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Best way to get rid of wasp


How to Get Rid of Wasps: A Complete Guide [2023]

It’s a perfect summer day and you’re sitting outside with your family grilling something delicious for dinner. Right then you hear it, a menacing buzz just over your shoulder. The wasps have arrived, and they’re not leaving. They drive you indoors, ruining your perfect afternoon.

Sounds familiar? You’re not alone.

Each year, wasps take over outdoor spaces throughout the country, including the San Francisco Bay Area, making them difficult or impossible for people to use.

Plus, wasps can be dangerous.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 1,109 deaths from hornet, wasp, and bee stings between 2000–2017, or an annual average of 62 deaths.

Fortunately, you don’t have to resolve yourself to living with stinging wasps all summer. Smith’s Pests Management is here to help you reclaim your property.

We provide yellow jacket control services to customers in and around the San Francisco Bay Area, so we know a thing or two about how to help people get rid of wasps and start enjoying the outdoors once more.

In this blog, we’ll share a few of our top wasp removal tips and tricks, and insights on identifying common wasp species.

Key Takeaways

What Kind of Wasps Do I Have?

Wasps and their cousins, hornets and yellowjackets have nasty stings that can be especially dangerous to anyone allergic to them.

Even if you’re not allergic to wasps, they can be a danger to anyone who gets too close to their nest. They will come boiling out, often in large numbers, and immediately sting any person or pet who is nearby.

While some wasp species are highly aggressive, others are more docile. Some species, like mud daubers, kill and eat other pest species, like spiders.

Since they help keep pest populations down, people can usually coexist with mud daubers (as long as they’re in an out-of-the-way place where people and pets will not disturb them).

Because wasps behave so differently, you have to identify what kind of wasps you have before you can start dealing with them.

With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of the most common wasp varieties:

Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets are bee-sized wasps known for their distinct black and yellow markings. They are common throughout the world and particularly abundant in the southeastern US.

Adults grow to about ⅜“ to ⅝.” They live in colonies and build nests inside structures or on the ground to protect the group.

Paper Wasps

At ¾” to 1” long, paper wasps are slightly larger than yellow jackets. Their bodies are brown or black, with yellow to red markings.

They live throughout North America, and usually build their nests near the shelter of buildings. Their nests are small and only include a single layer of comb for brood rearing.

Like other wasp species, they will not sting unless they feel threatened. While yellow jackets are black and yellow, paper wasps are brown and yellow.

Hornets

There are about 20 species of hornets in the world. The varieties in California typically grow to about 1.25.” They tend to be black, with light yellow or white stripes that are more distinct than those found on a yellow jacket.

Hornets build hives by chewing wood into a papery pulp and using it to construct walls. Most nests are built on high trees or sturdy, woody plants.

These wasps are highly social, and generally will not sting unless they are threatened or provoked. When they are threatened, they swarm.

Mud Daubers

Mud daubers typically grow to ½” to 1” long. They are black, with bright yellow markings on their thorax and legs, and a long, thin body that sets them apart from other wasp species.

While they’re native to North America, they can be found throughout the world. Unlike the other wasps on this list, they do not live in colonies or build nests with other wasps.

Instead, mud daubers use mud to build small nests for themselves and their offspring. They are a generally docile species and do not swarm like other wasps.

Bees vs. Wasps

While people often confuse honeybees and wasps, they are not the same creatures. While wasps are a pest species, honeybees are a keystone species that are critical to the environment.

Honeybees are a critically important species and we do not recommend removing them from your yard or property.

Fortunately, there are a couple of ways to tell wasps and bees apart. 

For example, bees are not aggressive, and can only sting once before dying. Wasps, on the other hand, can sting multiple times. Honeybees also have larger bodies and a light coating of downy hair. While both wasps and bees pollinate plants, honeybees are much more active pollinators than wasps.

What Attracts Wasps to My Yard?

If you have wasps in your yard, you’re probably wondering why they’ve chosen to pester you.

Here’s the truth:

While wasps migrate through virtually every yard from time to time, the following things attract them and entice them to stay:

1. Shelter

In the fall, male wasps die after impregnating the colony’s queen. The queen wasps then take shelter in safe, warm, protected places where they survive the winter.

Wasps may be hanging out in your yard because they’ve found safe refuge there. Things like insulated walls, crevices, and cracks shelter wasps from potential predators and harsh elements.

2. Food sources

After hibernating all winter long, the queen and her workers emerge in preparation for the summer months. And after a long winter, they’re hungry and looking for food sources. If they can find something to eat in your yard or garden, they’ll stay.

Some wasps, known as digger wasps, will hover above the ground to prey on larvae, grubs, and other insects. Because of this, one of the best ways to prevent a wasp infestation on your property is to get rid of other pest species like spiders first.

3. Food leftovers

While wasps hunt for some of their food, they also love a free meal when they can find it. They eat protein-based foods, and will scavenge leftovers like meat scraps or grill drippings. While you can’t keep wasps from noticing your cookout altogether, you can discourage them from staying by covering your cooked food and cleaning up spills promptly.

