Paper Wasp, Hornet and other stinging insect control
There are many species of wasps which come in direct conflict with people. This article will discuss two types; paper wasps and bald faced hornets. Both are active during the spring and summer months and can be found in most parts of the United States. And though bald faced hornets use the name "hornet", they are actually a wasp. Other common species of wasps include cicada killers, digger wasps, mud daubers and yellow jackets.
Paper wasps vary in color. Some are black, yellow or red and others can be black and red or even brown and red. In other words, they come in many different colors. This video shows one of the more commonly seen species and was shot in the early spring.
This next video features wasps filmed close up as they emerge from a Fescue Lawn.
Wasps can build nests on homes, under soffits, behind sidings or window shutters and just about anyplace which provides some type of shelter from the elements. These nests are usually small in size and population. Many times wasp nests are in cracks of wood and cannot be seen. Here the wasp will nest in between siding, insulation and any other void they can find underneath soffits, around gutters and windows. Paper wasps do not fly as fast as bald faced hornets and are generally not as aggressive. If activity is high, just watch from a distance and chances are you will quickly locate where the main nest sight is located or hidden. Paper wasps are also very curious. It is quite common to find them flying around people since they are attracted to moisture and sweet odors. Also, most wasps have good eyes and will catch you approaching once you get within 10 feet of them. They will readily fly toward sweat, perfume, food, flowers, dead insects and other things commonly found around the home. In fact, wasps can become quite a pest – even if you are just trying to sit out on your deck or around the pool! A handy way to deal with them when they are in close proximity and hovering around is with a HAND HELD ZAPPER. This device is great for all types of insects like mosquitoes, flies and spiders but is particularly effective on wasps. Simply touch the electric grid to any wasp and it will instantly die from the mild electrocution. This "Electric Swatter" is quite effective and since you don't actually "swat" the target, there is no mess. If you are finding the wasps inside the home, the BUG VACUUM/ZAPPER may be the better option. It enables you to trap the wasp on walls or ceilings and then you can vacuum them into the holding tube. Once in the tube, you decide if you want the wasp to live or die; release them outside if you want them to live or turn on the "zapper" for a quick kill. The Bug Vacuum/Zapper provides a clean way to remove unwanted pests. Of course, these only offer immediate relief and won't be a long term resolution to a wasp infestation.
Bald Faced hornets are actually wasps too. They are black with white or yellow stripes around their thorax and abdomen. They're about one inch long, can fly very fast and can get quite aggressive if you get close to their nest. Bald faced hornets create a large football shapped nest which is grey and oval. It ranges from softball to beach ball size and usually forms in early summer. These nests are made from cellulose (wood and plant material) and are quite strong as well as weatherproof. Likely nest sights include trees, shrubs and around overhangs of buildings. You won't be able to use a Hand Held Zapper on this species of wasp but there are ways to do wasp control for them which is discussed below.
If you are a pool owner or have some other body of water close by which is always attracting wasps, treatment options will be limited but there are some things you can do to help keep them away. This is because the wasps you are seeing aren't necessarily nesting on your property. Wasps need water and lots of it. And they will forage great distances to find water. In arid environments, this could be several miles. If where you reside has been hot or dry and you have a bird bath, a pool or some other water supply, expect wasps to find your "offering". As the moisture evaporates into the air, wasps and other insects will detect it's presence. This will attract them to the area and once found, "word" will be out on the street attracting other insects and more wasps. In other words, expect more and more of the local population of wasps and other insects to come around if your yard is providing some water when local areas are dry. Dealing with such invasions is extremely difficult but there are some treatments that can help reduce this activity. The best way is to directly treat any known nests. However, in most of these situations, the nest is not around nor is it easy to find. For such situations, a broad "shotgun" technique must be employed and should involve three types of "repellents".
