How to Get Rid of a Wasp Nest
It seems inevitable – stinging insects always show up exactly when you’re trying to spend time with friends or family in your backyard. So, what can you do to prevent this? Eliminate them at the source: the nest. But this is easier said than done, and if you’re like most people, the last thing you want to do is make a bunch of wasps angry.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide on how to identify and get rid of wasps’ nests.
Should You Try to Knock Down a Wasps’ Nest Yourself?
Once you discover a nest, it can be tempting to try to look up DIY solutions on YouTube and take it down on your own. However, it can be extremely dangerous without proper training, tools, and knowledge of pest biology and behavior.
So, how can you make knocking down a wasp nest as safe as possible?
How to Knock Down a Wasp or Hornets’ Nest Safely
Keep in mind: these tips will not completely eliminate your risk of getting stung. These tips are meant to minimize your chances of getting stung. Even if you follow all of these tips, it’s still possible to get stung.
- Choose your attire carefully: Wasps will be looking for exposed skin and gaps in your clothing. It’s best if you select thick fabrics, long sleeves, with gloves, and pants tucked into your socks.
- Wait until the colony is tired: Avoid doing this during the day – wasps are diurnal and this is when they’ll be most awake. Wait until after sundown, or do it very early in the morning.
- Choose the right product: We recommend a long-range foaming wasp spray that allows you to stand at least 15-20 feet back.
- Aim for the entrance: Find a hole that’s used as an entrance and spray into it. You need to spray the interior of the nest, not just the exterior.
- Plan your escape: Identify your exit route before you start spraying. You don’t want any tripping hazards in your way if wasps are chasing you.
- Give it 24 hours to work: You want as many wasps as possible to come in contact with the residue, so wait a day after spraying before you actually knock it down.
- Knock it down with a pole or broom: Wait until you notice zero wasp activity.
- Bag it up and throw it away: It’s important to seal the bag tightly as even dead nests can still have pupae that hatch later.
How to Identify Different Types of Wasp Nests
So you’re seeing wasps flying around your property. At this point, you’re probably wondering what you’re up against.
Getting it right the first time is crucial in successfully taking the nest down. Without the proper knowledge of stinging insect identification and a plan of action, things can go downhill quickly.
Yellow Jacket Nests
These opportunistic foragers are a common backyard nuisance, drawn to everything from flower nectar and tree sap to the sugary contents of a soda can or a ripe watermelon. Because they are scavengers, open trash bins act as a magnet for the colony.
Unlike other species, yellow jackets are masters of concealment, preferring to build their homes in secluded areas rather than in plain sight.
- Primarily found underground (such as abandoned rodent burrows) or structural voids (behind attic siding or inside hollow porch steps).
- If visible, the nest has a papery envelope covering it, but usually, you will only see a hole in the ground with high-speed traffic entering and exiting.
- They are extremely protective of their front entrance. If you accidentally step near a ground hole, they will swarm upward in large numbers.
Hornet Nests
Widely feared for their size and defensive nature, hornets are aggressive architects that should never be approached closely. They are highly resourceful, scavenging raw materials like deck wood and leaf litter from the immediate area to manufacture a durable wood pulp for their structures.
What begins as a modest, golf-ball-sized nursery can rapidly balloon into a massive, basketball-sized fortress if the colony is not managed early.
- Usually found high up in trees or attached to the peaks of houses.
- These are large, grey, teardrop-shaped or football-shaped structures. They have a completely enclosed outer shell with a single, small circular opening at the bottom.
- The exterior looks like layered, swirled strips of grey bark or construction paper.
Mud Dauber Nests
Often referred to as mud wasps, these are the "gentle giants" of the wasp world and are significantly less aggressive than their social cousins. Unlike the massive colonies formed by hornets or yellow jackets, mud daubers are solitary builders, with a single adult typically maintaining the nest.
Their presence is easily confirmed by their distinct, earth-toned masonry work found in sheltered areas.
- Built against flat surfaces like brick walls, garage ceilings, or wood siding.
- These look like hardened tubes of dried mud or clay. They may look like finger shapes or small, messy blobs of dirt plastered to a wall.
- If you see small holes in the mud tubes, the wasps have already hatched and left.
Paper Wasp Nests
Often mistaken for yellow jackets due to their striped patterns and burnt-orange hues, paper wasps are among the first pests to emerge when the spring thaw begins in April or May. They remain tirelessly active throughout the summer months, expanding their territory as temperatures rise.
These wasps are highly territorial and are known to strike quickly if they feel their nesting site — which can be found on almost any man-made structure — is being encroached upon.
- Nests are tucked into protected corners: door frames, window shutters, railings, and underside of decks.
- Often called "Umbrella Nests" because they resemble an upside-down mushroom or umbrella.
- Unlike hornets or yellow jackets, paper wasp nests do not have an outer shell. You can see the individual hexagonal honeycomb cells where the larvae live.
