What is the Best Way to get Rid of a Wasp Hive?

It is not too difficult to get rid of a wasp hive, although it should be done with care. All that is needed is a good insecticide spray or citrus oil spray and some common sense. The spray should be applied after dark when all of the wasps have returned to their hive. The wasp hive should be completely and quickly soaked with the spray and left overnight to take full effect. It is important to wear protective clothing and to leave the area immediately after spraying to avoid being stung.

There are many different types of wasps, and they make hives in many different locations. The paper wasp is among the most common, and their hive is easy to identify because it resembles a gray, papery honeycomb. This type of wasp hive is the easiest to get rid of too because these wasps are docile and rarely sting. These are the hives that are usually found under the eaves of houses as well as on porches and window frames.

The hornet wasp is much more aggressive, and it is especially important to work quickly when spraying their hives to avoid a painful wasp sting. It is a little more difficult to eliminate their nests since they are usually high up in a tree and hard to reach. To get rid of a hornets hive, a projectile spray that shoots a long stream of insecticide foam works best. It is easy to see, and the entire hive can be coated with the foam.

Yellow jacket wasps are the most aggressive type of wasp, and their hives are usually made underground. They can be difficult to find and often go unnoticed until the hive is inadvertently stepped on. This causes these wasps to become extremely agitated and sting. Unlike most wasps, they do not die after stinging, and one wasp can sting over and over.

When spraying a yellow jacket hive, be sure that there is only one entrance, which is just a simple hole in the ground. It can often be mistaken as a snake or mole hole. After dark, the hole should be thoroughly doused with wasp spray, and the entrance hole should be plugged if possible.

Occasionally, paper wasps and yellow jackets will find there way indoors and build a wasp hive in the home. This usually occurs in an attic, garage, or inside walls. Paper wasps that have found their way inside can also be eliminated with spray. People and pets should be kept out of the area, and the room should be well ventilated before returning there. Yellow jacket hives are far more difficult and dangerous to safely remove when indoors, and in this case an exterminator should be called.

When the wasps have all been killed, disposing of a hive is quite simple. It can be knocked down and thrown away, although children often like to keep them for school science projects and show and tell. To be safe, the hive should be stored outdoors for several weeks to be sure that all the wasps are gone before allowing children near it.