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What will kill red wasps


Outdoor Illinois

My neighbor was convinced I was trying to burn down my shed. 

“Don’t you think that’s a little dangerous?” my neighbor Gary queried after rolling up on his ATV one evening. He’d noticed billows of smoke in the night sky and came over to investigate. Gary had that uneasy look of someone who knows a really stupid idea when he sees one.

Moments earlier, I’d pulled my portable barbecue grill into the wooden shed beside my house and lit a smoky fire.

I had not been drinking.

Men do incredibly stupid, reckless things in the name of defending their property. Red wasps were my problem. They’d moved into my shed. This is every man’s mission in life, if he’s anything. Building contraptions and blowing things up to solve problems is what we do. We call it bravery. Superior intellect. No non-human creature is going to enter our castle without a brawl.

For the second year in a row, I was being invaded by hordes of annoying, angry red wasps. They’d built a nest in the rafters. Their sentinels remained perched on the roof’s edge daily. Whenever I would approach, their guards lifted off, swirling around my head as if they owned the place. I had no choice. No flying insect was going to chase me out of my castle, not on my watch.

And so one night after sunset I rolled my grill into the shed. This was my only option. I will not claim this was a great idea or even a brave idea. But this was my plan. I would start a fire in my shed. Wood smoke, I decided, would crush my opponent. True, I probably sensed I might burn down the shed—along with my house—and lose everything I owned and be the fool of the neighborhood.

Reluctantly, I’d put a large metal plate to catch sparks under the portable grill. Plus I had my garden hose ready. Anything more would be sensible.

Then Gary showed up. He had that look.

“Have you tried liquid dish soap?” Gary asked after staring at the smoking time bomb. “Soap will kill wasps. ”

I thought: Of all of the preposterous, redneck, stupid home remedies I’d ever heard of, using dish soap to kill wasps instantly topped the list.

Gary explained how he puts liquid soap into a spray bottle with a little water, then sprays a stream of it to kill unwanted wasps around his house. He has a newborn baby to protect.

“It works,” he promised.

“Uh-huh,” I might’ve said.

What a dumb idea. But so was the idea to put a barbecue grill in my shed. Gary stood in the driveway and watched the shed churn smoke and clearly wanted to turn on the garden hose and save everything I own. But Gary knows the rules. Men don’t interfere with another man’s right to do incredibly stupid things. We offer technical advice. We offer tools. But we don’t enforce the use of common sense.

And so we both stood in the driveway watching the smoke roll into the night sky as one might watch a car race, waiting for a massive wreck. Neither of us spoke. I knew it was a dumb idea. Gary knew it was a dumb idea. We just waited and watched as all men do.

My battle with the wasps actually began last year. After the hordes moved in, I was evicted from my shed for the entire summer. Their hidden paper nest grew daily under the roof. Depending on the time of day, I was allowed only brief visitation to dart inside, grab whatever I needed—a chain saw or a hammer—before the alarmed wasps would escort me outside. In the evening, I was seen as the hostile intruder. I’d flick on the lights to do some woodworking, and the wasps would be there, flexing their wings. The sound of my band saw infuriated them. Down they would come, legs dangling.

I completed no woodworking projects last summer.

Of course I am not the first man in America to have a wasp problem. Chemical companies figured out this consumer need long ago and gave mankind what amounts to death in a can. And I could have easily bought and used one of those jet-spray insecticide blasts against the loathsome invaders.

But I’m a reasonable man and a fair fighter. Chemical warfare is not my thing. I run a Green household. Nature is my friend. I understand the value of pollinator bees and I do what I can to protect our wild allies. But this was my shed and I own it. The wasps clearly had to go.

After spending one summer banned from my own shed, unable to figure out an environmentally safe way to rid myself of those freeloading, wing-flexing tenants, winter arrived. The wasps disappeared. One cold day in December I opened the shed to confront the idle nest, which was accessible by ladder. I put on gloves, climbed the ladder and I served my eviction notice by hand.

Down came the nest.

For a while, my shed once again belonged to me. Woodworking resumed.