4. Sugar

When fall comes around, wasps start searching for sources of sugar to get them through the winter. Wasps will seek out fallen fruit from trees, soda cans, hummingbird feed, fruit juice, and anything else that is a good source of sucrose.

5. Flowers

Wasps are attracted to flowering plants. They enjoy the nectar of the flowers and the fragrance, and can quickly take over a garden bed. If you wear strong perfume, they may also be attracted to that scent.

How to Get Rid of Wasps in Your Yard & House

Whether you’re allergic to wasp stings or you simply want to send the winged pests packing, we have some effective tips to help you get rid of wasps both indoors and outside. These tips apply to all wasps, including yellow jackets and hornets.

7 Ways to Get Rid of Wasps 

In Your Yard  

If you have wasps in your yard, these tips can help you get rid of them:

1. Hang wasp traps

Wasp traps are one of the most common—and effective—ways to get rid of wasps in your yard. The traps feature a liquid that attracts wasps. When the wasps crawl into the trap, they get stuck and drown. While wasp traps are effective, they accumulate dead wasps and can be unsightly to look at. Replace them often and be sure to hang them away from your outdoor living areas.

2. Spray wasp nests

If you see an active wasp nest around your home or property, spray it with store-bought wasp nest spray. For best results, wear protective clothing and spray the nest late in the evening, when the wasps are dormant, and the workers and queen are all present. Purchase a wasp spray with a nozzle that allows you to spray from a distance. Re-spray the nest repeatedly over the course of a few days, if needed.

3. Use soap and water

If you want an alternative to store-bought insecticides, tackle small wasp nests with soap and water. Mix two tablespoons of dish soap into a spray bottle of  water and spray it on the nests. The mixture will clog the wasps’ breathing pores and kill them instantly.

4. Create homemade traps

Build a homemade wasp trap by cutting the top off a large soda bottle and adding a few inches of soda or fruit juice (with a few drops of dish liquid) to the bottom. Invert and replace the top and hang the homemade trap in your yard.

5. Kill emerging wasps

Store-bought wasp killing sprays can be effective for eliminating individual wasps. Spray wasps as you see them, being sure to follow all label directions on the insecticide you buy.

6. Treat future nesting areas

In addition to spraying existing nests, you can treat future nesting areas. Purchase residual liquid insecticides at your local home or hardware store and spray it in the areas where you think wasps would nest, such as your deck, pool, patio, playset, and wood fence. This discourages future nest building.

7. Call a professional

Getting rid of large outdoor wasp colonies can be impossible to DIY.  For fast, professional results, contact Smith’s Pest Management. Our team will remove existing wasps and take steps to prevent new colonies from forming.

How to Get Rid of Wasps 

In the House

Wasps indoors can be a major problem. Here are a few tips to get rid of them:

1. Check every entry point

Unless you’re leaving your doors and windows open without a screen, wasps are likely entering your home through a tiny gap somewhere.

If you’ve noticed wasps indoors, examine your eaves, the mortar between your bricks, the beams and supports in your garage, and the areas around your home’s vents.

Wasps tend to build their nests in these areas, and can easily exploit even a tiny crack to enter your home. Once you find their access points, seal any cracks or gaps with silicone caulk.

2. Try effective home remedies

If you’re looking for a natural way to get rid of wasps, there are plenty of home remedies to choose from. One excellent way to get rid of wasps is with vinegar.

To create a homemade wasp repellent, mix two cups of apple cider vinegar, two cups of sugar, and one cup of water. Stir the mixture thoroughly and place it near the nest where it will attract and kill wasps.

3. Spray wasp nests

What kills wasps instantly? Wasp spray. Still, we advise caution when using wasp spray indoors.

While insecticide is effective, it contains chemicals that can be very dangerous for children, pets, and people.

If the nest is in a seldom-used part of your home, spraying it may be a decent option. If not, you’re better off calling a pest management professional.

4. Call a professional

Dealing with an indoor wasp problem can be dangerous and time-consuming. If your wasp problem is extensive, contact a pest management professional to help you.

Smith’s Pest Management can remove indoor wasps and help you reclaim your safe wasp-free home.

How to Get Rid of Wasp Nests

Getting rid of wasp nests seems like a simple job, but it can be complex, since aggravated wasps will swarm and sting.

To keep yourself safe and guarantee good results, always spray the nest with store-bought wasp killer at least 24 hours before trying to remove it. If you still see wasp activity, spray the nest again.

Once the nest looks quiet, follow these tips:

  1. Approach the nest in the evening hours once you’re sure all the wasps inside it are dead
  2. Use a garbage bag to cover the nest
  3. Gently pull the nest from the tree or wall it’s attached to, and seal the bag around it
  4. Throw the garbage bag and the nest away in an outdoor trash can with a tight-fitting lid

If the nest is in a hard-to-reach area, don’t try to remove it yourself. Instead, contact Smith’s Pest Management to remove the nest safely for you.

