So, you’ve got wasps. It happens in most homes with large enough yards, and in the warmer months, it can be quite tough to avoid what seems like a swarm of wasps flying around every day. Obviously, the easiest way to get rid of them is to take out the nests. But what are the safest and most effective strategies for getting rid of them at the source?
Can you suffocate a wasp nest? Yes! Suffocating a wasp nest, usually with a plastic bag, is one of the easiest, safest, and most effective strategies for dealing with wasps. There are many other effective strategies for destroying wasps nests such as using repellents, drowning them, lemon extract, and of course, store-bought wasp killers like RAID.
So which is the most effective method? How do you go about suffocating a wasp with a plastic bag? Are there non-lethal ways to deal with wasp problems? Read on to find out more!
Why get rid of wasps?
The first question one might ask when they are getting rid of wasps is if there’s actually a good reason for it. After all, bees are supposed to be good, so why not wasps too, right?
Well, because of their role in the ecosystem as an exterminator of other insects, wasps are unusually aggressive. Their colonies grow very quickly, and they will swarm if they see a threat. This combination of traits makes them quite dangerous, especially around families with pets and small children. It’s best to just keep them away from your home.
Suffocating a wasp nest
The easiest and maybe the most effective method for killing wasps is suffocating the nest. This can be done with a plastic bag, believe it or not.
Approach the nest in the middle of the night, when the wasps are at their least active. cover the wasp nest with a plastic bag, preferably one that is quite heavy duty so it does not rip or have holes poked in it. Use tape to seal the bag airtight around the nest. After this, simply remove the nest and the bag when the wasps die.
How long does suffocating a wasp nest take?
Wasps take a while to suffocate as they don’t require that much oxygen. It can usually take around a full day for the wasps to all die out completely, sometimes even a bit longer. Wait a day or two before you inspect the bag again, and give it a slight nudge to make sure they’re all dead before you take the tape off of it.
Drown the wasp nest
Drowning is another method that can kill the wasps safely and effectively from a distance. This is difficult for some higher-up nests but great for nests that are underground or in easily accessible locations.
Get a hose. Keep your distance so the wasps don’t attack you instantly upon you spraying their nest. Douse the nest well (probably spray for 30 seconds to a minute), and then give it a break. Repeat this about every hour or so until the wasps are dead. Be careful, this method can get the wasps angry, but it is effective!
Kill the wasps with lemon extract
Wasps can also be killed by lemon extract. A mixture of 3 tbsp lemon extract and one cup of water is a fine solution for exterminating these annoying insects. Put the solution in a spray bottle and get some thick, protective clothing.
Approach the nest at night when the wasps are not active. To help further with this, cover your light source with red cellophane, as wasps cannot see red light.
Then, simply give the nest a healthy few sprays with the lemon extract solution. The wasps this doesn’t kill will be driven away by the scent of the lemon. Repeat this every night until the nest (or nests) is gone.
Commercial Wasp Spray
Although it’s a bit expensive and a bit dangerous for children and pets, commercial wasp sprays like RAID do the job pretty well. They are also extremely easy to use.
Simply approach the nest at night (if you can) and spray it from a distance with the spray bottle. These bottles are pressurized to spray quite far, to help you keep away from the wasps, so you can stand a couple of feet back from your target. Like the hose, this method doesn’t kill them instantly, so a few may get angry and come after you. Be careful!
Soapy Water
If you’re looking for the same effect as commercial wasp spray in a DIY solution, soapy water is a great choice!
Combine a small squirt of soap with a spray bottle full of water. Make sure it’s nice and soapy, but not so soapy that it’s all bubbles. Spray the nest down with this solution. The soapy water will cover the wasps, slow them down, and suffocate them.
Non-Lethal strategies
There are a number of non-lethal strategies for handling wasps as well.
Knocking the nest down
If you manage to knock the wasps’ nest down (if it isn’t underground), the wasps will fly away to make a new one. This is because they think this is not a suitable and safe place to build a new nest.
Brown paper bag
Inflate a brown paper bag and hang it up near the wasps. Often, the wasps will see this and think that it is a hornet’s nest or the nest of some other competitor. This will make them want to leave the area, and, if it works, is an extremely safe and effective strategy if you aren’t looking to kill the wasps.
Mint and other repellants
Another solution, if you’re against killing the wasps, is to put repellants around the wasp nest. There are a number of popular wasp repellants. The most effective are mint scents like menthol, spearmint, and peppermint. Lemongrass, vinegar, and geranium flowers work wonders as well. Simply put the repellant around your home or nearby the wasp nest, and they should stop bothering you.
