How to Get Rid of Wasps

Of all the stinging insects, wasps are the most dangerous. A wasp will sting its victim repeatedly because its stinger is not barbed like that of a honeybee. You can find the nest of a wasp in a porch roof, attics, eaves of the house, shed and in similar places. The venom of a wasp is dangerous to those who are allergic to its sting. If you happen to notice large number of wasps around your home, then it is advisable to take steps to get rid of the wasps and their nests.

Types of Wasps

There are mainly two types of wasps - social wasps and solitary wasps. The wasp that stings is a social wasp. This is the wasp that people get rid of when the wasps become pestiferous. The social wasps will make their nests in places like attics, under the roof, roof peak and so on, whereas the solitary wasps do not have the habit of making a nest. Instead, they lay eggs in their predator's nest. They are more docile compared to the social wasps. The solitary wasps are considered to be good as they reduce the population of the pests like beetles and aphids.

Tips to Get Rid of Wasps

It is the social wasps that you would have to get rid off. The reason is they build nests close to the human habitations. It is necessary to remove the wasp nests that are close to the entrance of the house or in the trees in the children’s park. It is advisable to destroy the wasp nest either after sunset or before sunrise.The reason is by dusk the wasps fly back to their nest and they are in their nest till sunrise. Given below are some tips to get rid of them.

• Getting rid of underground wasp nests - You must wear clothes made of rubber when you are on a mission to destroy the wasp nests. The stinger of a wasp can easily penetrate through woolen or cotton clothes. You can get rid of the underground wasp nests using fuels such as kerosene or diesel. You would need to be equipped with a large wet towel or cloth and a shovel. Pour the fuel into the entrance of the nest and quickly cover the mouth of the entrance with the wet towel. The fumes of the fuel will kill the wasps in the nest. So it is not necessary to light fire.

• Getting rid of hanging wasp nests - It is advisable to wear thick clothes to avoid penetration of a wasp stinger. To destroy the hanging wasp nests, it is better to use a special pressurized bomb. Never use any household insecticides, as they are never going to work. You should follow the instructions that are given on the cover of the pressurized bomb. You should stand a few feet away from the wasp nest and aim the bomb right into the mouth of the wasp nest. There is nothing to worry if it falls outside the mouth, because eventually all the wasps will be destroyed along with the nest.

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Wasps

If you are brave and not afraid of wasp stingers you can try one of the home remedies to get rid of the wasps.

• If you find a wasp nest hanging from one of the trees in your backyard, all that you have to do is to light a small fire beneath it. The smoke from the fire will choke the wasps. Due to suffocation, some of the wasps will die while others will abandon the nest.
• Wasps are attracted to anything sweet and sugary. Here is another home remedy to get rid of the wasps that are hanging around your house or garden. Make a hole in the lid of an empty can. The can should resemble the gallon milk jugs. Fill it half with sugar water or sugar syrup. If the can has a handle, hang it on the tree branch, using a string. The wasps will be attracted to the smell of sugar. Once they enter the can their wings will get stuck in the sugar water. Eventually they will die drowning in the sugar syrup.
• The wasps are also attracted towards the garbage bag. Therefore it is suggested that you close the mouth of the garbage bag tightly before leaving it outside.
• Keep your surroundings clean. The lawns must be trimmed and the tall weeds should be removed before they grow. The reason, is the wasps prefer to build their nests there.
• If you are holding a barbecue party, make a homemade wasp trap. You would need a few pieces of beef liver. Using a string, tie the liver to the branch of a tree far away from where you are planning to hold the party. Few inches beneath the liver pieces, tie an empty milk can half-filled with soap water. The beef liver is used as a tasty bait to attract the wasps. The wasps will gorge on the meat. They will feel heavy to fly back and will fall inside the soap water. The detergent in the water will render their wings useless. The wasps will die by drowning in the water.

Getting rid of wasps is not an easy task. It is always better to get a professional to do this task. However, if you are planning to venture out to destroy the wasp nests on your own, then make sure you have somebody with you to help you out. Wear appropriate clothes before starting on this mission.