**Before following our tips, remember, Safety First! Follow our tips at your own risk**
Having a wasp nest on your door or around your home is unpleasant. Nobody would wish to be in such situations especially if you have small kids or anyone in your family allergic to wasp stings. Your first option will be to call an exterminator, but if you are not allergic to their stings, you can probably take care of the problem yourself.
To take care of a wasps nest, you have to be careful with it. Ensure you approach the nest when it is less active and if you have to spray it, make sure to use an approved pesticide spray, smoke, insecticidal dust or water. To deal with the nest, you should:
Plan for safety
You need to ensure that you are going to be safe around the stinging insects by:
Confirming that you are not allergic to wasps
Set up a test with your physician before attempting to deal with the problem to ensure that you are not allergic to wasp stings. If you are not, you can then proceed to get rid of the wasp nest by yourself. However, if the test indicates that you are allergic, ask someone to eliminate the nest for you or call a professional exterminator.
Discover what type of wasps’ nest you have at your door
Before you decide to work on the nest, it is wise to know the species of wasp you are about to deal with. This will give you a sign of the best method to get rid of it. There are three major types of wasp;
- Paper wasps -They have both long bodies and legs compared to the other types of wasp. Their nests are large and exposed, and the combs can be seen clearly. Their nests are like upside down umbrella, and they are located in sheltered areas for example at the end of an open pipe. These wasps can only attack if provoked, but their sting is painful and dangerous.
- Yellow jackets -They have thick and black antennae. They are also featured with shorter legs relative to paper wasps. Their nests are papery-looking, and they love building them in enclosed areas like wall voids or the ground cavities. Yellow jackets can be aggressive and sting multiple times.
- Hornets – They are the biggest and most common type of wasp. They have a unique feature which is a white marking on the head and thorax. They build paper nests which can mostly be found in wall cavities and trees trunks.
Wear protective clothes
After identifying the type of insect you are dealing with, and you feel you are ready to take them down; it is time to protect your body. Wearing protective clothing is an essential preventative measure in this task even if you are not allergic. Put on jeans, socks, and boots to cover your legs. Wear a sweater with sleeves and a hood for your head and gloves to cover the hands. It is better if you wrap a scarf around your neck and the lower part of your face, and then cover your eyes with glasses. If you are using a chemical spray, ensure to use old clothes since the chemicals could ruin your clothes, and it is wise to get rid of the clothes once you are done.
Getting rid of the wasps
Once you are safe, it is time to carry out the plan of destroying the wasps’ nest. You can do this by;
Using a pesticide spray
Buy an aerosol spray from a store near you and ensure that it is designed for the task.
Use insecticidal dust
This is another option if you do not wish to use the spray. It is the best for the ground nests like the yellow jackets since it penetrates through the heart of the nest.
Use dish soap
If you dislike chemicals such as insecticides and pesticides, dish soap is a simple solution that will work best for you. It works by coating their wings and prevents them from flying, and this kills them.
Use of smoke
Make a fire that is directly below the nest. The smokes will then rise and suffocate the wasps thus forcing them to leave the nest. Let the smoke rise for an hour or two until you are sure that the nest is empty and you can then put the off and pull the nest down. However, the method is only effective for aerial nests that are hanging. It is not good for nests that are near the house since you could accidentally set the house on fire.
If none of the three solutions suits you, you can use water.
Caution
Ensure to never deal with angry wasps as this can be dangerous. Also, ensure to get rid of any conditions in your home that seems to attract insects which include ensuring that the trash containers are tightly closed and keep your home clean by removing clutter and food spills.
Call an exterminator
In most cases, it is best if you leave the nest to professionals. This is especially if the nesting has yellow jackets since this could be dangerous. If the nest is at an awkward or a location that is difficult to reach like inside a wall you will need the assistance of a professional. You will also need to ask for help if you are allergic to stings since doing it yourself could put you at risk. In fact, whether you are allergic or not, approaching a wasp nest can be dangerous and deadly if something goes wrong.
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