And then spring arrived and the wasps that had spent the winter elsewhere began building a new nest in the same place. Just as they did last year, their defiant guards stood at the eaves of my shed and flexed their wings in the sunlight, intimidating all who dared approach.

This year I was not going to take it.

Which brings us to my brilliant idea of rolling my barbecue grill into my shed to create a giant smoke bomb.

And then Gary showed up with his preposterous suggestion about soap. I didn’t even consider it. I knew deadly smoke was the real answer, and so I let the grill smolder until I went to bed, confident I had solved everything.

But in the morning the red wasps that had flown out of the smoke during the night returned. And so I started another fire. Away flew the wasps. When the fire was out, the wasps returned. And so I built another fire.

I had entered a battle of endurance. But I was had this advantage: No wasp anywhere can outlast a man’s determination to be stupid. Each day I built a smoldering, choking smoke bomb in my shed, heaping leaves and sawdust on the grill, and each day the red wasps would fly away, only to return when the fire went out.

The heat of battle continued, off and on, for more than a week. Each time I decided the intense smoke would finally, once and for all, convince the wasps to abandon their colony, the wasps would return. Gary saw the smoke rising each day from across the road, waiting for the inevitable flames to appear above my shed. There would be sirens. Neighbors would stand in the street, pointing, exchanging comments. The thing is, Gary was right. What I was doing was an idiotically stupid, reckless obsession with danger. Not only did I risk burning down my shed to rid myself of a mere insect—my strategy didn’t work at all.

After two weeks of fiery battle, the wasps carried on in full force, perched on my eaves, defiant as ever, glaring at me.

And so I called a cease fire. For a moment anyway.

I retreated into the house and regrouped. It was the phase of battle where desperate generals plot their final military strategy. My options hadn’t changed. I remained the fair-fighter, the Green warrior. And so there was only one, last option, I decided.

It was the insane option.

Military historians and analysts know there is a tendency among defeated warriors mounting desperate reprisal attacks. Those desperate, once-defeated warriors tend to choose reckless, brazen strategies that cannot possibly work—and yet they go for it. Even as they know they have absolutely no chance of beating the enemy, they rage forward with screaming, insane battle cries. They throw empty pistols at tanks. They run toward flashing cannons with handfuls of dirt, shouting.

I was now that insane warrior. After more than a week of failed smoke bombs, I was willing to try a strategy I knew was truly preposterous.

This would be my final battle, my last mission.

I walked into my house and knelt down in front of the sink. I found an empty spray bottle in the cabinet and unscrewed the cap. I found a bottle of liquid dishwashing soap. Into the spray bottle I poured half a cup of liquid soap, then added another half cup of water, enough to thin the thick soap for spraying.

I stood up. In the distance of my imagination I heard the faint sound of military taps. I stepped outside, the soapy mixture sloshing in the bottle as I walked. I stopped, faced the shed, and stood before my enemy. The red wasps were all there waiting for me above. Their mechanical, robotic heads twisted downward. Sentinels and guards organized themselves at the edge of the roof.  

I tried to believe. But I knew the odds. I had the confidence of a man about to throw an empty pistol at a tank.

But this was my destiny. This was my moment. I raised the spray bottle, arm outstretched, and pointed it directly at the enemy.

I let them have it.

All of us know soap and water is nothing more than soap and water. In happy TV commercials, rosy babies giggle with delight in baths of bubbles. Puppies chase bubbles in the air. Doctors before surgery wash down with soap and feel confident they are good doctors. No harm shall result from the use of soap. I knew as well as anyone that I was about to be swarmed and instantly killed by the flying red bombers. There would be no mercy. I knew I would be toppled by wasps and stung as no man has ever been stung before. The wasps would win. But I would die as men must die.

Local papers would carry headlines about a man who was found dead in his driveway with a spray bottle filled with soapy water and hundreds of red welts.

“Funeral Thursday for World’s Dumbest Man,” the papers would announce. “Experts Baffled by Senseless Military Strategy.”

Children would ride their bicycles past my house and laugh. Babies in soap bubbles would giggle.

This was my fate and I accepted it.

For those familiar with classical music and those dramatic war movies that show gruesome battle scenes in ultra-slow motion, here’s what happened.

