How to Get Rid of Hornets

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Pin ItArticle EditDiscussHornets, as well as wasps and yellow jackets, can be a nuisance or worse if they build a nest in your home. If you are careful, you can get rid of them yourself, without need of a professional exterminator.

Edit Steps1Put safety first. Wasps and hornets can sting numerous times and will do so aggressively if provoked. Remember that all do-it-yourself removal of hornets comes with a high risk of the hornets attacking you, so proceed with caution at all times. Indeed, consider carefully that it might be better to ask a professional to do any sort of removal, leaving your mind at peace.

Locating the Nest1Locate the nest. A hornet's nest is a paper-like or mud-like construction often shaped like a pine cone, upside down beehive or just a mass lump. Hornets will look for a sheltered location to make the nest, and such nests can be found under eaves, in tree branches, on windows, in attics, under rafters, inside abandoned buildings or vehicles, etc. Any space that is protected from the weather and undisturbed can attract hornets to nest.

Bagging the Hornets[1]

This method can be useful when there are two of you to complete the task and the nest is growing lower, such as off a tree branch or bush. Do this during the evening, when the hornets are less active.

1Wear the right gear. Cover yourselves from head to toe, to protect you from stings. Wear thick clothing, gloves, safety glasses or goggles.2Purchase a large, strong plastic bag. It must be strong enough to resist easy rips.3Place the plastic bag underneath the tree branch or bush. Estimate the trajectory of the nest when it falls, so that the bag will be under it.4Using long-handled hedge trimmers, cut the branch down and let the nest drop into the bag. Alternatively, snip the part of the nest attached to the branch.5Fill the bag with hornet-appropriate insecticide. Tie it off and either leave it or dispose of it by burning straight away.

Spraying Insecticide Directly on the Nest1Get the proper insecticide. Home repair and improvement warehouse stores will have a wide selection of wasp and hornet sprays for a variety of prices. Get the cheapest. They all do the same. Two or more aerosol cans are recommended for anything larger than a small nest.

Don't buy generic insecticide unless the label confirms that it works on hornets. You must be certain that the spray has the capacity to handle hornets.2Spray at evening or dawn. The wasps or hornets will be mostly by the nest getting ready to sleep or wake up and won't be flying around. Night is also good since they will be sleeping, and therefore more docile, but you will have more trouble seeing and escaping if the nest does get aggressive.

3Don protective gear. Long sleeves tucked into gloves, long pants tucked into your socks, and maybe even a wide brimmed hat with a nylon stocking over it, tucked into the neckline of a shirt may be in order.

4Wear a respirator, if in enclosed areas or desired. Insecticide kills insects, but it isn't exactly good for people, either. At the very least, provide good ventilation with a fan or retreat quickly after the initial assault.

5Mount your assault, saturating the nest with the aerosol cans. Most have a 15 foot or more range, so you can start from far away, but after a few seconds you will want to get in close and really soak the nest. The chemicals kill nearly instantly, so there is not much risk. After applying chemical death, leave the area so that the fumes can clear.

The returning wasps will also die, so leave the nest alone for a few days.

Making Traps

Traps can be useful for prevention. They're not so useful after the nest has been built but can prevent any build-up of hornets in your yard area, as they can catch scouts and queens on the lookout for a good place to stay.[2]

1Make a vinegar trap. Make a traditional wasp trap by cutting the neck off a large soda bottle. Turn the neck funnel downward and into the base of the soda bottle. This becomes the tunnel for the wasp to enter through. Pierce two holes either side of the trap and thread through a string handle for hanging; knot in place either side.Inside the trap, place a cup of apple cider vinegar, a drop of dish soap and a little raw meat. The raw meat can be hung by string or fishing wire.Hang where hornets have been seen buzzing around. Wait. Hornets will drop in and either drown or won't be able to find their way back out again.To catch the queen, use this trap early in the spring to lure her in. Queens awaken in early spring and begin to look for nesting sites. If your trap catches her, that's one less colony in your backyard.2Make a bucket trap. Fill a bucket with sugar water, vinegar and a little mild dish washing soap. Set outside and wait for the hornets to drop by and drown.Replace regularly.3Make as many traps as you feel are needed to cover the space. One trap may be sufficient but if you have various inviting eaves around the place, place several, just in case you accidentally ward off one spot only to encourage nest-building on the other side of the house!