How do Pest Control Experts Get Rid of Wasps?

What happens when you contact a professional wasp control expert? Here’s the process the team here at Smith’s follow to get rid of wasps:

1. Property Inspection

First, we’ll locate the wasp nests on your property. Our licensed pest control techs will identify ground or hanging nests and determine the best way to remove all the wasps that live within them.

If you have multiple kinds of wasps on your property, we’ll identify each species and create a customized treatment plan to address them.

2. Destroy Wasp Nests

Once we’ve located the wasps on your property, we’ll treat the nests with a substance designed to eliminate the wasps inside their nests.

We always use the utmost caution with pest-control substances, and make sure to use every product according to label directions.

3. Apply Additional Yellow Jacket Treatments

Finally, we’ll apply treated bait around your property. This important step allows us to eliminate wasps that were not in the nest during the time of treatment.

When yellow jackets eat the bait, it kills them quickly without putting your property, pets, or kids at risk.

4. Annual Yellow Jacket Control

If you have severe yellow jacket problems, we’ll recommend an annual yellow jacket control program.

This solution includes the installation of bait stations, unlimited hive treatments, and year-round protection against these aggressive pests.

The result is a pest-free property that you can enjoy all year long.

How to Keep Wasps Away

Wondering how to keep wasps from building nests on your property? Follow these tips:

Are Wasps Invading Your San Francisco Bay Area Property? We’re Here to Help!

Here at Smith’s Pest Management, we help residential and commercial properties in Northern California, from Marin to Monterey, get rid of wasps every day.

Let us help you enjoy a wasp-free outdoor space this summer.

Contact us today to get a quote or to schedule your wasp removal service.

How to Get Rid of Wasps in 5 Easy Steps

istockphoto.com

Spring and summer are lovely times of the year, but they do usher in a host of seasonal hazards, perhaps none more fearsome than wasps. Not only are wasps annoying, buzzing in your ears and hovering over your picnic, but they are also more likely than most bees to actually sting you.

To minimize the presence of these pests on your property, it’s important to destroy any wasp nests you come across. Although it’s not especially difficult or time-consuming to get rid of wasps in this way, you are going to need courage first and foremost, and like any soldier heading into battle, you’ll need to arm yourself with the right weapons.

Many potent (and oftentimes toxic) chemicals are sold commercially for the purpose of ridding homeowners of wasps, but we recommend handling the problem the old-fashioned way. Continue reading to learn how to get rid of wasp nests using little more than soap and hot water.

Tools & Materials

Step 1: Gather your protective clothing and gear.

istockphoto.com

It’s important to know what you’re up against when preparing for wasp removal. Wasps, unlike bees, do not lose their stinger when they sting, which means they can sting over and over again.

Also, because they’re much more aggressive than bees, don’t expect wasps to let you stroll up to the nest unchallenged. To make matters worse, wasps release pheromones when they sting that alert other wasps in the area to the threat, so expect to face the wrath of any wasps in the vicinity as well as those in the nest. That’s why it’s only common sense to wear full protective gear and take all the precautions you can.

No, it’s not necessary to go out and buy a beekeeper’s suit, but it is prudent to cover up well. Wasps have long, straight stingers that can go right through lightweight clothing such as T-shirts, so dress in layers with clothes made of tightly woven fabric. Put on long pants, a long-sleeved shirt under a thick jacket, gloves, socks and shoes, and a hat paired with a bandana to cover your face. Don’t forget to tuck your pants into your socks! In short, cover up as much skin as possible.

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Step 2: Locate the nest.

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If you haven’t done so already, the first step in getting rid of wasps is to locate the wasp nest. There are at least two strategies, one more sophisticated than the other. First, if you are able to distinguish the species of wasp that’s been hanging around your property (see below), you can then research its nesting habits. Some wasps prefer building their nests in trees, while others tend to build theirs in man-made structures. Knowing your enemy enables you to narrow the search range so you can find the nest more quickly. Alternatively, simply walk around your property, checking all those snug, out-of-the-way hiding places that wasps are known to haunt—roof eaves and rafters, wall cavities, crawl spaces, railings, fence posts, and tree branches.

If the location of the nest isn’t obvious, observe the wasps flying around your yard. Their flight patterns should show them going to and from one location. Tail the wasps until they lead you back to their nest.

Step 3: Identify the type of stinging insects you’re dealing with.

The best way to get rid of wasps is to know your enemy as well as possible. When you know which species you’re dealing with, you can maximize your odds of victory.

