Observing wasp nests around your house might make you uneasy, especially if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a severe bee allergy.
Wasps are unwelcome guests known to crash pool parties, backyard barbecues, and driveway basketball tournaments. For much-needed peace of mind, you may be tempted to take drastic measures to eradicate these pests, whether it’s swinging a broom or jetting insecticide into a nest.
While these quick-fixes may sound appealing, removing a wasp nest with an unsteady ladder can threaten the health and safety of the DIY exterminator. No matter what pest control strategy you employ, it’s essential to understand that safety should be your number one priority.
While some homeowners may be able to mitigate a wasp infestation by watching video tutorials and purchasing store-bought pesticide sprays, seeking professional help is still highly recommended. For example, if you’re looking for pest control in Salt Lake City, you can team up with a provider like Moxie Pest Control that specializes in wasp treatment and disposal, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
I’ve personally used Moxie Pest Control for our home and they are amazing. Plus, if you have problems after their initial treatment, they will come back out and redo it for free. I’ve always been super happy with them!
Now, if you decide to eradicate wasps by yourself, you should always wear protective clothing. To avoid attacks and painful wasp stings, schedule nest removal at night when these wasps aren’t very active. To safely remove wasp nests, you’ll need to follow the steps listed below.
Identify the wasp species present in the nest
When you spot a wasps nest, your first instinct may be to remove it with a garden hose or an old broom. Ultimately, you should prioritize the safety of your loved ones above your need to boost the aesthetic value of your home. Never remove an unsightly wasp nest on your own if it means endangering your family and friends.
Before you remove a nest, you’ll need to identify the wasp species you’re dealing with. Most pest control beginners don’t realize that the type of wasp infesting their homes should inform their treatment plans. Wasp extermination isn’t an one-size-fits-all pest control measure.
Paper wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets are the three main wasp types known to infest homes. Paper wasps have long legs and long bodies, as compared to other wasps. Their nests are prominent and visible—making mitigation a breeze. Note that paper wasps will only attack you if they feel threatened.
Yellowjackets, on the other hand, have shorter legs and black antennae. They prefer building their nests in enclosed spaces and display unparalleled aggression. Yellowjackets are known to attack people in swarms.
Hornets, which are larger than both paper wasps and yellowjackets, are characterized by the white markings on their heads and thoraxes. This type of wasp is the most aggressive of the three and often reside in the hollows of trees or roof gutters.
Have an escape route in place
Before you execute your extermination plan-of-action, it would help if you had an escape strategy in-place. When you try to remove a wasps nest, wasps will stream out quickly to escape impending danger. As they flee, these wasps may sting you.
You’ll need to draft a getaway plan before you’re bombarded by a swarm of angry wasps. As part of your escape route, you should locate a safe zone to take cover in the case of an attack. The path to your safe zone should be obstacle-free to prevent tripping.
Use pesticide spray to eliminate wasp nests
You can purchase a wasp-killing pesticide at any supermarket or home improvement store. Once you’ve purchased a wasp pesticide, follow the instructions printed on the label.
Pesticides usually contain potent and potentially-toxic chemicals, so avoid applying them in areas where children are present. A rule-of-thumb when using pesticides is to spray the solution in the nest’s opening for about 20 seconds. The next day, revisit the nest to verify if it’s still active. If it’s still active, repeat the process to ensure that all wasps are eradicated. If you feel comfortable, knock down the nest to assure all wasps have exited the premises.
Insecticidal dust is useful
If you spot a ground nest, insecticidal dust will be the ideal pest control method to employ. All you have to do is to apply the powder on the nest, then leave the area. You should give the dust at least two days to take effect. If you notice the nest is still active after the 48-hour period elapses, repeat the process to eliminate the wasp nests.
Smoke can be helpful if you’re careful
If the wasp nest is dangling from a tree branch or is far away from your home’s exterior, lighting a fire under it may help eradicate it. The smoke will suffocate the wasps, forcing them to flee the nest. Once the nest has been vacated, you can safely knock down the nest without fearing a possible attack.
Dunk the nest in water
Submerging the nest in water is a useful but potentially dangerous method of eradicating wasp nests. It is most effective when dealing with aerial nests. The first step is to hold a bucket of water under the wasp nest. Then, place the nest into a cloth bag without tears or holes, and tightly seal the top of the bag using a durable string. Once sealed, you can clip the nest from its existing location and dunk it in the bucket. As an extra safety precaution, you should place a heavy object on top of the bucket and leave it covered overnight.
By morning, the wasps will have drowned. From there, you can lift the sealed cloth bag from the water and dispose of it immediately.
Hire a professional to help you eliminate the wasp nests
DIY solutions may not be an option if you or your family members are allergic to wasp stings. Hiring a pest control expert may be the best method of eradicating wasps while ensuring the safety of your loved ones.
Exterminators are trained to confront infestations head-on. These experts are equipped with personal protective equipment, have experience working in small spaces, and have access to the best professional-grade pesticides that’ll eradicate wasp nests in a snap. While you may incur some costs when you hire an exterminator, the benefits you receive will outweigh the amount you invest.
A home infested with wasps nests can induce anxiety. However, following the steps discussed above will help you resolve a wasp problem in a flash.