*Wasp & Hornet treatments should always be conducted at night, when the insects are the least active and least likely to sting.
Protective Clothing
Anytime you interfere with the routine activity of wasps or hornets there is risk of being attacked and stung, so it is very important to wear protective clothing! (Note: people who have a history of severe or mild reaction to insect stings should not perform these treatments). At the very minimum, the following should be worn when treating for wasps and hornets:
Treating Ground Nests
- Try to locate the nest by watching the wasps / hornets during the day and taking note of where they disappear into the landscape or structure.
- At night (using a flashlight), apply D-Force HPX aerosol directly into the nest. Make sure to wear protective clothing!
- Delta Dust also works well and provides excellent coverage when applied in and around the nest. Delta Dust lasts 4 to 6 months and will result in a quick kill. Apply dust liberally using a centrobulb duster (for easier application) and repeat in 3 to 4 months to control for newly hatched wasps and hornets.
- For thick or heavy ground coverings where wasps or hornets are active but the exact nest location is not known, a liquid insecticide like Demon WP or Cynoff WP may be broadcast over the entire area. The area should be well drenched, especially on and around suspected nest entrances. Keep tabs on the wasp / hornet population over the next 10 to 14 days; repeat as needed.
Treating Exposed or Aerial Nests
There are two basic methods for treating exposed outdoor wasp / hornet nests, hanging from eaves, trees, or other objects. Whichever you choose, be sure to wait until night when the wasps / hornets are at rest, and always wear protective clothing!
- Using a red or amber colored light to illuminate the nest at night (a regular flashlight will attract the guard wasps), apply D-Force HPX aerosol or Delta Dust directly into the nest using the plastic injector tip or. Poking the injector or duster tip through the back of the nest is often safer than using the front entrance used by the wasps / hornets.
- An alternative method would be to first pull a large, durable plastic bag over the nest and then cut the branches securing the nest. Next inject D-Force HPX aerosol or Delta Dust directly into the bag, and seal.
Treating Nests in Structural Voids Sometimes wasps and hornets will nest in various elements of a home or structure, such as ceiling and wall voids, in the eaves behind fascia board, soffits, in hollow cement blocks, and inside excavated wood galleries. Such nests are best treated by drilling into the infested void and injecting the nest with Delta Dust insecticide.
- Locate the nest. If you are not sure exactly where the nest is located, use a listening device to hone in as close as possible to the exact location.
- Drill small holes directly into the nest from inside of the structure. If it is not possible to drill from the inside, the drilling can be done outside. If you do this, be sure to leave any outside entrance holes open until the beginning of fall when hatching is sure to be completed. Then the entrance may be sealed to prevent further nest establishment.
- Apply Delta Dust liberally using a centrobulb duster (for easier application)
- Seal any inside holes.
- Repeat in 3 to 4 months to control for newly hatched wasps and hornets.
Further Prevention
- Prevent nest establishment by filling animal holes or burrows with dirt.
- Keep yellow wasps and hornets outside the structure by repair any holes in the exterior wall and making sure that all vents and windows have tight-fitting screens.
- Seal over the chimney flu temporarily with tape and plastic sheeting if wasps and hornets are entering here.
- Use a trash bin with a tight fitting lid, and treat interior and exterior surfaces of trash cans with an effective wasp/hornet repellent.
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Paper Wasps Identification & Biology
Hornets Identification & Biology
Insect Swarms FAQ
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