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Yellow Jacket: istockphoto.com

Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets have a telltale alternating black-and-yellow pattern that runs the length of their bodies, which typically measure about ½ inch long. Their spherical nests, which can reach the size of a basketball, are built from paper-like material. They nest in diverse locations, including high in trees and shrubs, near the ground in logs, or even underground.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps are mostly dark brown in color with yellow and sometimes red markings. They can look very similar to yellow jackets, although paper wasps are much thinner around the “waist” and have orange-tipped antennae. Paper wasps get their name from their nests, which consist of a paper-like material. Their nests have a bulbous shape that resembles a paper lantern, and the honeycomb structure of the nest is often visible, which isn’t the case with yellow jacket nests. They are typically found hanging from the branches of trees or shrubs, but you can also find them attached to door frames, deck joists, eaves, and porch ceilings. Paper wasps aren’t as aggressive as other wasps and typically attack only if their nest is touched. Because they do help control other pests, their nests should be removed only if they are in close proximity to a structure.

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Hornets

The big difference between hornets and wasps is size. While wasps grow to about 1/2 inch long, hornets reach 3/4 of an inch. Bald-faced hornets and European hornets are the most common types in North America. The former are typically black with white markings, while the latter are brown with yellow stripes on the abdomen and a light-colored face.

Bald-faced hornets build large egg-shaped paper nests with compartments on the inside, typically high off the ground in trees or bushes, while European hornets usually build their paper nests in tree hollows, attics, wall voids, and other sheltered areas. In general, hornets typically build their nests, which can be quite large, reaching up to 24 inches in length, in elevated places, such as trees and overhangs on buildings. While both types of hornets help to control pests, both also pose a threat when living close to a structure.

Mud Daubers

Mud daubers have slender, delicate-looking bodies and are usually black with light-colored markings and a metallic sheen. Mud daubers do not live in colonies. Instead, the females typically build a nest of small 1-inch-long tubes from mud, which is how these wasps got their name. Their nests can usually be found under roof eaves or on porch ceilings, or in garages, sheds, barns, or even your house. Of the wasps on this list, mud daubers are the least threatening. They rarely sting humans, even when their nest is destroyed, and they kill numerous spiders, which they feed to their young. Many consider them a natural form of pest control.

Paper Wasp: istockphoto.com

Step 4: Choose your wasp removal battle plan. 

Having properly equipped yourself for battle, you are now ready to choose the best way to get rid of wasps. Select one of the following battle plans:

Boiling Water

Pouring a bucket of boiling water onto the wasp nest accomplishes two things: It immediately kills scores of wasps, and it ruins their nest. It may, however, take a few bucketfuls to destroy the nest and completely detach it from its hanging spot. Meanwhile, you’re likely to have upset dozens of stinging wasps. The wise course is to stage your attacks several hours (or even a full day) apart.

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Water with Soap

A second method—similar but slightly superior to the first—involves the addition of liquid dishwasher soap to the boiling water before you pour it on the nest. OK, why the soap? Because it bogs down the wasps, making it more difficult for them to counterattack. Again, it’s probably going to take you more than one bucket to destroy the nest, but with this method, you’re less likely to get stung in the process.

Pesticide Spray

While home remedies are nice and inexpensive, sometimes it’s best to bring out the big guns. In this case, the big gun is a can of spray pesticide that will allow you to attack the nest from afar. The best wasp sprays unleash powerful wasp-killing pyrethroids and pyrethrins from a relatively safe distance of up to 27 feet away. These sprays work on contact, instantly killing the wasps with powerful neurotoxins. Sprays are especially useful when you’re dealing with nests that are under eaves, in tree branches, on porch ceilings, or in other hard-to-reach places where pouring boiling or soapy water just isn’t feasible.

Step 5: Time your attack carefully.

Timing is everything with wasp removal. It’s best to approach the nest at night when most or all of the wasps are inside it. While it may seem counterintuitive to mount your attack when the wasps are “at home,” wasps pose less of a threat inside the nest than flying around it. Wasps are also less aggressive at night and have slower reaction times.

The time of year you attack is just as important as the time of day. Wasps pick a spot for their nest in early spring, then busily begin to expand it. By August, a nest can reach its peak size, housing up to 2,000 wasps. That’s a lot of stingers. With this in mind, it’s best to pay attention to wasp activity around your home in early spring. Nip the problem in the bud by eliminating recently established nests before they have a chance to become a buzzing wasp metropolis.

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Step 6: Execute your extermination plan.

The best way to get rid of wasp nests is to kill as many wasps as possible in the first strike to eliminate, or at least weaken, a counterattack. With that in mind, a stealthy shock and awe attack is the best option. Don’t use a standard flashlight, which will alert the wasps to your presence. Instead, use an amber-colored light.

Plan an escape route so you can retreat to a safe area once any surviving wasps emerge from the nest looking for their attacker. Make sure there are no garden tools, lawn furniture, or toys in the way that might trip you as you make your escape.

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. Your assault should last no longer than 15 seconds, after which you should make your escape.

FAQs About How to Get Rid of Wasp Nests

Homemade wasp trap: istockphoto.com

Q. How do you keep wasps away?

There are a number of strategies for preventing wasps from building a nest in your home.