I recall it now in slow motion, the haunting, funereal music, the bottle squeaking like a rubber balloon as streams of harmless soap glided skyward. Slowly, as the torrents cascaded onto the red wasp’s defensive position and the music rose, the once-invincible wasps and their pose of menace shifted, first into a slow-motion flexing of wings, then into angry, frenetic, all-out-battle response.

Death was in the air.

Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” was playing. It rose to a crescendo. With each pull of my trigger, more harmless, ineffectual soap bombarded their defensive position in slow-motion crashes. The now-infuriated wasps began to release their defensive hold. The doomed warrior continued his futile, rapid-fire squeezing of the trigger. The end was near.

But that, my fellow Americans, is not the end of this story. Military historians and analysts know there are rare occasions when armies of thousands can be defeated by bold, insanely reckless advances of an inferior opponent. Surprise attacks by three soldiers with empty pistols or handfuls of dirt have been known to capture a battalion.

Years from now, I will be telling this exact story wherever veterans gather to recount the wars of their lifetime. For not only did I survive my soap-water offensive, I totally crushed my enemy. Instead of angry swarms of red wasps rocket-firing their venom, the lone warrior with the bottle of soap somehow, unbelievably, prevailed. The wet ground was soon covered by heaps of them, stunned and suffocated by the film of soapy water. They staggered among comrades for a few seconds, then perished.

The music rose again. I scanned the battlefield.

Holdouts from the hidden sanctuary crept out to the daylight and dropped to the ground, defeated. Not a single wasp could fly with soap on its wings. It was a complete and overwhelming victory against impossible odds.

Later that evening Gary rolled up again on his ATV. He noticed there wasn’t any smoke and came over to investigate. I had to tell him something that men do not often say.

“Gary,” I said. “You were right.”

“You tried the soap?” he responded cheerfully.

The fact is, ordinary liquid soap in a spray bottle works as well as anything I’ve ever tried when it comes to dropping and killing wasps around the house. And, as a reformed smoker, I feel compelled now to brag about my personal success.

The only problem with being a reformed smoker is that nobody believes you when you try to convert them.

So be it. But soap does work.

And please don’t burn down your house.

How to Get Rid of Wasps: A Complete Guide [2022]

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.

Earth wasps - what to do if striped predators settled in the garden

Contents:

  1. Peculiarities of behavior of earth wasps
  2. Nest building
  3. What wasps live in the ground?
  4. Danger to people
  5. Ways to deal with stinging aggressors
  6. Precautions

Wasps have become habitual companions of man. They can be found in the city and at their summer cottage. During the day they habitually circle over fruits and flowers, in the evening they fly to the nest. Its location depends on the preferences of the uterus, some build it on trees, others in attics, and still others in empty birdhouses. Numerous families of burrowing, road and sand wasps have adapted to breeding in burrows. These are solitary insects that dig their homes on their own. Under the soil, paper wasps or hornets can settle down. Earth wasps are not a separate family, but various species that have chosen the soil for building a nest. nine0003

Features of the behavior of earthen wasps

In the summer in the garden, you can see striped workers hiding in a hole. The sight is unusual, so the question arises - do wasps live in the ground? With all the diversity of wasp species, there are families that dig holes for rearing offspring. They are loners that lay their eggs in isolated cells. Females do not regularly care for offspring, they leave food and seal the hole. Newborn larvae eat live but paralyzed insects until they get stronger. Adults dig a passage and get out. Now their diet will consist of their nectar and sweet juice. Predatory wasps prefer to grow larvae on caterpillars and bunches, destroying a large number of pests. nine0025


Social wasps live in colonies of hundreds of individuals. It is they who pose a threat to the owners of the site on which they settled. A huge number of aggressive predators is a constant threat of a bite during agricultural work. Winged insects living in the ground lead a habitual way of life. The queen lays eggs and manages the colony. In the spring, she builds a nest herself, flies for food for the first larvae. With the advent of working individuals, she stops sorties, being engaged exclusively in laying eggs. nine0022 Nest building

