getting rid of wasps / hornets

[nik003]

Is there anything I can do to get rid of the wasps/hornets coming back to my back-yard? I keep killing them, spraying all the bug-sprays on their nests, and they keep coming back and building new ones. I'm talking at leat 7-8 nests in a regular to small backyard... It's getting ridiculous. I've already been through maybe 10 large cans of spray this summer only. I don't really have any flowers to attract them, just some bushes. They seem to like my deck and the fence a lot. Last one I took down was built inside the patio umbrella.

[Topher]

http://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-yellow-jackets.htm

Other than that, I guess it may be time to call in the professionals. I sounds like you have a REAL problem there. (Sorry to hear that).

[mlc2000]

Before you hire the pro's consider this -> http://www.waspinator.com/

Yellowjackets are very "visual" insects. They depend on a keen sense of sight to catch moving prey. Predatory Insects, like many wasps and all yellowjackets, have large, prominent compound eyes. Other insects that hunt live prey also have very large compound eyes (for example, praying mantids, syrphid flies and horse flies). Highly visual insects tend to respond to their environment based on visual stimuli. Thus an artificial nest like The Original Waspinator may be perceived as a competitor and be avoided. —Jack DeAngelis, PhD Associate Professor of Entomology, Emeritus

They retail for $9.99, check their website to see what nurseries carry them.
This Ebayer is selling for $9.99 + $5 shipping. http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Waspinator-Wasp-Bee-Deterrent-Eliminate-Wasps_W0QQitemZ230154256756QQihZ013QQcategoryZ7558 2QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://www.waspinator.com/Full-nest.jpg
http://www.waspinator.com/full_patio.gif
http://www.waspinator.com/camping.jpg
http://www.waspinator.com/Basket.jpg

[S14_Raven]

:arrowu: They have it at Lee Valley (http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=56120&cat=2,51555&ap=1)

[Bullseye]

Yeah, I was busy on Sunday taking out nests at my in-laws house, they have a similar problem. I don't even spray them, just knock them all down, they won't use them again once taken down.

You have to make sure you get them all, I've found, that helps in encouraging them to pack up and leave town. I was even up on the roof, found several up there.

[JetLi]

I had some major issues last year where they built nests under my deck, and on 3 sides of my house. One of the sides was the second story roof. I read somewhere, that the trick is to get rid of the nest while they are "sleeping" which is after dark. If you get rid of the nest in the day, the workers will come back and build a new one, you have to wait until dark, then get a bottle of RAID Wasps & Hornets Foam and stick the nozzle into the bottom of the nest and fill it with foam.

I did this one night and they haven't come back in a year. Here's a tip, keep a garbage can underneath it, if it's up high, the nest will begin to tear and the whole thing will fall, it's a mess to clean up if it lands on your deck. You might see a few of the wasps/hornets still buzzing and twitching when the nest falls, just give them a few minutes, they will die. $5.89 at Home depot. Solved all my issues.

[afong56]

we've had a wasp issue two seasons in a row now--last season it took a full week of vigilance in early july to get them to stop building new nests

this year, we nailed them back in may (crosses fingers) and they haven't been back.

there are two keys, afaik: first, get them early, when the nests are still small. second, be as thorough as possible--get them all.

[nik003]

thanks guys. the nests are just a bit larger than the size of an adult's fist. They're not that big, so I'll apply the spray for now...
that waspinator sounds too good to be true. besides, I should probably hang something like that in early spring, rather than now when the nest is established... who knows, maybe it'll push them to build a bigger one now :(

[legendofxix]

Oh, I saw this on TV from some Bee-Killer guys.
You don't need to use expensive spray to kill these guys off.
Bees/Hornets/Yellow Jackets will die if you spray soapy water on them.

It works, I saw them do it and the bees just fell out of the air.

[Keelie]

that waspinator sounds too good to be true.

i have been told about these from a friend, she said they work. they cost about $10 at canadian tire, worth a try for that price.

we had a problem for a few years in a row, i was really getting frustrated spraying the nests to get rid of them, but they kept making more all over the place. i was going to buy some of the fake ones this year, but they are actually gone. first of the season there was a small nest in the deck but we quickly got rid of it and they dont seem to be around anymore.

[jandumm]

timely post. wasps have started building a nest in the opening where the light fixture that is next to our patio door and overlooks the patio.

we're thinking of trying the raid product while they're "sleeping". Might also pick up the waspinator.

i'm kind of scared as every website i've checked has said "RUN!!" as the final step to getting rid of these things.

[iwells]

you can use CIL spy which is chemical to dissolve the next. It comes out watery and smells.

There's a Waspfoam as well, looks like shaving cream. Pretty cool.

In either case, spry them after dark or just before sunrise.

If you prefer not to use chemicals do a google search for wasp traps. I remember seeing a trap using a pastic soda bottle.

[DJXP]

I used a foam product called knock out or knock down... something along those lines, worked well. Have to do it when theyre still sleeping though.

[AudiDude]

I use this :
http://www.degilsafety.com/american/products.php?country=american&id=122
Once you hit the bugs with this they freeze in the position they were in when the spray hit them. If you hit them in flight, they will stop flapping their little wings in mid air and drop. First time I used it I had to poke them with a stick because they just froze, they looked alive, but were very much dead.

[CanadianGR]

I have a stack of plastic deck chairs on my patio, about 10 chairs stacked up. Wasps keep flying in and out of the top couple chairs. I was told to use foam stray but there is a lip on the front of each chair and the wasps are going up and and inside the chair(s). What do I do... I was thinking about just knocking them down(all the chairs) and hopefully the nest will be damaged and the leave? LOL.... HELP!!