Wasp Nest Removal 101: How To Safely Get Rid Of A Wasp Nest
Wasps are not the most friendly of insects. In fact, some of them are actually quite aggressive. This makes the possibility of you getting stung very high. Yikes! And now that the weather is getting warmer, you can expect to see a lot more wasps hanging around your property. While not all wasps are aggressive and will attack, some are just plain mean. That’s why you need to get rid of them as soon as possible. And an effective way to minimize the presence of these pests in your home is to destroy the nest. However, you can’t simply go and bash their home. No, no. This will only put you at risk of getting a ton of stings. Which is something we want to avoid at all costs! Instead, we will show you how to safely and effectively remove the nest. Welcome to wasp nest removal 101!
Wasps are not the most friendly of insects
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Wasp Nest Removal 101
Even though you may have gotten rid of the wasps that have been terrorizing you and your property, these creatures tend to be territorial. This means that they will come back to their nesting spot sooner or later. However, by removing their nest, they will disperse and find another location to build their new home. That is why it is important to remove the old nest. But do keep in mind that wasps sometimes like to build their new nests in the same vicinity. To avoid this, you simply need to make sure you need to remove any attractants and take all the needed preventative measures. But before you do that, let’s see how you can remove the nest safely.
Wasps will disperse and find another location to build their new home when their nest is removed
#Get the right gear
Before you proceed with any type of nest removal, it’s very important you gear up first. This means you need to get the right protective clothing and gear. Unlike bees, wasps are aggressive and can sting multiple times. Not only that but wasps release pheromones when they sting which alerts the other wasps that this is the danger. It’s like a beacon for them. That’s why you need to protect yourself. Protect your hands, face, and body. While you don’t need a full beekeeper’s suit it is best to get clothes with thick fabrics and maybe layer them. Make sure all of you is covered. Long shirts, long pants and so on.
While you don’t need a full beekeeper suit, you do need to cover your whole body
#Locate the nest
The next thing you need to do is locate where the nest is. The easiest way to do so is by walking around your property and checking all the little snug, hidden corners, attics, crawl spaces, and so on. However, this can be quite time-consuming and is not a guaranteed way to find them. Another way you can find the nest is to see what type of wasp you are dealing with. Once you know the type of wasp you are dealing with, you can research its nesting habits and narrow down the possible locations. Another way to locate the nest is to observe a wasp’s flight pattern. Simply tail it and see where it flies off until it leads you to the nest.
You need to find the nest as fast as possible
#Choose your removal method
There are multiple ways you can go about removing a wasp nest. While you may think bashing the wasp nest is the best way to remove it, this method will most likely result in you unleashing a wasp attack. Fire is also a common removal method, but it increases the chance of accidentally setting your home or garden on fire and aggravates the wasps. That’s why we will show more effective and safe methods.
There are multiple ways you can go about removing a wasp nest
- Physically remove it: This method is best if you want to remove a paper wasp nest. Paper wasps aren’t usually aggressive which means the chance of you getting stung is low. Gear up and take a broom or a scraper and remove the nest. This type of nest is delicate and will fall apart easily. Keep in mind that if it is a paper nest, and it falls to the ground quickly, you should be ready to stomp it or spray it with a chemical spray.
- Water and soap: Get boiling water and dish soap. Add the soap to the water. Dish soap bogs down the wasps and makes it hard for them to counterattack. Pour the mixture onto the nest from as far as possible. This method should be done several hours apart or even full days apart and will take more than just one bucket.
- Pesticides: Sometimes you need to bring out the big guns. Get yourself a wasp-killing aerosol spray. Then target the bottom opening of the nest. Make sure to follow your manufacturer’s instructions. Then let it work overnight and repeat the next day or until you are sure that all the wasps are dead. Finally, take a stick or broom and knock it down.
- Insecticidal dust: Dust insecticide formulas are very effective for ground nests. This is because they can easily penetrate the core and get inside to eradicate the nest. Follow the package instructions and leave the area while it does its magic. Check up on it the next day and apply more if you think the wasps are not dead yet.
While not all wasps are aggressive and will attack, some are just plain mean
#Pick the right time
You’ve chosen your weapon of choice, now it’s time to choose the right timing. When it comes to nest removals you should do them earlier in the year. Queens exit their hibernation in early spring and start to form new colonies. So, early spring and early summer is the best time to remove the nest, as the nest will be smaller and focused on growth. It’s easier to remove and less dangerous. Another good time to remove wasp nests is at night. Wasps are less active during nighttime, they have slower reaction times, and they aren’t as aggressive.
Queens exit their hibernation in early spring and start to form new colonies
#Call the professionals
If you are afraid of getting stung (which is a valid fear) or there are too many wasps you can deal with, it may be time to call in some professional help. They will tackle the problem for you, and you won’t be putting yourself at risk.
Call the professional for helps
How To Keep Wasp Nets Away
Okay, now that you have gotten rid of the nest, you need to make sure wasps stay away from your property. The best way to do so is by removing possible attractants. This includes standing water, sweets, protein-rich foods, leftover foods, sticky spills, sugar, and so on. They may also be attracted to specific plants, so it’s best to remove those or move them to the outskirts of your property where wasps won’t bug you. You can also install wasp traps or wasp-repellent plants to ward them off.
Remove all possible wasp attractions
This was wasp nest removal 101. We hope you found this article useful. Now you know everything you need to know about how to safely and effectively remove wasp nests from your home. No more will these insects terrorize you in your own home!
This was wasp nest removal 101
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