How to Kill Wasps Around Your Home

It's summertime, and you have noticed wasps hanging around you home; while they can be helpful in the garden, they are often seen as pests and can seriously hurt you or your family if not monitored. Learn how to keep them under control by reading the tips below!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A good, foaming wasp spray
• Flashlight
• Good aim, and the ability to run inside if needed
• Bravery!

1. 
    
   Wasp Pattern/Coloring

   Safety is VERY important when it comes to killing wasps around your home. Always use good judgement and if you are allergic to wasp stings or bites (yes, they can bite), get someone else to do the "dirty work".
   
   To begin, watch the wasps from a distance once you start noticing them around your home. Observe them and where they fly, and see if you can determine why they are there (water? shade? nesting spot?). Again, do this from a distance - each grouping of wasps can behave differently, and if they are aggressive, they may see you as a threat if you get too close.

2. If after watching the wasps you are able to locate their nest, make note of it. Check the surrounding area for other close-by nests, as there is usually more than one! Check for obstacles that might block your wasp spray, and make sure you can reach it (that it's not too high). Check your spray for the distance recommendations. Wasp nests are usually located on the same side of the house or yard, year after year. They like the eves and gutters and can work fast to create a nest especially when it's hot outside.

3. 
    
   A wasp nest in-the-works.

   Wasps go to their nests at night....so to kill every "member" of the group, you will need to come back when it's dark. They hide behind the nest (the hidden side where it's attached to the building), so it's important to check out the location before hand during daylight hours.

4. Once it's dark, bring your wasp spray and flashlight. The type of spray that foams-up is great, because it "holds" onto wasps and helps to keep them from flying away.
   Locate the nest, and watch with your flashlight for movement - think about where you are going to spray. Do a test-spray to the ground, and then aim with your flashlight - direct the spray to the top of the nest, where it is attached to the building, and spray until you have covered the nest with foam. This is a fast process, so you may only spray for 10 seconds or less! If you see anything fly away from the building or nest, TURN OFF YOUR FLASHLIGHT and get into your house quickly. Angry wasps have been known to fly towards the light of a flashlight, and sting whatever they can in the area.

5. Go inside and wait....after about 15-30 minutes, go back out again and spray the next nest (if there are more than one). This gives the spray a chance to work on the wasps which didn't get completely covered, and it also allows any angry ones to go somewhere else (haha).
   If needed, spray all of the nests twice, to make sure you have killed the eggs as well.

6. Monitor the area(s) you have treated and if you notice new wasps moving in, keep tabs on them and spray the nests before they get too large.

Tips & Warnings

• Research your area and the kinds of wasps which are most common. Contact your local Cooperative Extension office, as they are often a good resource when it comes to learning about bugs and how to rid your home of them!
• Spend time observing the wasps and see if you can eliminate what they are after.
• Always use caution when it comes to wasps - they can bite and sting, multiple times (they do not die after one sting like bees).
• If you are afraid of them, they can sense it - they can "smell" the fear in you (your perspiration) and act aggressively. Get help or better yet, hire a pest-control service if needed.
• Never tackle a large nest, like the ones you see online - let the professionals handle it! It's not worth chancing getting hurt.

Resources

• Find your local Cooperative Extension Office
• Article on Wasps

[aupoet]

on 4/8/2009 Some very good directions and advice.