How to Get Rid of Wasp Nests Without Getting Stung, According to Pros
There are a lot of annoying insects that can start to become a bother during summertime gatherings. You might find flies swarming your outdoor BBQs or ants starting to invade your kitchen, for instance. For these pests, a DIY solution will often do the trick to get rid of them and keep them away. But wasps can be another story entirely. So, how do you get rid of a wasp nest if you find one near (or on) your home?
Experts say that the techniques (and recommendations) vary based on the type of wasp you’re dealing with as well as where the nest is located. It’s important to do a little research and reconnaissance before attempting to DIY a wasp nest removal — and in some cases, you shouldn’t do it yourself at all. Here’s what to know about how to remove a wasp nest at home.
What types of wasps are people most likely to find in their yards?
Emma Grace Crumbley, an entomologist with Mosquito Squad, says there are two types of wasps you might find in yards across the U.S.: social wasps and non-social wasps.
Like ants and bees, social wasps form colonies in large, intricate hives. Their hives typically contain a caste of workers, drones, and queens that work together.
Non-social wasps (as you might’ve guessed) live solitary lives and do not assemble with others.
As for specific types of wasps you might see, most homeowners are likely dealing with either mud daubers or umbrella wasps (also called paper wasps), says David Price, associate certified entomologist at Mosquito Joe, a Neighborly company. Here’s what to know about those (and the other types of wasps that are better left to the pros).
Mud Daubers
Mud Daubers are nonsocial wasps. They tend to be black with lighter markings and have a distinctively thin waist that connects their abdomen and thorax.
Mud daubers make their nests out of (what else?) mud. Then nests have the shape of organ pipes — long and tubular.
Umbrella Wasps
Umbrella wasps, or paper wasps, are social wasps.
Umbrella wasps look similar to yellow jackets, but with much longer bodies.
The nests of umbrella wasps are commonly found at the eaves of porches, behind porch lights, under decks, or in attics at the soffits.
“Paper wasp nests can be built in several places, from shrubs to trees to ceiling corners,” Crumbley explains. “Though not aggressive, these wasps will readily sting anything threatening their hives. The homeowner could control these wasps if protective gear is worn and over-the-counter products are applied following their label. Still, it is recommended that control should be left to pest control professionals.”
Yellow Jackets, Bald-Faced Hornets, and Velvet Ants
Other species, such as yellow jackets (a common nuisance around backyard BBQs) and bald-faced hornets (larger and will sting more than once), are aggressive and highly territorial. Leave control of those to the pros.
Velvet ants, on the other hand, are not likely to infest homes, but can be found in nearby woodland areas or yards. (And yes, despite the name, these are wasps!)
Though rarer than other wasp species, the velvet ant has one of the most painful stings in the world, according to the Schmidt Pain Index, and therefore, control of this species should also be left to the pros.
How can you tell if you have a wasp nest? Are they dangerous?
What provokes a regrettable (and potentially dangerous) response from these stinging insects is when their hive or nest is disturbed, says Dr. Tracy Ellis, entomologist at FarmSense.
“The most harmful stinging situations occur because of an unsuspecting person encountering a nest or hive, such as when clearing a log with a tractor and disturbing a large honey bee hive, felling a tree with a large paper wasp nest, or excavating soil and uncovering a yellow jacket nest,” she explains. “Sadly, fatalities have occurred in children and adults from accidentally disturbing hives and nests to receive an overwhelming number of stings.”
Additionally, medical emergencies can occur if a person has serious allergies to stings. Most of the time people will receive a single sting from an accidental encounter, such as when individual bees or wasps become trapped in clothing, hair, swatted, or pinched. For those with severe allergies, one sting is enough to cause anaphylaxis, so take these threats seriously.
What’s the difference between a wasp nest and a beehive?
Honey bee queens and workers survive the winter, and honey bees continuously reuse locations, Ellis says, adding that if you find a nest made of a papery substance, you’ll know it is a wasp or hornet.
Some nests aren’t visible, though. Yellow jacket wasps, for instance, nest underground. While you might not spot their nesting place, you might see swarms in your yard during outdoor picnics and other food-centered gatherings, especially in late summer and fall.
“Only the mated queens of wasps and hornets overwinter, so they start fresh with a new nest at a new location each spring,” Ellis explains. “That means if you don’t completely remove a honey bee nest from the wall of your home and make the wall impervious to entry, another honey bee colony will soon reinvade, whereas if you remove a wasp nest, they usually do not return to that location to rebuild, nor do they reuse.”
Are wasps beneficial?
Wasps are beneficial to the ecosystem because they hunt smaller insects, Price says. But while they do feed on nectar of plants and can inadvertently transfer pollen, they are not aggressive pollinators like bees are.
How can you deter wasps from gathering in your yard/outdoor space?
Wasps are attracted to sweet substances such as sugary drinks, fruits, and nectar, as well as protein-based foods such as meat, fish, and pet food, Price explains.
Wasps are also attracted to certain scents, like floral fragrances. To deter them from gathering in your yard or outdoor space, he recommends apartment dwellers and homeowners take the following steps:
- Clean up BBQs/grills and remove any food scraps or meat drippings.
- Securely wrap soda cans and ensure garbage bags are tightly sealed before disposal.
- Remove any fallen fruit from fruit trees promptly.
- Consider hanging wasp traps at the yard’s outer perimeter and treating potential nest areas with liquid insecticides, which are available at most home improvement stores.
- If you have aromatic flowers, place them away from common gathering areas.
What is the best way to destroy a wasp nest? Is it OK to do this yourself?
How you destroy a wasp nest (and whether you need a pro to do it) really depends on the type of wasp species you’re dealing with, the experts say.
Wizzie Brown, board-certified entomologist and senior extension program specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife, explains that paper wasp nests can be treated with wasp spray that can reach a long distance. Treatment should occur either in the early morning or late evening to ensure that wasps are at the nest and not out foraging.
Once wasps are dead, Brown recommends that you knock down the nest and dispose of it. Follow up by cleaning the area where the nest was attached to remove the pheromones (smells) wasps use to locate the nesting area.
Only destroy paper wasp nests if they are in an area where someone may get stung; otherwise, leave them to help manage other pests.
Will wasps come back?
Wasps do not reuse old nests left behind, but they may return to the same general area to build a new nest the following year, Crumbley warns.
“To prevent wasps from returning and establishing new nests, keep an eye on the areas where wasps are found,” she says. “You can try hanging decoy nests to deter wasps from returning or work with a pest control company to create a repellent and management plan.”
When do you need to call a pro?
Ellis says for safety reasons, it’s best to hire a pest control professional for any stinging insect removal.
“Find a professional that offers the least disturbance to the hive during the removal process,” she adds. “For example, it is best to remove the nest when all of the honey bees and/or wasps are home; otherwise, if honey bees or wasps return to the site of the removed nest, it can quickly become a hazardous situation with confused stinging insects flying all around.”
While it’s possible to DIY wasp nest removal some of the time, professional pest removal experts have the right gear and chemicals to do so safely and effectively.