WASP CONTROL

   This article is about WASP and HORNET control.
It will explain why they are a pest and what
needs to be done for controlling infestations.
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	As summer goes by, wasps and hornets will 
prosper.  By September, their nests have matured.  
If you see them in your flowers, garbage or picnic 
areas there is probably a nest close by.  Although 
many wasps exist in North America, the two species 
most common are Bald Faced Hornets and Paper 
Wasps.  This article applies to these and other
common wasps. However, we have a large selection
of articles about many others including Yellow
Jackets, Cicada Killers, Digger Wasps and Mud Daubers.
If you have another type of wasp problem, go back to 
our article archive section which you can link to at the
bottom of this page or up above. There you will find an 
articles on how to treat for them.
	Bald Faced hornets are actually wasps.  They 
are black with white or yellow stripes around their 
thorax and abdomen.  They're about one inch long, 
can fly very fast and are aggressive.  Bald faced 
hornets create a nest which is grey and round.  It 
ranges from softball to beach ball size.  These nests 
are made from cellulose and are quite strong.  Likely 
nest sights include trees, shrubs and around 
overhangs of buildings.  

CLICK HERE TO SEE A BALDFACED HORNET NEST

CLICK HERE TO SEE SOME VIDEOS OF A BALDFACED HORNET NEST

	Paper wasps vary in color.  Some are black 
and yellow, black and red, or brown and red.
The following video shows one close up walking.