Wasp Repellents
If you wish to repel wasp activity, there are three products which can cover large areas and have proven to offer relief. First, the strongest repellent is the use of an aerosol based Pyrethrin called MICROCARE. Most any insect hates Pyrethrin and wasps cannot stand it. They will avoid any area where pyrethrin is detected. Pyrethrin occurs naturally and in fact is the exact defense mechanism many plants use to keep destructive pests away. Aerosol forms of pyrethrin are particularly irritating to wasps, flies and other flying insects because of the way they breathe. Use the Microcare to mist plants, ground cover, rocks, mulch and basically any place you see wasp activity and want them gone. Keep in mind treatments won't last long; you may need to apply some once or twice a day if you intend on keeping an area wasp free all the time. However, Pyrethrin is very safe to use around people and pets and poses no hazard. This means you can reapply it as needed. Since it comes in a can and is ready to spray, treatments are easy and take no time. The second repellent we have found that works is a new version of the old style MOSQUITO COILS. The original type burning coil used citronella as the active. This new formulation uses Synthetic Pyrethrin and is extremely effective at keeping unwanted mosquitoes, wasps and flies away. They detect the repellent and stay clear or else they will die from inhaling it. Set these out around the areas you want to keep wasp free. And lastly, the third wasp repellent that we've found effective at keeping wasps away is FLYING INSECT KILLER. This aerosol is like the Microcare in how you use it but instead employs a man made active which is more "smelly" then the pyrethrin. Like pyrethrin, wasps don't like it and will leave where you apply it to the air and other surfaces. Treatments will last 3-4 hours, much longer the the Microcare, and people won't notice it 5-10 minutes after it's been applied. Definitely a good product to use in the morning if you plan on having a mid afternoon activity where wasps have been a problem.
Another method of controlling foraging wasps involves the use of a wasp trap. The original type traps were designed to catch Yellow Jackets and as many of us have learned, using a trap for them isn't too effective because they seem to come around in such high numbers it's simply not possible to catch them all. Well, the new WASP GLASS TRAP uses a different type of lure and pheromones making it attractive to many species of wasps. Since many of these species involve much smaller populations compared to yellow jackets, the use of these wasp traps can prove extremely helpful at reducing local activity. Wasps will enter the trap through a hole on the bottom and once inside will drown in the water/pheromone mix. These wasp traps can be set out on table tops (they have stout legs to keep the hole up and accessible even if the trap isn't hanging) or you can hang them from trees or other elevated sites. They are quite decorative and won't be noticed much in the yard and can be brought along for picnics or other outdoor activities where wasps are known to be a problem. One of the great features of this trap is that you can use them over and over again. Just wash them out every two weeks and replace the lure 1-2 a month during wasp season. Glass Traps come with one pheromone/lure and they're only active for 2 weeks so be sure to get plenty of extra WASP GLASS TRAP LURE (2 PACK). Use 1 of these for every 1/4 acre; 4 per acre if you wish to keep adequate coverage on your property.
Wasp Control and Equipment
If you have found a wasp nest and have decided to treat the problem yourself, you will have to decide what material will be best suited for the task. There are many options available including wasp freeze, liquids and dust formulations. All offer advantages and disadvantages; some will be better suited for the job at hand while in some cases, any type of product may work. Most importantly, you must be able to both reach and treat the nest adequately to insure you destroy it completely. Failure to do so will create a hazardous situation. Wasps which have had their homes partially destroyed will become angry and aggressive. They will remain this way for days. To insure you do the job right the first time, make sure you attack it from a good position without risk of getting stung. This could mean climbing a ladder, walking out on a roof or scaling a tree. Many of these locations will leave you vulnerable and the last thing you want to have happen is to be stung by a nest of angry wasps while atop a 25 foot ladder. To insure your safety, a BEE VEIL, BEE HAT, BEE GLOVES and BEE SUIT may be needed. This equipment will prevent wasp stings and enable you to go about your task with confidence and conviction. Good protection is worth the investment – particularly if you have to treat a nest of ornery bald faced hornets.
