure-fire way to knock out a yellowjacket colony is with 5% Sevin dust. Dust the entrance liberally with 5 % Sevin dust (maybe two teaspoons). The next day as the workers go in and out, they pick up the dust and track it into the nest.
Combine equal parts vinegar and water in a plastic spray bottle. White distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar both work equally well for repelling wasps without killing them. Spray bottles are inexpensive and can be found at any home improvement, convenience, or general merchandise store.