It’s pretty inevitable that your yard will become home to all kinds of insects. While many of these can be helpful additions to your space (like ladybugs or praying mantises), some are going to be unwanted guests that are not only a nuisance but can actually be harmful. One such example is the wasp.
Unlike bees for which they can often be mistaken, wasps are known for their aggressive behavior and their more painful stings. If you see some of these pests in your yard and later discover a ground nest, you’ll probably want to find a way to get rid of them. Soil structures are usually identified by dry dirt and nearby wasp activity.
Fortunately, there are several ways you can eliminate ground wasp nests if they are causing problems in your yard. These include insecticide sprays, usually containing a pyrethroid-like ingredient, and spraying from a distance to help keep you safe, as well as using dust. There are also homemade, natural options, such as using soapy water to drown wasps. Before you jump to a solution, however, it’s important to identify whether it’s really necessary to risk removing that structure.
Should you remove a ground wasp nest?
Once you’ve determined that you have a ground wasp nest, you’ll need to further isolate what types of wasps are living there in order to take the proper steps to protect yourself and your yard. There are many species of wasps, but when it comes to ground nesters, you can generally narrow your options down to three: cicada killers, sand wasps, and yellowjackets.
Cicada killers may sound and look scary, but they are actually quite harmless. They are large, and nest in solitary groups rather than in large colony structures. Males also lack stingers, and females are not known to be aggressive unless physically threatened. If you have cicada killers, it is best to leave their nests alone. Similarly, sand wasps are fairly mild to wasps and non-aggressive. They probably won’t be your ground nesters either because, as their name suggests, they prefer sandy soil, not clay.
Yellowjackets are social ground nesters and quite aggressive. They will often attack any visible sign of disturbance in their nesting area, which can include things like the vibrations of your lawn mower or footsteps. Their stings can be very painful, and they can sting more than once. This is Types of wasp nests you don’t want to see in your yardAnd they give you a good reason to move on from considering removal.
How to remove a ground wasp nest
When you consider How to get rid of wasps Like a yellow jacket, time matters. Yellowjackets do not reuse the same nest, so if they are found in late fall and are not in a high-traffic area, it is not a bad idea to let them die on their own. Conversely, if you see them in late summer when their nests are in full swing, you’ll want to take extra care in removing them, as they can be more aggressive.
There are three main choices for removal: a tablespoon of dish soap and warm water in a hose spray bottle, a disinfectant spray, or a disinfectant dust. The spray can be sprayed at the nest entrance while the dust is placed around the ground nest, attaches to the wasp’s body, and is then carried deep into the nest, killing the wasps inside within a few days.
For all options, for Get rid of the nest safelyMake sure you do your extermination at night so you avoid the wasps’ most active time, and wear protective clothing including gloves and a mesh hat. When using the spray, keep a safe distance of about 15 to 20 feet to avoid any aggressive wasps flying around. Lastly, but most importantly, if you are allergic to wasp stings or are concerned about removal in any way, it is your best bet to call the pros.