Removing Occasional Indoor Hornets1Vacuum the hornet. Simply aim the nozzle in the direction of the hornet and suck the hornet up.Be aware that swatting or squashing hornets releases a chemical signal that encourages other hornets to turn up and sting in defense. While this might not be an issue indoors, be careful. And never squash a hornet outdoors![2]

Removing the Nest1You may wish to remove the nest completely. Pull it down (while still wearing safety equipment) and dispose of it in a large plastic bag that can be tied off. If the nest was in an enclosed area such as a ventilation duct or air conditioner port, a long, serrated bread knife may be useful in removal.

Seal up any entrance holes that you can gauge by checking around. This will help to discourage future hornet intrusion.2Inspect your house regularly afterward. A small nest is a simple affair to remove––squirt the chemicals and yank it down, while a large one may require a repeat of this whole process.

Altering the Environment or Using a Decoy

Hornets will return; if they liked where they first made the nest, it will make sense to them to rebuild it there. To stop, this you need to alter the environment or use a decoy.

1Consider altering the environment. Depending on where the hornets made their nest, there are several possible approaches to making it seem different to them, and therefore hopefully deterring them from remaking the nest. These include:Cutting down branches, bushes and even a treeRepainting a wall, eave, birdhouse, other items around the homePutting up sparkly, sun-catching mobiles, mirrors or CDs in the vicinity where the nest wasChanging some other element dramatically around the garden or home where the hornets were hanging around.2Add a decoy. Purchase an artificial nest from a hardware store. The theory is that hornets that see an existing nest will keep away because they're territorial. Replace the artificial nest every year, to ensure that it looks intact and is neat.3Keep protein sources away from hornets.[2] Hornets in North America are mainly insect feeders, and thrive on protein sources. Hence, don't feed pets or leave pet food anywhere around the area where hornets have previously congregated.Keep garbage covered at all times. Not only will this deter hornets but it'll keep away all manner of yard pests.

Edit Video

Edit TipsThe best way to avoid having to remove a nest is to prevent its construction in the first place. Be sure to seal your home as much as possible to prevent the entry of wasps, hornets, or other insects. Often attics are left vulnerable when eave venting screens deteriorate or are disturbed. Home repair and improvement warehouse stores (i.e. Home Depot) sell inexpensive covers for eave vents that can simply be screwed on or nailed in from the outside.If you do not want to get rid of them yourself, look in the telephone book for a service that removes bees or nasty pests like this. This is especially important if you suffer from an allergy, you're concerned about how the hornets may react or you haven't a clue what you're doing.

Edit WarningsKeep small children, pets, and the elderly, especially, away from the toxic fumes of the insecticide. It may be wise to clear your home if there is any risk of the fumes entering your living space.Some sites advise spraying the nest with soapy water from a strong jet. While this may break open the nest and cause the hornets to be homeless, it'll also rile them and you'll be an obvious live target. It's not recommended. It's much better to get a professional in.Hornets can become very aggressive. Have exit plans planned ahead of time and always wear appropriate protection. Don't do anything stupid such as poking sticks into the nest. And always leave the removal to a professional if you have any concerns at all.If you are allergic to insect stings, let someone else, perhaps a professional handle the job.

Edit Things You'll NeedLong sleeved and legged clothingA wide brimmed hatA nylon stocking (used but clean is okay)Large, strong plastic bagLong handled hedge trimmers2 or more cans of wasp and hornet killing insecticideA long-bladed knife for nest removal

Edit Related wikiHowsHow to Get Rid of SpidersHow to Get Rid of AntsHow to Get Rid of GroundhogsHow to Get Rid of MosquitoesHow to Get Rid of a Beehive

Edit Sources and Citations? http://pestcontrolinthehome.com/132/hornets-nest-removal-how-to-remove-a-hornets-nest-safely/? 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.getridofthings.com/pests/wasps/get-rid-of-hornets.htmhttp://pestcontrolinthehome.com/132/hornets-nest-removal-how-to-remove-a-hornets-nest-safely/ – research sourcehttp://www.getridofthings.com/pests/wasps/get-rid-of-hornets.htm – research sourceArticle Info Featured Article

Categories: Featured Articles | Bee and Wasp Control

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