Treatment of any wasp nest should be done at dusk or early morning. There are two reasons for this: 1) It insures that all the wasps are in the nest and 2) the risk of being stung is minimized. For small paper wasp nests, STINGER is quick and easy to use. It delivers a chemical which knocks down and kills most wasps on contact. It sprays ten to fifteen feet so it allows you to reach high places without a ladder. And because it sprays so fast, you must be careful not to waste it all. Treatments with Stinger should allow for immediate removal of the nest. If the nest is unusually high, you may need to use a WASP POLE. This device holds a can of Stinger and is then controlled with a string from the ground (at the other end of the pole). The Wasp Pole is comprised of four, 4 feet sections which are connected and amount to a length of about 18 feet. The average 5'-6' person will be able to reach up and treat nests over 20 feet high with this device and can reach much higher with optional extensions or ladders. This is a must have tool for difficult to reach or treat wasp situations.
If you have a mature bald faced hornet nest or many paper wasp nests to treat, you will find using a concentrate more efficient and cost effective. This is the best choice for when the nest is out in the open and clearly visible. Hanging wasp nests or bald faced hornet football nests are prime candidates for this type of treatment. Here is what you might expect to happen to the wasps following a treatment. In this video, the home was being treated for ladybugs. As the house was being sprayed, a nest of hibernating wasps was discovered and treated. This clip shows how they react to the treatment.
For these type of wasps nests, equip yourself with a good SPRAYER and a tank full of CYPERMETHRIN. Saturate the outside of the entire nest to the point of runoff. Then spray directly into the main entrance/exit hole. The Cypermethrin will leave a residual which will kill any wasp which walks on it. Wasp nests treated this way should be left alone for a day or two to insure a complete kill. Remember, the surviving wasps will linger in the area so be sure to keep children and pets clear till you know there is no longer any activity. You generally can remove the nest after a few days or wait till later in the year when you are 100% sure the nest is no longer active.
If the nest is thought to be in between siding, underneath a facia board, behind a shutter, under a deck, around a window frame, in the side of a building or anywhere that a liquid or wasp freeze treatment may not work, than the use of a dry dust called DRIONE DUST is best. This dust is very fine and will penetrate deep into the cracks and crevices of the void. Use an applicator such as a HAND DUSTER and blow the dust directly into where the wasps are entering and exiting. The following video shows how to treat a hornet nest that was forming on the outside of kitchen window.
As you can tell from the video above, the dust naturally finds it's way into cracks, crevices and voids where wasps like to nest and roost. It will cling to surfaces making it impossible for wasps to walk or use the area forcing them to go elsewhere. A great place to apply it is through cracks and seams of decks. Though these small gaps may look too tight for any insect to enter, they actually make prime locations for many pests to hide and make nests. Decks which are built close to the ground are particularly prone to such infestations. Wasps, ants and other pests will readily seek such areas because they provide ideal shelter. All wood will release odors which naturally attract wasps so decks are always attracting new activity throughout the warm season. If you are not able to spray the Cypermethrin up underneath such areas because the decking is too tight and sealed on all sides, simply blow the Pyganic Dust through as many access points as you can find. It's natural characteristic of being able to float lightly in the air will insure much of it finds the bottom of the decking where wasps like to nest. Applications will last 1-2 months under the decking and though moisture will break it down, Pyganic is so repellent to wasps they will be forced to move elsewhere for nesting. This forced relocation, which will happen immediately following your treatment, will greatly reduce activity on your deck. Expect immediate results. Since facia boards, gutters, roof lines and most any type of siding can provide similar areas ideal for nesting, consider treating all such areas with the Pyganic as well. If you have a lot of these areas to treat, consider the purchase of a larger duster. The DUST-R is ideal for when you have a lot of treating to do. It features a large dust tank which cuts down on how much time you need to spend filling it. If you have a lot of high places to reach, the LONG REACH DUST-R might be the better choice. It's essentially the same unit as the Dust-R but it comes with a series of extensions which enable the applicator to reach over 12 feet up while standing on the ground. Of course you can use it while standing on a ladder for additional coverage. However, if you need to reach really high locations, the DUSTICK is the tool for the job. It features 4 extensions which can be used one at a time or all together. Combined with the Dust Tank on top and the pump assembly on the bottom, you will be able to treat locations over 25 feet high while standing on the ground. When you have a lot of facia boards and trim on the home and wasps are penetrating through such locations, Pyganic Dust applied with one of these dusters is the best bet for long term control. It will kill them on contact as well as repel them so they don't return. It's also strong enough to dry up the eggs as well as the pupae stages so it's worth covering as much area as possible when treating. Remember, Pyganic dust lasts a long time and will stay in the void providing wasp control for several months. It has many applications and is recommended for Carpenter Bees, Carpenter Ants and many other wood destroying pests.
