Whether you're using a spray, soapy water, or boiling water, the target is the same: You'll want to hit the entrance of the nest and work your way out from there, covering the entire thing if there's time. Don't be shy with your attack. Douse the entire nest with whatever substance you're using to kill the wasps.
Create a mixture that's 2 tablespoons of dish soap and water and pour it into a spray bottle, then spray it on the nests. "The portion will clog the wasps' pores, killing them almost instantly," Williams says.
Better safe than sorry! Sneak up at dusk when most of the wasps are inside the nest. Spray an aerosolized insecticide on hanging nests, or apply a dust-based insecticide on underground nests. If you need a flashlight, it's recommended to use one with a red filter to avoid attracting the wasps.
Do NOT attempt to remove or treat a wasp nest yourself. A number of DIY nest removal guides and treatment products can be found online. These may seem convenient and cheaper, but they are often unsafe and ineffective.
Most wasps will not return to a sprayed nest. But there is always the chance that a few survivors will return and rebuild their nest. This can be especially true if the nest was not completely destroyed, or if there were two nests close by that were not sprayed at all. Wasps do not have a memory span of a few days.
If you destroy a small wasp nest (golf ball size with just the queen present) and do not kill the queen, she will typically move to a different location and start a new nest. Some worker wasps will be present as nests become older and more established.
Wasp nests are best removed at night time because wasps are less active, react slowly and are far less aggressive. Use a red coloured light to view the nest or wait until early morning to take advantage of the morning light. Caution: *Do not remove nests if they are located on a difficult-to-reach spot.
Since wasps are least active at night, that's the best time to spray a wasp nest. But that doesn't mean you have to stay up all night. The University of Minnesota Extension says late evening or early morning will work.
Don't ever try to destroy the nest during day time as the wasps are most active at that time. Wait till evening when they have settled down and you can destroy it at night. If you spot a nest in the initial stage when the queen has just began to build it then you can knock it down anytime.
However, spraying often and early may help prevent a new nest from growing larger and more established. If you took down a wasp nest earlier in the season, you can also spray the area with vinegar and let it soak to prevent wasps from coming back. Don't use the spray on an inhabited nest.
Don't hit it
Whacking a wasp nest with a stick or bat is one of the stupidest things you could do. So is knocking down a wasp nest. The problem occurs when the nest lands on the ground. At this point, the wasps will burst out of the nest and more than likely attack you.
What scent or smell keeps wasps away? Wasps have a strong sense of smell and dislike certain plants like peppermint, spearmint, basil, eucalyptus, cloves, geranium, thyme, citronella, bay leaves, and lemongrass. They are also repelled by vinegar, cinnamon, coffee grounds, and sliced cucumber.
Highlights. Raid® Wasp & Hornet Killer allows you to spray up to 22 feet, killing the entire nest. It kills wasps and hornets on contact and is electrically non-conducting up to 32,500 volts. Available in 14 oz.
Bleach will kill almost any living organism, including wasps, but it is not an effective way to deter them. PMP doesn't advocate the use of bleach as a form of pest control, as it can irritate the skin and eyes of anyone who comes into contact with it.
How to Spray a Wasp Nest. The best time to plan your attack is at sunrise or dusk, when these insects are least active. And remember to wait 24 hours to remove the nest, to ensure that the majority of the insects are dead or have flown away from the nest.
Approach the wasp hive with caution and do your best to avoid provoking them. A spray bottle will work, however, we recommend using a hose-end sprayer that will allow you to spray the next from a safe distance, as wasps are likely to begin to react to the soapy water solution as you begin to spray the nest.
How many wasps in a nest? Each nest varies in size, but some larger common wasp nests can hold up to 10,000 individuals at the peak of summer. However, nests of such magnitude are uncommon. The average nest holds between 3-6000 individuals in the height of summer.
In short, hornet nests are often much larger, set up mostly in tree branches or leaves, and have a paper-mache appearance. Wasp nests are smaller to keep their smaller colonies safe, have distinct hexagonal openings, and can be set up in nearly any sheltered space.
Although they're not as aggressive as yellowjackets or hornets, they can attack you repeatedly and deliver painful stings. Wasps are active in the daytime, but can they sting you at night? They typically do not strike at night, and you're safe walking near wasp nests after dark as long as the nest isn't disturbed.
With brains less than a millionth the size of humans', paper wasps hardly seem like mental giants. But new research shows that these insects can remember individuals for at least a week, even after meeting and interacting with many other wasps in the meantime.
That wasp may be able to recognize your face and come after you if it sees you again! While it may sound like something out of an old sci-fi movie, a new study suggests that the brains of wasps can process faces all at once. This is similar to how human facial recognition works.
Wasps never reuse an old nest from previous years so a large nest in the early spring and summer months is unlikely to be active. However, wasps may return to the same area and build a new nest if it's a suitable location.
If you are messing with a wasp nest and unable to actually kill the wasps, they will get very angry and attack as often as possible. Swatting at a wasp or waving your arms can appear as an aggressive act against the wasp and make them feel threatened.