How to Get Rid of Hornets

Hornets are approximately 3/4 inch long and produce a venom that induces harsher allergic reactions than the bee. They build grayish-brown, papery nests, which appear in an inverted teardrop shape and can be as large as three-feet long. Usually their nests are attached to a tree or the side of a building, with an obvious entrance at the bottom, slender part of the nest. If your property is infested with these creatures, follow these tips to get rid of them.

Things You'll Need

• Hornet spray

Instructions

1. Wait for the frost of late fall or winter, as this is a safe and natural way to get rid of hornets. They typically don't return to their nesting site the next season.

2. Find a spray labeled as a quick acting hornet killer if you need to remove the nest before frost. Hornets can be harder to kill than wasps, so be sure to find a chemical spray specifically for killing hornets.

3. Approach the nest carefully, spraying with a wide sweeping motion to first kill the guard hornets.

4. Keep your distance from the nest, which can house thousands of extremely aggressive hornets.

5. Spray directly into the entrance hole at the bottom of the nest to kill all hornets inside. This also eliminates all eggs and pupae.

6. Wait one to two days to remove the nest and do so carefully.

Tips & Warnings

• Always spray hornet nests at nighttime, when all the worker hornets and the queen are inside and fairly dormant.

• Wear heavy protective clothing in case of a hornet attack when the nest is disturbed.

• If you're allergic to bee, wasp or hornet stings, find a professional pest controller to get rid of hornets.

• Use extreme caution when approaching the nest, making sure not to stand underneath the nest. Hornets are extremely aggressive when disturbed.