 Q. Do dryer sheets keep wasps away?

Although there are a number of miscellaneous uses for dryer sheets, repelling wasps isn’t one of them. There is no proof that dryer sheets keep wasps away.

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Q. What smell do wasps hate?

Wasps have a strong sense of smell, which allows them to locate food. Wasps do hate certain scents, including peppermint, lemongrass, vinegar, bay leaves, scented herbs, and essential oils.

Q. What kills wasps instantly?

Wasp sprays contain powerful pyrethroids and pyrethrins that will paralyze a wasp’s central nervous system on contact, causing it to suffocate and die.

Q. What are wasps attracted to?

Wasps are attracted to sweet foods, such as soda, fruit, fruit juice, and other foods with a high sugar content. Wasps are also attracted to foods that contain protein, including other insects as well as table scraps with meat or fish. You’ll also find wasps in flower gardens feasting on nectar.

Final Thoughts

While it’s certainly possible to eliminate a wasp nest on your own using the methods described above, sometimes it’s a job best left to the pros. If you or someone else in your household has a severe allergy to bee or wasp stings, it’s a good idea to call in a professional pest control service to handle the removal of a wasp nest. The pros know how to get rid of wasp nests safely, and they can put in place the necessary measures to prevent wasps from returning.

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how to get rid of folk remedies yourself

Types of wasps

In suburban areas, 5 types of wasps are most common:

OCA ORDINARY. These are perhaps the most typical and most recognizable wasps. About 20 mm long. They like temperate and cool climates.

Where does he live. They build their nests in outbuildings, in underground burrows, in thickets of bushes and in hollows of old trees. They create huge colonies - in one swarm there can be up to 5,000 workers and up to 15,000 cells with larvae. nine0007

What does he eat. In the spring they feast on nectar. When the larvae appear, they begin to prey on flies and other small insects. Often they attack spiders and at times steal prey from their webs. More often, prey is taken from ants. Yes Yes exactly. The fact is that in the antennae-antennae of these wasps they are able to capture the pheromones of ants. And ants usually drag something edible all the time. This is the food the wasps are trying to take away. Ants, of course, do not give up without a fight, they pounce on striped aliens, but the wasps have developed a defense tactic - they grab the ants with their jaws, fly away and throw them to the ground. This does not harm the ants in any way, however, stunned by the fall, they no longer return to the delicacy they found, and it goes to the wasps (1). nine0007

In the second half of summer, when berries and fruits begin to ripen, these wasps move to gardens - it is easier to get food here than to take food from ants.

GERMAN WASP. Similar to the common wasp, but smaller, 12–15 mm long. And it can also be distinguished by its abdomen - the tip of the abdomen is black in the common wasp, and yellow in the German wasp. The number of this species is lower than that of the common wasp.

Where does he live. Lives in forests, often in rural areas. There are many of these in cities - the German wasp in megacities is more common than the common wasp. nine0007

These wasps traditionally build their nests underground - in abandoned rodent burrows, in vegetable gardens, along the edges of cliffs and ravines. In cities, they settle in wastelands and parks. But not always - it is in the cities that they have mastered new shelters for themselves - they can attach their honeycombs in the voids of the walls of buildings, in attics and under the insulation of pipelines.

What does it eat. In nature, it feeds on plant nectar (by the way, it loves garden parsnip flowers very much) and small insects. And in cities, it becomes a scavenger - it is these wasps that are most often found in markets and landfills, flock to barbecues and barbecues. nine0007

EUROPEAN PAPER WASP. These wasps are medium-sized, with a thin belly that is more black than yellow.

Where does he live. If you have wasp combs in your attic, on a thuja or juniper, on the stems of perennial flowers, you should know that they are European paper wasps.

These wasps gather material for building their nests from old trees and stumps - they scrape off the fibers of the wood with their jaws, then they chew it and build their honeycombs from it. nine0007

The nest is built by the female. The first brood are worker wasps that expand the combs. In one season, the number of wasps in one nest increases from several tens to several hundred individuals.

What does it eat. Larvae are fed with insects - flies, ants, bees, caterpillars, after chewing them. That is, if you do not take into account the bees, they help rid the garden of pests. Adult wasps feed on flower nectar, aphid secretions, and fruit juice. And here they harm, because they like to eat fallen fruits. nine0007 Common wasp. Photo: @Magnefl, wikipedia.orgGermanic wasp. Photo: @Alvesgaspar, wikipedia.org European paper wasp. Photo: @Alvesgaspar, wikipedia.org Gallic wasp (French). Photo: @Adrian.benko, wikipedia.org Common hornet. Photo: globallookpress.com

GALLIC (FRENCH) WASP. Outwardly very similar to the European paper wasp and very often they are confused. In this species, yellow color predominates - black is less (2).

Where does he live. Occurs everywhere throughout the European part of Russia, but still tends to the south. Nests are built the same as the European paper wasp and in the same places. nine0007

What does he eat. Damages mature fruits on trees and during drying, especially grapes. The larvae feed on small insects.

hornet. The Hornet is the largest wasp in Europe. Their length reaches 25–35 mm.