Wasp Repellent Spray and Fake Nests
To stop wasps from creating nests on or around your home, use the Cypermethrin tank spray. Mix it with water and spray surfaces of the home where you suspect wasps are likely to build nest. This will include overhangs, bushes, siding, soffits, around windows, down spouts, gutters, shutters, water spigots, doors, garages, shingles and any where you have seen them flying. This treatment will not bother paint, plants, animals or any other item around the home. Since you are only mixing one ounce to a gallon of water it is simply far too diluted to have any impact on something other than insects. Just keep children and pets away during the actual application but they can return as soon as it dries, which is usually within an hour, without any hazard or danger to them. The residual should last 2-4 weeks and if applied in the spring and throughout the summer you should be able to keep wasps away from your home.
Another product we have called ORGANIC MOSQUITO AND TICK KILLER comes in a ready-to-spray Hose End sprayer and is designed to be applied over lawns and plants. Though it clearly targets mosquitoes and ticks, it will effectively repel wasps and other nuisance pests like ants and gnats. As an organic material, treatments won't last as long as the Cypermethrin but it is very safe and won't pose a hazard to people or pets.
Lastly, installing some FAKE WASP NESTS in areas where wasps are foraging will help keep them away. These nests look like the real thing and wasps will generally avoid any territory which is inhabited by other wasps. This Product Demo video goes over how to deploy them once received.
These fake nests pose no hazard to people or pets and can be hung from any piece of furniture, tree or plant. Set at least one out for every 5000 sq/ft of yard and they will help minimize the local wasp activity.
Wasp Prevention
Fall treatments are important since many species of wasps have queens in their colony which will overwinter in a nest sight. The following spring they will emerge and tend to start new colonies in areas close to where they over winter and where there have been previous nests. If you see a lot of wasps collecting on the outside of your building in the fall, be sure and spray them heavy with our Cypermethrin immediately. These wasps are getting ready to hibernate and have chosen your home for this purpose. The following video shows what this looks like when fall arrives and wasps start to "gather" for winter hibernation.
If you don't kill them before they move under siding and into the wall voids of your home, you will probably have some finding their way into your living area all through the winter. If this starts to happen, you will need to use the Pyganic listed above with the Crusader and treat all electric light fixtures, switch plates and electric outlets by first removing the cover and then by squeezing some dust into the space. This treatment will keep them from entering your living area but if they are active on the second level of the home, you will need to dust your attic. Again, use the dust we have featured above and apply it with a DUSTIN MIZER to get complete coverage. The Dustin Mizer is able to propel the dust 20-30 feet and will get the needed coverage over insulation and throughout the spaces where wasps will readily nest.
And if you plan on painting or staining any part of the home's exterior, get some NBS PAINT ADDITIVE to apply with the coating. NBS is an insect repellent. Made from plant oils, it's highly repellent to insects like carpenter bees, wasps and ants. When mixed with paint or stain, it's able to "lock in" and last much longer than surface spraying with just Cypermethrin. NBS should help repel wasps for 1-2 years and for homes with ongoing wasp problems, it will help reduce the invasion commonly seen each fall.
Wasps and Bald Faced Hornets can be frightening. Once identified, keep people away to prevent anyone from getting stung. Treat nests at night or early morning for quick and complete control. Remove the nest once all activity ceases. Be sure to spray with Cypermethrin throughout the spring and summer to repel them and prevent new nest locations from forming. Wasps can be a painful nuisance in the summer. Keep your common ground free of their nests to insure your family is safe.