My plants are outside for the summer so I'm not having an issue with them right now but I do know that when I bring them inside it will be a problem. They are established (they were there last year but I hadn't realized that they were in my plants vs getting in from outside.) Prior to taking the plants out this spring I had a lot of them flying around my house.

I can see a bunch of holes in some of the plants but I don't see many of them around.

What can I use that wont kill my plants? They seam to like my Christmas cactus's the most. I thought of re-potting them but I'm afraid it will make them really mad if they are in the dirt. Thanks!

In fact none of the products we'd recommend for treating potted plants would affect the plant themselves. Here's why. The term "pesticide" includes a wide range of products which are sub-categorized into groups that target specific types of life. Some of these categories are "insecticides", "herbicides", "fungicides", etc. Insecticides target insects; herbicides target plants and so on. So in general most insecticides will not harm or injure plant life; they're designed to only target insects. To directly affect a plant, you'd need to use a herbicide. But like any good "medicine", there can be a "side affect" that could injure non target life.

As you know, side affects from medicines can sometimes be dangerous. Well, plants too can sometimes be adversely affected by the emulsifier or some other component of the concentrate which could affect the plants growth or cause it to burn should you spray the plant leaves. For this reason some insecticides will say "not for use on plants or other vegetation". And yet other formulations will be created with the sole intent of focusing their use on plants so they're made with the plants safety in mind. And these are the products I'd recommend (and in fact use myself).

It just so happens I too keep lots of potted plants around my home. Invariably they'll get wasps or ants living in them (others too but these are the most popular insects my pots seem to attract). Once I learn they're living in the pot, I mix up 1/2 oz of CYPERMETHRIN into my watering can (which holds a gallon of water) and simply water my plant. I don't over water; just enough to get some water trickling into the water pan under the pot means you've probably added enough. And within 2-3 days the problem is gone.

Another "less toxic" option would be the organic concentrate known as MULTI PURPOSE INSECT KILLER. Use it the same way but instead add 5 oz per gallon of water. It won't last nearly as long as the Cypermethrin (it's only active for a few days compared to several weeks with the Cypermethrin) but it will ultimately get any wasp or ant living in the pot.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Cypermethrin:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/viper-cypermethrin

Multi Purpose Insect Killer:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/organic/liquid/multi-purpose-insect-killer-24-oz

please reply,

thanks, Glenn

I believe you mean PERMETHRIN 10? If so, it should help. In our experience wasps are generally repelled by synthetic pyrethroids like Permethrin. That being said, in our experience we have found the CYPERMETHRIN to be about the best. It seems to last 2-3 times as long as the Permethrin so don't be too disappointed if the wasps return in 7-14 days compared to the Cypermethrin which can last a month or more.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Permethrin:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/permethrin-10

Cypermethrin:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/viper-cypermethrin

We have not seen any color prevent or deter this pest from making their nests. But you do have two good options that can help.

Your first is to apply some CYPERMETHRIN by either spraying or painting it onto your ceiling. Wasps hate this stuff and will avoid treated surfaces. Treatments should last a month or more.

Your second option is to paint it blue and add some NBS PAINT ADDITIVE. This product is highly repellent to many insects including wasps. If you add some NBS to blue paint, they'll stay away for sure and treatments this way can last a year or more.

Your last option is to mix the NBS with water and spray or paint it onto the ceiling. Treatments this way will last a month or so.

Here are direct links to the products mentioned above:

Cypermethrin:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/viper-cypermethrin

NBS:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/exempt/additive/nbs-paint-additive-16-oz

Thanks.

I keep a boat on my local lake and have a constant problem with MUD DAUBERS making nests in all kinds of obscure areas. Some have been found under the boat tarps, inside cup holders, just inside vents and even in the bilge and motor compartment. As a general rule I have never sprayed anything liquid on my boat for both the fear of damaging the finish and contaminating the lake water. And since aerosol products tend to go on too greasy I've avoided them too. They typically contain all kinds of solvents which could affect the gel coat of my boat decking so I've stayed away from these products as well.

But that changed last year. Turns out one of the new aerosol products we have is ideally suited for boats. PT PHANTOM features a dry aerosol formulation that goes on without making a mess. I've used several cans of it on my boat the past two years and it's not made a mark. My boat is mostly white and I don't wax it but only a few times a year. However, it's not showing any signs of being "sprayed" like one commonly sees with many liquid formulations when used in such areas. More importantly, it's easy to apply and I find that treating in the spring through the summer will both stop and control nuisance boat pests like spiders, wasps, mud daubers and roaches. I apply some every 2-3 weeks; you may have to use it more frequently since your jet ski will get "wetter" through and through and this will depreciate the treatment faster. But you have a much smaller area to treat so one can should last a good long time.

Here is a direct link to this item in our catalog:

Mud Daubers:  http://www.bugspray.com/articles99/muddauber.html

PT Phantom:  http://www.bugspray.com/item/phantom_aerosol.html

Again…thanks for the info
J.

It's very astute that younoticed the mud dauber wasps foraging in the damp dirt you've described as wet and moist. In fact this would be a prime location for them to extract the key ingredient they need to build nests. And to answer your question; yes, it would be very wise to treat the area with the CYPERMETHRIN as it will effectively stop the behavior immediately. In most cases the treatment will repel them elsewhere but if they insist on crawling over the treated turf, the chemical will kill them over a few days. Since the area is getting wet over and over from the irrigation system, you'll need to treat every 2-3 weeks to insure there is anything still active working for you. The constant water and exposure to sunlight will wear the Cypermethrin down a lot sooner than normal like when it's applied to the side of your home.

Additionally, one big benefit of doing this will be that you should expect to see less activity on your home following the turf treatment. Since these guys like to build nests as close to where they find good dirt to use is one of the big reasons you have them in the first place. But by chasing them elsewhere there will no doubt be more nests on someone else's home and less on yours. And since there are many species of wasps which like to live in the ground, you'll also be controlling any of these ground nesting wasps so again, this treatment will have many benefits and should be done. I feel I should also point out it's not common for people to see just where the dirt for nest building is being mined so you are quite lucky in that you found it.

Here is a direct link for our Cypermethrin and our Mud Dauber artilce:

Cypermethrin:  http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page652.html

Mud Dauber Control Article:  http://www.bugspray.com/articles99/muddauber.html

It's never a good idea to lock any wasp or bee in close proximity to a household like you've described. Hatching young mud daubers will have no place to go and they could end up inside the structure. I have no idea if there are children, pets or elderly people around but when wasps or bees are forced inside homes or other structures, they most certainly pose a hazard to the occupants. I advise this nest and any others on the home to be removed.

After the nests are scraped off the home, it is strongly advised that you spray with some CYPERMETHRIN to insure new nests won't be built in the same area. As our WASP CONTROL ARTICLE explains, the scent of wasp nests, wasp pheromones, wasp food and just plain wasp activity will lure more to the area so the current situation will only get worse and worse till its properly treated. If you are reluctant to spray the Cypermethrin, consider one of our organic options listed on our NON TOXIC PEST CONTROL site. Organic products are very safe to use and they don't last long once applied. However, they will be able to hold off new activity for a week or two. One of the better organic options is our MULTI PURPOSE INSECT KILLER.

This will depend largely on where you live and when the mud daubers get active. It's important that you get it out early enough to help keep them away during the beginning of the season. For us here in Georgia, that would be this month as flying insects are already starting to move about and start new nests. A good dose of Cypermethrin now will really help. Mud Daubers do start early too so don't let them get started ahead of you; a good rule is to treat at least one month before you normally start to notice them.