How to Kill Bees & Wasps

Use caution when trying to kill bees and wasps.

An electrifying pinch followed by a hot, red, angry welt is often a sign that a wasp or bee has stung you. For most people, the sting is painful for a short time and then eases. But for some people, a wasp or bee sting can trigger an allergic reaction and be life-threatening. Stinging insects send more than half a million people to the emergency room each year, according to the National Pest Management Association. Whether they are a nuisance or a threat to your well-being, you can take steps to kill bees and wasps.

Things You'll Need

• Insecticide
• Large plastic bag
• Soap and water
• Drill
• Caulk

Instructions

Hanging Nests

1. Spray an aerosol hornet and wasp killer into the entrance of a wasps nest during the late evening hours. These insects typically do not fly at night, so applying the insecticide at this time could save you from being stung.

2. Repeat the treatment every three days until you stop seeing wasps.

3. Alternately, cover the nest with a heavy plastic bag and seal it shut. Then, cut down the bag and freeze it or let it bake in the hot sun for two days, killing the wasps inside.

Nests in the Ground

1. Pour a solution of soap and water into a wasps nest in the ground.

2. Alternately, apply an insecticide that is safe for lawns and soil into the opening of the nest. The University of Michigan suggests insecticide dust such as carbyrl or chlorpyrifos and liquid concentrates such as carbaryl, acephate or diazinon.

3. Cover the nest with soil when the wasps are dead. You may need to apply insecticides several times to reach the nest, which may be some distance from the opening in the ground.

Nests Behind a Wall

1. Drill a small hole in a wall concealing a nest of wasps or bees.

2. Apply an insecticide into the hole using the built-in applicator or use a bottle with a cone-shaped tip. Use bendiocarb, chlorpyrifos or boric acid.

3. When the wasps or bees die, seal the small hole with caulk.

Tips & Warnings

• To keep bees and wasps away, eliminate food sources, such as open garbage cans and pet food, and any water sources.

• If you discover honeybees in your home, eliminate them right way because they build hives with wax and honey, which can damage the building when the combs begin to melt. If you do find a hive in your house, remove it and clean the area thoroughly so the residue doesn't attract rodents and insects.

• Do not snatch a bee stinger out of the skin. Scratch the stinger out of the skin instead. That way you will extract the venom gland and avoid additional pain.

References

• National Pest Management Association: Sting Insect FAQ
• Colorado State University: Nuisance Wasps and Bees
• University of Minnesota: Wasp and Bee Control
• Illinois Department of Public Health: Bees and Wasps