Where does he live. All over Europe except for the southernmost and northernmost regions. Common in the European part of Russia. Its nests are similar to wasp ones, but their color is brown, not gray, because hornets scrape wood from young birch branches, and they are known to be brown. nine0007

Hornet nests are built in hollows, on trees under thick branches, in old beehives, under the roofs of houses and outbuildings.

It is believed that hornets are very aggressive, they say, three bites are enough to kill a person. Actually this is a myth. Hornet venom is no more dangerous than wasp venom. And they are much calmer than wasps and even shy. For example, if a hornet flew into a window, it will slowly scan the room until it finds a way out. No need to try to slap or kick him out, just open a window or door - he will fly away by himself. nine0007

They can show aggression only near their nest. And then not immediately. If a person approaches their colony, several guard hornets fly out to meet him, who make warning circles near the intruder. If you do not react, they move on to more decisive actions - they hit the enemy with their head, but they do not sting! But if you ignore their numerous warnings, they can go on the attack already "in an adult way."

What does he eat. Adults prefer sweets - they willingly eat a span (excretion of aphids and other insects), love fallen fruits (apples, pears and plums), all kinds of confectionery. nine0007 Wasps are found in almost every area. Photo: pixabay.com

Hornets feed their larvae with insects. Including the bees. However, scientists noticed that these large wasps catch bees in September-October, when there are already few other insects. But in the summer they become garden orderlies, as they actively destroy flies, butterflies, leaf cutters and even wasps.

How to properly remove a wasp hive

The first rule is to start fighting wasps as early as possible, preferably in the spring. nine0004 The fact is that most wasps are working individuals, they live only in summer and die in autumn. Single females hibernate. And at the beginning of the season, they build their nests alone, usually small ones. During the summer, they hatch several offspring, the nest grows, insects become tens or even hundreds of times more. So do not wait for this moment - it is much easier to deal with one wasp than with hordes.

It is better to destroy the nests in the evening, when it starts to get dark - at this time the wasps are not so active, besides, the whole swarm has already returned home. Or early in the morning before they are awake (3). nine0007

The second rule is equipment. Before you go to destroy a hornet's nest, you need to properly dress. On the body - a padded jacket or a tight jacket. On the feet - thick (again, better wadded) pants and rubber boots with tight tops. On the head - a mosquito net, and on the top of the head - a thick cap or hat. Hands on canvas gloves.

It is also important to provide escape routes so that in the event of a massive wasp attack, you can hide in a safe place.

The location of the hive near or inside a human dwelling may endanger human health. Photo: pixabay.com

Before removing the nests, the wasps themselves must be destroyed. For these purposes, the usual "Dichlorvos" is suitable - it must be carefully shaken off and sprinkled abundantly on the nest from a distance of 20-30 cm. If this is an attic or other room, leave it and close the door tightly. If the nest is outside, just spray it. After about half an hour, the wasps will die, it will be possible to safely remove all the nests.

Any analogue can be used instead of dichlorvos. Don't look for "wasp" labels - "fly" and other insect repellant also works great. nine0007

Important! There are a lot of tips on the Internet on how to fill the nests with boiling water, kerosene, diesel fuel, etc. , but they are of no use - you will only anger the wasps. Better not tempt fate.

Folk remedies for wasps in the country

The destruction of wasp nests is a cardinal and rather dangerous method. But there are much easier options.

Sweet water bottles

Cut off the top of a plastic bottle with a neck, pour old jam or syrup diluted in water (3) into it, and insert the top cut-off part of the bottle on top, but with the neck down. nine0007

Bottles to be placed or hung in the garden. Wasps make their way inside, but they can no longer fly out of there and drown.

From time to time, the dead wasps should be shaken out and filled with new syrup into bottles.

Drinkers with poison syrup

The method is similar, but somewhat improved. At a plastic bottle, you need to cut off the lower part, pierce 2 holes in the upper edge, tie a wire and hang these containers on fruit trees and grapes. nine0007

Drinkers are filled with syrup (the same old jam diluted with water), and then any insecticide is added to it against pests (see "Professional products").

After the insects drink the poisoned "cocktail", they fly away and die outside the drinking bowls. This means you don't have to clean them. All that is needed is to add syrup to the drinking bowls from time to time.

Liquid smoke

If wasps do not bother you, you love nature and are not ready to kill even insects, then this method is for you. Its essence is to protect the crop without harming the wasps. All that is needed is to spray fruit plants and grapes with liquid smoke (it is sold in grocery stores). Wasps, like other insects, do not like the smell of smoke, so they will fly around fruit plants. nine0007

Professional products

The destruction of wasps with aerosols, as we found out, is not a safe method. Especially if there are a lot of nests. And when they are in inaccessible places, you won’t get there at all. Therefore, the most optimal method is traps, drinking bowls or baits with poison.

