How Do You Get Rid of Wasp Nests? 

When you are out enjoying the warm summer sun, you don’t want to share your time or yard with pests of any kind, and we have touched on quite a few that you would want to get rid of to keep your backyard care-free this summer. 

However, there are some pests, like wasps that can give you a pretty bad sting. Most people who’ve been stung by a wasp in their life and will tell you it isn’t an experience they would ever want to repeat. 

So, if you have these pests living in your yard how exactly do you get rid of wasp nests? You don’t want to worry about them ruining your summer fun. We are here to give you all the information on getting rid of wasp nests around your home.

All About a Wasps Sting

Wasps sting as a defense mechanism. They aren’t just going around stinging humans for fun. If you are threatening their home (their nest) then they are going to protect it and sting you. 

Another reason that a wasp could possibly sting you is if they get agitated. This is often associated with them feeling threatened. If you are going out there and waving a broom or a fly swatter at them, getting them all worked up, they are going to get annoyed and start trying to sting you. 

A wasps sting can be very painful. And many people have allergic reactions to it. But, fun fact: Only female wasps sting. And another fun fact, unlike bees, a wasp does not die after it stings. This means that they can sting you multiple times during their lifetime. This is even more reason to get rid of those wasp nests and rid your yard of these pests for good! 

How To Identify a Wasp Nest

When trying to decide how to get rid of the stinging pest that has taken up residence in your yard, it is important to know what you going to be up against. There are several different types you could be dealing with.

The yellow jackets make their nests in the ground and walls of homes. If you think that these are the pests that you have it is important to pay attention to the entry points they have made to feed their colony. They will feed on sugary substances that you may have outdoors during summer barbecues, so their nests can expand quickly if you aren’t careful.

Hornets mostly make their homes in trees and large outdoor shrubs. They make their nests out of materials like decking, leaves, and other wood fibers that they chew up and mix with “wasp spit” to create a multi-layered nest. Their homes can start off as small as a golf ball but without treatment, they can quickly turn out to be as large as a basketball. 

Paper wasps are another flying, stinging pest that can be commonly mistaken for yellow jackets. They can build their nests almost anywhere. They can be located under doorframes, outdoor play structures, outdoor furniture, you name it. Their nests look like a round umbrella-shaped cone that is attached by a single stalk to the surface it is on. 

How To Get Rid of Wasp Nests

If you have a wasp problem you have several options for how to handle it. But, you have to decide, are you ok with cohabitating with the wasps in your yard, or are you ready to get rid of the wasp nests? 

Sometimes you can just leave the nest alone if it isn’t causing too much of an issue for anyone and is in a spot that is not near your home. The wasps do hunt grubs, houseflies, and other pests that can bug you. 

Most of the time, wasps aren’t going to bother you unless you are disturbing them. However, if the nest is close to your home this may not be an option. Also, if anyone in your home is allergic to wasps, this also raises some red flags and treatment will be necessary. 

So, if you decide to get rid of your wasp nest the course of action depends on the size of the nest. If it is small (with only a few cells, you can put on a long sleeve shirt, gloves, and long pants and knock the nest down. 

Be sure to do this during the coolest time of day when the wasps are the least active. It is important that you make sure that the queen is killed because if not, you will just have another nest begin. You can also try to utilize a pesticide spray to get rid of a smaller wasp nest if knocking it down is not working. There are also options such as hanging fake nests! 

For larger nests, it can be too dangerous for you to attempt to remove them on your own. Calling your local pest control company to have them treat and get rid of wasp nests is your safest and most effective option. 

How To NOT Get Rid of Wasp Nests

We have heard of some pretty crazy ways of people trying to get rid of wasp nests. So we thought we would list the ways to NOT try to get rid of them. 

• Don’t burn down a wasp nest- Paper-type nests are super flammable. Also, the fire won’t kill the wasps but make them very agitated and cause them to swarm and sting you. On top of this, you could cause serious damage to your property. 
• Don’t stand on a ladder to reach a wasp nest- If you are up on a ladder trying to knock down a nest and the wasps start to swarm you, chances are you are going to fall and get hurt. Leave higher nests to the professionals. 
• Don’t pour flammable liquids into a ground nest- Pouring flammable liquids onto the ground can damage the groundwater and isn’t effective at all for getting rid of nests. 
• Don’t flood the nest with water- This is also another way to make wasps very angry and cause them to sting. It can also cause damage to your home as well depending on the location of the nest. 
• Don’t destroy the nest with a bat- Do you want to make a wasp angry? This is how you make a wasp angry. 

Call us for Help

We hope we have answered all the dos and don’ts of wasp nest removal for you. If you find yourself with a wasp problem around your home, we are always here to help. 

While wasps generally don’t bother anyone unless they feel threatened, their stings are painful and they can be a danger to those with allergies. Getting rid of a wasp problem on your own can be tough and dangerous if not handled properly. Your safety is always our top priority. 

We offer free phone consultations if you have questions about our treatment options for any type of pest. We are always here to help.