The choice of a place for building a nest is made by the mother of an earthen wasp. In the spring, she first goes in search of a site where she will give life to a new swarm. An empty, spacious burrow and an abundance of food nearby may attract her. The uterus builds the first combs from the bark of trees, chewed and moistened with saliva. After hardening, the mass becomes like rough paper. Initially, 5-10 cells are made, in which an egg is laid. After 35-40, the first assistants will appear. The following tiers and cells will be attached to the nest. nine0003

At the end of summer, the dwelling reaches its maximum size. Their eggs laid by the uterus appear females capable of procreation, and males. In August-September, they begin to mate. The old queen leaves the house and flies away, young fertilized females hide in the ground or crevices of trees. Only they will survive the winter. The rest of the inhabitants will freeze and die.

Attention. Do not be afraid that the next year the earthen wasps will return to the old nest. Overwintered queens will give birth to a new family in another place. nine0003

What wasps live in the ground?

There are several types of insects that prefer to build nests and breed offspring away from prying eyes. Many families of solitary donkeys settle in the soil. The most common types of earthen wasps are:

Sand or burrowing wasps

Members of this family make their homes in soft sandy soil. Their sizes range from 5 to 20 mm. Unlike other species, burrowing wasps have males larger than females. On the front legs there are hard bristles that allow you to dig holes. Insects are predators that supply the larvae with paralyzed spiders, bedbugs, caterpillars, and aphids. The diet of adults consists of fruit juice, nectar, aphid secretions. Most genera are black or black and yellow. nine0003

Sand wasps are solitary. Each female takes care of building a nest and food for the larvae. One of the largest representatives of the species is ammophila. Its thin body reaches 40 mm. Black insect with a red spot on the abdomen. Females dig holes perfectly and mask them from enemies. The tunnel has separate chambers for each egg.

Among the burrowing wasps, there is a species that causes great damage to apiaries. This is a bee wolf or a philanthropist. He feeds his offspring with bees. A small insect (12-17 mm) has a characteristic black and yellow color. Philanthropists build nests on the slopes of ravines and ditches. They smell the bee and attack it in flight. The female carries the paralyzed prey to the nest. nine0003

Road wasps

Hymenoptera of medium to large size (15-40 mm). They are called pompilides. The body of wasps is long, most often they are black. There are red or yellow spots on the abdomen. The wings are smoky.

Information. The wasps make their nests in the dense earth along the roads, digging deep minks with branches.


They choose spiders as food for their larvae. On a paralyzed arthropod, the females lay their eggs and seal the nest. Pompilid live everywhere, the greatest variety of species is found in the tropics. nine0034

Attention. The bite of road wasps is considered one of the most painful. This species rarely settles in suburban areas. The chances of running into him are extremely low.

Paper wasps

We are accustomed to seeing representatives of the family of real or paper wasps under the roofs of houses, on tree branches, in hollows. But they can build a nest in the soil of a garden plot or in a vegetable garden. The young queen finds an empty burrow and gives rise to a colony. She independently begins the construction of the first honeycombs. The queen takes care of the first larvae, catching locusts, caterpillars, beetles and other garden pests for them. nine0003

What does an earthen wasp look like? Insects that hide their nest under a layer of soil are no different from those that live in trees. The body of paper wasps is clearly divided into 3 parts - the head, chest and abdomen. The compound eyes are well developed. The mouth apparatus is of a gnawing type, it is used to remove bark from trees and grind prey. The abdomen consists of 6-8 segments. Insects have two pairs of transparent membranous wings. The head and thorax are black with yellow spots. On the abdomen, black stripes alternate with yellow. nine0003

Attention. In females, a sting is hidden in the abdomen, connected to a poisonous gland. This is an ovipositor, transformed into a weapon to protect the nest. When threatened, they attack the enemy violently.

Hornets

Vespinas are a subfamily of true wasps that are distinguished by complex behavior and nest architecture. Hornets are the largest and most aggressive representatives of this species. Their size can be 25-50 mm. The eyes of insects are red-brown in color, the occipital part of the head is wider. The color of the chest and abdomen, in addition to black and yellow, has stripes of brown. Predatory hornets kill their prey with poison and tear them apart with their jaws. They prey on flies, beetles, spiders, grasshoppers, beetles. nine0003

Usually the family builds a nest in a hollow or non-residential building, but may settle in the ground. Stings of large wasps are painful, and for people prone to allergies, they can be dangerous.