It is better to start the fight against wasps in the spring. Photo: pixabay.com

As a poisonous additive, you can use:

Karbofos. This drug is widely used in horticulture against pests, but there it is sprayed on plants. They do not need to spray wasps - just add a little of the drug to sweet water and hang traps in the garden. nine0007

Instead of Karbofos, you can use its analogues - Aliot, Alatan, Antiklesch, Profilaktin, Fufanon.

Usage rate: 1 teaspoon per glass of water.

Executioner . Insecticide of new generation of instant action. Usually it is used from ants, cockroaches, bedbugs, fleas. But it also destroys wasps very effectively. They are used in the same way as Karbofos - they are bred in sweet water.

Usage rate: 1 teaspoon per glass of water. nine0007

Honey beetle . This drug is designed to fight flies and wasps. The convenience is that you do not need to prepare any "cocktails". Honey buzzard - gel. It only needs to be spread over some kind of base (substrate for food, a board) with a dotted line (2 through 2 cm) and placed in places where insects accumulate. The drug contains food additives that attract wasps and flies - they eat up this gel and die very quickly.

Why do wasps start in the country?

There are two reasons at once:

1. Secluded places. Attics, sheds, bathhouses, dense crowns of coniferous trees and shrubs, thickets of perennials - all these are ideal options for building nests.

2. Abundance of food. There are always a lot of flowering plants, fruits and berries in summer cottages - this is a food base for adult wasps. In addition, there are an abundance of pests in the public garden, and wasps feed their larvae with them. Plus, the abundance of kitchen waste that is on each even is also a source of food.

What to do if you are bitten by a wasp? nine0119

The consequences of a wasp sting are severe burning, redness and swelling. This happens to almost all people. If the body successfully fights the poison, then the swelling subsides after 2-3 hours. Still, it's better not to let things take their course.

After a wasp sting, do the following:

1. Remove the stinger (4). If, of course, it remains. The easiest way to get it is with tweezers. Before doing this, thoroughly rinse and disinfect your hands and tools. In no case do not try to squeeze out the sting - this way even more poison will get into the wound and you can infect. nine0007

Wasps usually do not leave a stinger, they are able to bite many times. But occasionally such cases happen, for example, if you crush or squash a wasp. In addition, it is not always possible to understand who exactly bit you.

The effects of a wasp sting are severe burning, redness and swelling. Photo: pixabay.com

2. Treat the wound with antiseptic (4). Hydrogen peroxide or alcohol (vodka) will do. This is important because the sting of the wasp often has various infections.

3. Cover the bite with a sterile bandage. nine0004 It localizes the poison, will not allow it to spread throughout the body.

4. Apply ice to the bite (4). It relieves pain well.

5. Take an antihistamine. Any one you can find. Just read the instructions, they have contraindications.

6. Drink plenty. As a result, you will go to the toilet more often and the toxin will be eliminated from the body faster.

What to do if you are bitten by wasps en masse? nine0119

It is believed that the lethal dose of wasp venom is 500-1000 stings. However, for some, just one bite may be enough if a severe allergic reaction develops - such cases occur in 1% of people. It seems that the figure is small, but according to doctors, the number of deaths from the bites of various types of wasps and bees is 3 times more than from snake bites.

There can be no self-treatment in this case. Urgently call an ambulance! Or go to the nearest medical facility. Especially dangerous are bites in the neck, lip and tongue - often this leads to suffocation even in people who do not suffer from allergies! nine0007

How do you get wasps out of a house wall or floor?

If you know exactly where the nest is and if you can lift the floor board or carefully tear off the wall sheathing, then you can destroy the whole swarm along with the combs (see "How to properly remove a nest with wasps").

If this is not possible or the location of the nest is unknown, the simplest thing is to set traps or sent baits in the yard - the wasps will certainly fall there. And an empty nest will not cause you any problems. nine0007

Popular questions and answers

We talked about wasps in the country with agronomist Svetlana Mikhailova.

Where do wasps winter in the country?

Wasps hibernate under the exfoliated bark of old trees, under fallen leaves, under piles of boards. They hibernate, which lasts from November to April.

By the way, only young females hibernate - males, worker wasps and old females die.

How to protect yourself from wasps in the country?

Many wasps build their nests in the grass, on strong dry shoots or in the roots of shrubs. Therefore, work in the garden should be carried out in tight protective clothing and tight gloves that protect against bites. nine0007

And if you're having a picnic outside, inspect the food carefully before you put it in your mouth - especially wasps love meat, fruits and desserts. And in drinks, if they are in an open container, also look.

How to scare wasps off the table?

