How to Get Rid of a Wasp Hive

Wasps can sting repeatedly.

Wasps are between three-fourths of an inch to 2 inches long and, unlike bees, are able to sting multiple times, making them more dangerous. Wasps, also known as yellowjackets, are beneficial to the environment and trap many insects, but can be a nuisance when located close to outdoor common areas including decks, lawns and barbecue areas. Removing a wasp hive from the common area encourages the wasps to establish a nest elsewhere.

Things You'll Need

• Protective clothing
• Goggles
• Wasp killer spray
• Plastic bag

Instructions

1. Locate the wasp hive. Common locations for wasp hives include the corners of decks, beneath steps and underground.

2. Wear protective clothing such as several layers of clothing including long-sleeved shirts and pants. Keep your eyes protected with goggles and a mesh face mask to prevent stings. You may want to wear a beekeeper's suit when dealing with a particularly large nest. Wear thick gloves to keep your hands protected.

3. Wait until the early evening when the wasps are least active and most of them are inside the hive. Avoid shining your light directly on any nearby wasps; this will just stir up the hive. Do not stand under the hive or, if the hive is underground, near the entryway to the hive.

4. Spray the hive in a sweeping motion with your wasp killer spray, which should contain one or more of these chemicals: pyrethrin, rotenone and pyrenone. If the nest is underground, use Silica aerogel that does not contain pyrethri to kill the insects and dry the hive out.

5. Check the hive the next day to see if there is any activity. If there is activity around the hive repeat the method you used in Step 4 to kill the remaining wasps.

6. Wrap a plastic bag around the hive and cut it down if it is an above-ground hive. Dispose of the hive in the garbage. Cover the entryway to an underground hive with dirt. Tamp the dirt down to seal the entryway.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not remove a wasp hive late in the summer. This is when the colony will be the biggest, crowded and more aggressive. If possible, remove the hive early in the spring.

References

• Nova Scotia Environment and Labour: Wasp (Yellowjacket) Prevention and Control
• Beyond Pesticides: Wasp and yellow jacket control