Danger to people

Neighborhood with predatory insects can be beneficial. The wasps that settled on the site will help with the destruction of pests. During the summer they will catch hundreds of flies, caterpillars, butterflies for their offspring. All the positives outweigh the harm in a few cases. Why are earthen wasps dangerous? nine0003

Attention. Wasp venom can paralyze or kill an invertebrate. A bite causes significant pain to humans and pets. The danger threatens only people with individual intolerance to insect toxins. nine0003

Ways to deal with stinging aggressors

Wasps living in the ground can be destroyed by mechanical means or chemical preparations.

Insecticides

Modern chemicals can get rid of any insects. Enteric-contact insecticides can be poured into the nest or mixed with the bait. In the first case, it is necessary to prepare the solution according to the instructions and pour it into the notch. From above, the nest is closed with a load that prevents the wasps from flying out. The agent in powder or granules can be scattered at the entrance. Insects will cling to its paws and bring it inside, poisoning the larvae. nine0003

Making poison baits is an easy and safe way to deal with earthen wasps. The insecticide is mixed into sweet syrup or liquid honey. The container with the bait is left at the hole. Insects will not pass by the goodies. With food, the poison enters the body of adults, and sticky drops from the paws will poison the larvae. Boric acid is suitable as a toxin. As the bait is eaten, insecticide syrup is added. After one or two weeks, all the inhabitants of the nest will be dead. The following preparations are used:


Wasp control methods with insecticides are safe and effective. But be careful around the nest.

Burnout

Fire is a formidable ally in the fight against insects. Burning the nest is a simple and effective way. Paper honeycombs burn well, especially after filling with kerosene or gasoline. It will take several liters of flammable liquid. A small path is made near the hole for ignition. After bringing the match, it is better to run away as far as possible, a small explosion and a burst of flame are possible. The method is not recommended if there are flammable buildings nearby. nine0003

Tip. Before starting the destruction, follow the wasps and find out where the entrances to the nest are located. They must be plugged, leaving only the main notch.

Boiling water

One of the mechanical ways to destroy stinging insects is to pour boiling water over their dwelling. The method is absolutely not expensive, but in terms of efficiency it is inferior to the use of chemicals. It will become an alternative to burning. Hot water will need about 20 liters. Boiling water is quickly poured into a hole, which is closed with a stone. The disadvantage of the method is that not all insects will die after contact with water. The procedure will have to be repeated. Work with boiling water should be careful not to get burned. nine0003

Precautions

Having decided how to get rid of earthen wasps, you need to take care of your own protection. During work, you should be careful, because a disturbed swarm can severely bite a person. Recommended security measures include:

In a situation where the insect nest is in a remote corner and does not pose a serious danger, it is better not to disturb it. In autumn, its inhabitants will scatter and die. nine0003

how to get rid of folk remedies on your own

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. nine0003

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). nine0003

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. nine0003

These wasps traditionally build 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 (very much, by the way, loves flowers of garden parsnips) 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. nine0003

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 a wasp honeycomb on the stems of perennial flowers in your attic, on a thuja or juniper, know that it is they, European paper wasps.

These wasps collect material for building their nests from old trees and stumps - they scrape off the fibers of the wood with their jaws, then chew it and build their honeycombs from it. nine0003

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. nine0003 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 it is 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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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 spank or kick him out, just open a window or door - he will fly away by himself. nine0003

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, making 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 sweet things - they willingly eat a span (excretion of aphids and other insects), love fallen fruits (apples, pears and plums), all kinds of confectionery. nine0003 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 beehive with wasps

The first rule is to start fighting wasps as early as possible, preferably in the spring. nine0152 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). nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

Syrup (the same old jam diluted with water) is poured into drinkers, and then any insecticide from pests is added to it (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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. In summer cottages there are always a lot of flowering plants, fruits and berries - 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? nine0043

The effects 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. nine0003

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. nine0152 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? nine0043

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! nine0003

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. nine0003

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 heaps 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.

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