How to Get Rid of Wasps

Of all the stinging insects, wasps are among the most dangerous ones. A wasp, or yellow jacket, as it is known in North America, will sting its victim repeatedly because its stinger is not barbed like that of a honeybee. You can find the nest of a wasp on a porch roof, in attic, eaves of the house, shed and in similar places. The venom of a wasp is dangerous to those who are allergic to its sting. If you happen to notice a large number of wasps around your home, then it is advisable to take steps to get rid of the wasps and their nests.

Types of Wasps

There are mainly two types of wasps - social wasps and solitary wasps. The wasp that stings is a social wasp. Social wasps make their nests in places like attics, under the roof, roof peak and so on; whereas solitary wasps usually do not make nests. Instead, they lay eggs in their prey's nest; sometimes, going as far as attaching their eggs to larvae of other insects like butterflies and moths. So that, on hatching, the wasp larvae can immediately start feasting on their host's flesh! Solitary wasps are more docile compared to social wasps as they do not have a nest or colony to defend and, as such, need not show any unnecessary aggression towards humans or other larger animals. Solitary wasps are considered to be good as they contribute towards keeping a check on the population of pests like plant-destroying caterpillars, beetles and aphids.

Tips to Get Rid of Wasps

When thinking of wasp removal, you need to look for social wasps and get rid of them. The reason is, they build nests close to human habitations. It is necessary to remove the wasp nests that are close to the entrance of the house or on the trees in children's parks. It is advisable to destroy the wasp nest either after sunset or before sunrise.The reason is, by dusk, wasps fly back to their nest and remain in their nest till sunrise.

• Getting rid of underground wasp nests - You must wear clothes made of rubber when you are on a mission to destroy wasp nests as the stinger of a wasp can easily penetrate through woolen or cotton clothes. You can use fuels such as gasoline, kerosene or diesel for eliminating wasps under house. You would need to be equipped with a large wet towel or cloth and a shovel. Pour the fuel into the entrance of the nest and quickly cover the entrance with a wet towel. The fumes of the fuel will kill the wasps in the nest. So, it is not necessary to light fire.
• Getting rid of hanging wasp nests - It is advisable to wear thick clothes to avoid penetration of a wasp stinger. To destroy hanging wasp nests, it is better to use a special pressurized bomb. Never use any household insecticides, as they are never going to work. You should follow the instructions given on the cover of the pressurized bomb. You should stand a few feet away from the wasp nest and aim the bomb right into the mouth of the wasp nest. There is nothing to worry if it falls outside the mouth, because eventually all wasps will be destroyed along with the nest.

Home Remedies

If you are brave and not afraid of wasp stingers you can try one of the following home remedies for effective wasp removal.

• One of the simplest method is spraying a wasp killing spray on the nest.
• If you find a wasp nest hanging from one of the trees in your backyard, all you have to do is light a small fire beneath it. The smoke from the fire will choke the wasps. Due to suffocation, some of the wasps will die while others will abandon the nest.
• Wasps are attracted to anything sweet and sugary. Here is another home remedy to get rid of the wasps that are hanging around your house or garden. Make a hole in the lid of an empty can. The can should resemble the gallon milk jugs. Fill it half with sugar-water or sugar syrup. If the can has a handle, hang it on the tree branch, using a string. The wasps will be attracted to the smell of sugar. Once they enter the can their wings will get stuck in the sugar-water. Eventually they will die drowning in the sugar syrup.
• If you are holding a barbecue party, make a homemade wasp trap. You would need a few pieces of beef liver. Using a string, tie the liver to the branch of a tree, far away from where you are planning to hold the party. Few inches beneath the liver pieces, tie an empty milk can half-filled with soap water. Beef liver is used as a tasty bait to attract wasps. The wasps will gorge on the meat. They will feel heavy to fly back and will fall into the soap water. The detergent in the water will render their wings useless and wasps will die by drowning in the water.

Prevention of Wasp Infestation

Now, let us know about the preventive measures that will help in avoiding wasp infestation in the future.

• Wasps also hover around garbage cans. Therefore, if you wish to prevent wasp infestation, you should close the mouth of the garbage bag tightly before leaving it outside, and clear garbage frequently.
• Keep your surroundings clean. Lawns must be trimmed and weeds should be removed before they overgrow. The reason is that wasps prefer to build their nests in such surroundings.
• You should avoid keeping food in the open. It is wise to keep food covered at home and clean spills as soon as possible.
• Also, you should pluck fruits from fruit trees and pick up all the fallen ones to avoid wasps hovering around them.

In case, complete wasp removal is not possible, it is always better to get professional help. However, if you are planning to venture out to destroy the wasp nests on your own, then make sure you have someone with you, in case you need help. Lastly, the most important tip to remember is to wear appropriate clothes before starting on this mission.