Sometimes mosquito coils help, but you need to put a lot of them. In general, it is almost impossible to scare away wasps from the table - who will refuse delicious? The simplest thing in this situation is to carefully close all products, for example, put them in plastic containers with a tight lid so that insects cannot get to the food and accidentally get into the mouth. nine0007

Retrieved

  1. Julien Grangier and Philip J. Lester. A novel interference behavior: invasive wasps remove ants from resources and drop them from a height // Biol. Lett., 2011-7
  2. Redin D. V., Nechaeva E. Kh., Melnikova N. A., Stepanova Yu. , No. 15, 2018 cyberleninka.ru/article/n/izuchenie-introdutsirovannyh-sortov-gortenzii-metelchatoy-v-usloviyah-samarskoy-oblasti/
  3. About the prevention of wasp stings // Rospotrebnadzor, 07/07/2021 www.rospotrebnadzor.ru/about/info/news/news_details.php?ELEMENT_ID=18 033
  4. How to protect yourself from the bites of "summer" insects // Ministry of Health of the Krasnodar Territory, 07/02/2020 www.minzdravkk.ru/pages/pressa/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=53 503

Get rid of wasps. 3 Time-Tested Ways to Control Insects | Nature | Society

Dmitry Belov

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

168030

"AiF. At the cottage" No. 15. With strawberries - until autumn: the secrets of new varieties 10/08/2016

"Fighting wasps is not as easy as it is supposed to be. Unfortunately, there are no such means by which it would be possible to destroy all wasps in a short time.

An article written more than 100 years ago* began on such a pessimistic note. However, its author, gardener A. A. Gintsenberg , suggested "some methods of struggle, which, if they do not completely rid the garden of these uninvited guests, then in any case significantly weaken their invasion." Almost all of these methods are effective to this day. Especially if you use their modernized versions.

About the life of wasps

“By winter, almost all wasps die, except for fertilized females. These last winters are spent under stones and in other sheltered places. These females wake up in early spring. They arrange nests, laying eggs in them, from which the larvae subsequently hatch. These larvae are fed by females. During the spring and summer, the females produce worker wasps that help the females build nests and raise new generations. nine0154

Thus, the very way of life of wasps indicates to us the best time to fight them - in the spring.

Destruction of nests on branches is really the safest thing in early spring - early summer, when the queen and several soldiers are in the nest. Since mid-summer, such a procedure carries a high degree of risk.

Safety measures

"When fighting wasps, it is better to put on a face net, which is used when caring for bees."

All operations against wasps must be carried out late in the evening. Have a mosquito net or a beekeeper's net on your face, protect your body with tight clothing.

1. Alcohol poisoning

“They take bottles (for example, from champagne or other large ones) and fill them ½ with some sweet liquid. It is extremely useful to add a little ordinary vodka to the liquid. So filled bottles are hung and laid out in those places where the strongest growth of wasps is noticed. Wasps willingly climb into bottles, where they drown. nine0154

Trap bottles should be checked from time to time and topped up with sweet liquid. They should be planted in early spring and harvested in late autumn.

Using food bait traps is an environmentally friendly and relatively safe way to control many types of insects, including wasps. You can use molasses, fermented honey, dissolved sugar or its mixture with beer.

True, numerous bottles on the site, and even with a characteristic smell, can cause certain rumors among the neighbors. In addition, with a high number of wasps, traps will not be able to completely cope with them. Especially without periodic inspection and renewal of food bait. nine0007

Modern method. In order not to lose your reputation, the bottles can be replaced with jars with a volume of 700-750 ml. A layer of sugar up to 1. 5 cm thick is poured to the bottom, poured with water (100–150 g) and mixed. Then up to half of the volume of the bank is filled with beer. A cross-shaped hole is cut in the lid of the jar, the length of each cut is no more than 10 mm. The resulting triangles bend inward: they will prevent the wasps from getting out.

2. Smoking kills. To destroy the nest of these wasps, you need to cover up all the exit holes in the hollow, and smoke through the lowest hole with some material that gives off acrid smoke. nine0154

It is a good idea to smoke wasp colonies out of hollow trees.

Modern method. Sulfur sticks can be used. However, you should remember about safety, use personal protective equipment. If successful, you need to close up the hollow as soon as possible - after a while the wasps can return to their habitable place.

3. Defense - in attack

“Some breeds of wasps arrange their nests on tree branches, in stables, sheds, attics and other places. They do this: they put a scraper on a stick and use it to drop the nests into a substituted open bag. When they have collected enough, the bag with nests is lowered into boiling water. This operation must also be carried out late in the evening. nine0154

The idea of ​​a century ago - to first determine where the miserable neighbors fly from, and then destroy their houses - is quite sound. It is also correct to schedule an operation for the evening: during the day, it is more expensive to take any action against wasp nests, and even more so hornets.

Modern method. After sunset, treat the outlet of the hornet's nest (or "nothole" if the house is in a wall, woodshed or other closed space) with any means against flying insects, you can in a regular spray can. Spraying for 3-6 seconds is sufficient. Immediately after this, it is necessary to cover the entrance tightly with construction foam or pre-mashed clay. After a day, you need to check if the striped neighbors are using some other exit.

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