How to Get Rid of Wasp and Hornet Nests Around Home

This article is a general DIY guide that discusses general control methods of wasps and hornet nests around your home. By reading our DIY guide, homeowners will learn how to prevent and get rid of wasp and hornet nests and the pest itself by following the listed steps and professional products.

Seeing wasp or hornet nests around your house might make you uneasy, especially if you or any other family member is allergic to these stinging pests. They are unwelcome guests known to consistently buzz around your pool, trash, outdoor events, and if agitated or threatened been known to sting multiple times.

For these reasons, most homeowners are tempted to take the nest down with a broom or stick, or watering the nest down with a garden hose. While these quick fixes may sound fast and cheap, removing these pests nests can threaten you or spread the infestation more.

Before you try to remove wasp or hornet nests by yourself on a ladder, consider following the pest control strategies listed in the associated links and using the products and tips suggested throughout this DIY guide.

What do Wasp and Hornet Nest Look Like

Before you remove a nest, you will need to identify the wasp or hornet species you are dealing with. The type of wasp and hornet it is will determine what products and control plan to follow. If you cannot see the pest, then examine the nest characteristics and look for where the wasp or hornet build their nest.

For a physical sample, refer to the image above. On the left is a paper wasp nest and on the right is a hornet nest.

Paper wasps are the main types of wasps known to infest a home or the yard. Their nests are made from plant materials which gives them a paper-like appearance hence the name. The coloration of these nests range from gray to brown, and consist of hexagonal cells to host eggs and larvae. Shape of these nests have an umbrella-like shape with no outer shell.

The location of these nests can be found hanging from tree and shrub branches, often close to water sources. If they make their way into your home, it will be in attics and areas with high ceilings. Around your home, the nests can be seen against window frames, door frames, chimneys, vents, fences, utility lines, and in wall voids.

Hornets make a nest that has a paper-like appearance with a pale gray color and smooth outer layer. In the early stage of development, it will look like a small hanging object with a honeycomb structure. As the nest grows it will take on a football shape with the opening at the bottom.

They make their nests up high in sheltered locations such as trees, under eaves and roofing, telephone poles, against windows, and in attics.

What To Do Before Taking Nest Down

Be sure to follow all all instructions and safety precautions found on the product label before using any pesticide material. You will also need to follow these other precautions prior to hornet and wasp nest removal:

• Wear Proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or Professional Bee Suit: Make sure to wear thick long-sleeve shirt and pants, safety glasses, mask, coveralls, mask, closed-toe shoes with socks, or for complete protection against stinging pest a professional bee suit. Taking these steps can help prevent pest stings and chemical exposure.
• Create A Path of Escape: Whether or not your selected pesticide spray works on contact, it would be best to make sure you have a clear path of escape once applied. Move objects out of the way near the pest site to avoid tripping or delay in escape, but do not touch things infested with wasp or hornets.
• Inspect Product Label: Before treating any species of hornet or wasp nest, it would not hurt to double check the label to make sure the product is labeled to treat the pest. If unsure of the pest infesting your property, then take a look at our wasp guides for identification or the pest itself in a sealable plastic container to one of our store locations. This way our team members can aid in identification and recommend appropriate products for pest removal.
• Be Calm: Wasp and hornets are usually not immediately aggressive, unless you are in close proximity of their nests or they feel threatened. For this reason, it is best to remain calm, still, and avoid making aggressive motions such as swinging your arm toward them.

Destroying a wasp or hornet nest may sound straightforward, but there are plenty of things homeowners do that should be avoided. The most common mistakes to avoid is listed below:

• Standing On A Ladder: Wasp or hornet nests that are in areas out of your reach should not be removed from a ladder, especially when the pest has not been eliminated. This is dangerous, because if the pest is still active then you are more likely to be stung. Its best you wait until all signs of pest activity has ceased after applying approved insecticide.
• Using Light Around Nest Site: When treating a wasp or hornet towards the late afternoon or night, avoid using a flashlight. The constant motion of the light moving and the light itself will aggravate the pests causing them to travel towards you. Instead, treat the pest towards the late afternoon just several hours before it becomes dark or if you must treat when it is dark use a red colored light.
• Swat at Pest: As mentioned previously, remain still and calm when in the presence of a wasp or hornet. If you swat at the pest with your arms or a shoe then it will make it more aggressive and cause the rest of the colony to attack.

How to Remove Wasp and Hornet Nest

Once you have taken the necessary precautions and properly identified the pest, you can proceed with killing the wasp or hornet then removing its nest.

Step 1: Time Your Control and Locate the Nest

Never spray or remove a wasp or hornet nest during the day when they are most active. Remember where you found the nest and return to it in the evening or early morning, since wasp and hornets congregate on or in the nest at night.

Step 2: Spray Pesticide Aerosol

Once you found the wasp or hornet nest, treat it with a insecticide aerosol that sprays from a safe distance of at least 20 ft. Stryker Wasp and Hornet Killer is a 0.1% prallethrin insecticide that delivers instant knockdown of wasp and hornets, paralyzing them then leading to death. This wasp killer spray delivers a jet stream application from a distance of 20 ft. to keep you safe from stinging pests.

When treating wasp and hornets, stand from a safe distance of 6-15 ft. from the nest, not directly underneath. Hold the Stryker Wasp and Hornet Killer can in a upright position then aim the nozzle valve opening toward the nest with the wind at your back. Spray the nest until thoroughly wet, and any hornets or wasps on or escaping the nest.

Step 3: Remove the Nest After 24 Hours

Wait until 24 hours have passed after treating the nest with Stryker Wasp and Hornet Killer. Repeat until pest activity has stopped on and around the nest. Once wasps or hornets are no longer noticed and the appropriate amount of time has passed you can then take the nest down.

Cover the wasp or hornet nest with a garbage bag then detach it from the site. Seal the plastic garbage bag and place it in a outdoor trash can that is kept several feet away from your homes foundation.

Key Takeaways

What to Do After Taking Wasp and Hornet Nest Down?

• Once wasp and hornet nests have been eliminated, you can proceed with a preventative treatment of Sylo Insecticide. Determine how much Sylo Insecticide to use by measuring the square footage of the treatment site. To do this, measure the length and width in feet then multiply (length X width = square footage). This product can be applied at a 0.1% emulsion, which breaks down to 0.5 fl. oz. of Sylo Insecticide per gallon of water per 1,000 sq. ft. To mix in a handheld pump sprayer, fill the tank with half the amount of water, add measured amount of Sylo Insecticide, then add remaining half of water. Close the spray tank lid and shake until solution is evenly mixed. Apply the solution as a barrier treatment around your home by spraying 3 feet up the homes exterior foundation and 6 feet out on the ground. Be sure to also spray eaves, and entry points around your home such as around window and door frames, utility openings, weep holes, and other voids. Once applied, any wasp or hornets that make contact with treated areas will die within approximately 20 minutes for up to 90 days after application.

What Attracts Hornets and Wasps to Your Yard

• Wasp and hornets come to your home and yard when there is an abundance of pests, overgrown foliage, water bodies such as pools, and plentiful amount of trash in open containers.

When to Spray Wasp and Hornet Nest

• Spray wasp and hornet nests with a insecticide aerosol that can spray from a distance of at least 20 ft. The best time to spray a wasp and hornet nest is in the evening or early morning, since wasp and hornets congregate on or in the nest at night.