Red and black wasps will nest in the woods, on  homes
and just about any place as bald faced hornets.  
These nests are usually smaller in size and 
population.  Many times these nests are in cracks of
wood and cannot be seen.  Here the wasp will nest
in between siding, insulation and any other void they
can find underneath soffits, around gutters and
windows.   Paper wasps do not fly as fast as bald 
faced hornets and are generally not as aggressive.  If 
activity is high, just watch from a distance and 
chances are you will quickly locate where the main 
nest sight is located. Paper wasps are also very
curious. It is quite common to find them flying
around people since they are attracted to moisture
and sweet odors. They will readily fly toward
sweat, perfume, food, flowers, dead insects and
other things commonly found around the home. In
fact, they can become quite a pest - even if you
are just trying to sit out on your deck or around
the pool! A handy way to deal with them when they
are in close proximity is with the use of our
HAND HELD ZAPPER. This device is great for all
types of insects like mosquitoes, flies and spiders
but is particularly effective on wasps. Simply touch
the electric grid to any wasp and it will instantly
die! This "Electric Swatter" is quite effective and
since you don't actually "swat" the target, there is
no mess! If you are finding the wasps inside the 
home, the BUG VACUUM/ZAPPER may be the better option.
It enables you to trap the wasp on walls or ceilings
and then you can vacuum them into the holding tube.
Once in the tube, you decide if you want the wasp to
live or die; release them outside if you want them
to live or turn on the Zapper for a quick kill. The
Bug Vacuum/Zapper provides a clean way to remove
unwanted pests.Of course, these only offer immediate
relief and won't be a long term resolution, but it
will allow you to go about your business without the
worry of someone getting stung or the mess of a smashed
bug on the wall!
   If you have a pool or other body of water close by
which is always attracting wasps, treatment options
will be limited. This is because the wasps you are
seeing aren't necessarily nesting on your property.
Wasps need water and lots of it. They will forage
great distances to find water. In arid environments,
this could be several miles. If where you reside has
been hot or dry and you have a bird bath, a pool
or some other water supply, expect wasps to find
your "offering". As the moisture evaporates into the
air, wasps and other insects will detect it's presence.
This will attract them to the area and once found,
"word" will be out on the street. In other words, expect
more and more of the local population of wasps and
other insects to come around. Dealing with such 
invasions is extremely difficult but there are options.
The best way is to directly treat any known nests.
However, in most of these situations, the nest is
not around nor is it easy to find. For such situations,
a broad "shotgun" technique must be employed and
should involve three types of "repellents". The 
other option is more of a "sniper" type defense
and aims at "one wasp at a time". If you wish
to repel local activity, there are three main
products which can cover large areas. First,
the strongest repellent is the use of an aerosol
based Pyrethrin called MICROCARE. Most any insect
hates Pyrethrin and wasps cannot stand it. They will
avoid any area where pyrethrin is detected. Pyrethrin
occurs naturally and in fact is the exact defense
mechanism many plants use to keep destructive pests
away. Aerosol forms of pyrethrin are particularly
irritating to wasps, flies and other flying insects
because of the way they breathe. Mist plants, ground
cover, rocks, mulch and basically any areas you see
wasp activity where you want them gone. Keep in mind
that treatments won't last long; you may need to 
apply some once or twice a day if you intend on keeping
an area wasp free all the time. However, Pyrethrin is
very safe to use around people and pets and poses no
hazard. This means you can reapply it as needed. Since
it comes in a can and is ready to spray, treatments are
easy and take no time. The second repellent we have
found that works is a new version of the old style
MOSQUITO COILS. The original type burning coil used
citronella as the active. This new formulation uses
Synthetic Pyrethrin and is extremely effective at
keeping unwanted mosquitoes, wasps and flies away.
They detect the repellent and stay clear or else they
will die from inhaling it. Set these out around the
areas you want to keep wasp free. And lastly, the
third repellent that we've found effective at
keeping wasps away is FLYING INSECT KILLER. This
aerosol is like the Microcare in how you use it
but instead employs a man made active which is
more "smelly" then the pyrethrin. Wasps don't like
it much either and will leave where you spray. 
Treatments will last 1-2 hours, much longer the
the Microcare, and people won't notice it 5-10 minutes 
after it's been applied.
   The "sniper" method of controlling foraging wasps
involves the use of a trap. The original type traps
were designed to catch Yellow Jackets and as many 
of us have learned, using a trap for them isn't too
effective because they seem to come around in such
high numbers it isn't practical to catch them all.
Well, the new WASP GLASS TRAP uses different lures
and pheromones making it attractive to many species
of wasps. Since many of these species involve much
smaller populations compared to yellow jackets, the
use of these traps can prove extremely helpful at
reducing local activity. Wasps will enter the trap
through a hole on the bottom and once inside will
drown in the water/pheromone mix. These traps can
be set out on table tops (they have stout legs to
keep the hole up and accessible even if the trap
isn't hanging) or you can hang them from trees
or other elevated sites. They are quite decorative
and won't be noticed much in the yard and can be
brought along for picnics or other outdoor activities
where wasps are known to be a problem. One of the
great features of this trap is that you can use them
over and over again. Just wash them out every two
weeks and replace the lure and you'll be set. Glass
Traps come with one pheromone/lure and they're only 
active for 2 weeks so be sure to get plenty of extra
WASP GLASS TRAP LURE (2 PACK). Use 1 of these for
every 1/4 acre; 4 per acre if you wish to keep
adequate coverage on your property.
   If you have found a nest and have decided to
treat the problem yourself, you will have to decide
what material will be best suited for the task.
There are many options available including wasp
freeze, liquids and dust formulations. All offer
advantages and disadvantages; some will be better
suited for the job at hand while in some cases,
any type of product may work. Most importantly,
you must be able to both reach and treat the nest
adequately to insure you destroy it completely.
Failure to do so will create a hazardous situation.
Wasps which have had their homes partially destroyed
will become angry and aggressive. They will remain
this way for days. To insure you do the job right
the first time, make sure you can attack it from
a good position without risk of getting stung. This
could mean climbing a ladder, walking out on a roof
or scaling a tree. Many of these locations will
leave you vulnerable and the last thing you want
to have happen is to be stung by a nest of angry
wasps while atop a 25 foot ladder. To insure your
safety, a BEE VEIL, BEE HAT, BEE GLOVES and
BEE SUIT may be needed. This equipment will prevent
stings and enable you to go about your task
with confidence and conviction. Good protection
is worth the investment - particularly if you
are dealing with bald faced hornets!
   Treatment of either nest should be done at dusk or
night.  There are two reasons for this:  1) It insures 
that all the wasps are in the nest and  2)  Risk of 
being stung is minimized.  For small paper wasp nests, 
STINGER is quick and easy to use.  It 
delivers a chemical which knocks down and kills 
most wasps on contact.  It sprays ten to fifteen
feet so it allows you to reach high places without a 
ladder.  And because it sprays so fast, you must be 
careful not to waste it all.  Treatments with Stinger 
should allow for immediate removal of the 
nest.  If the nest is unusually high, you may need
to use a WASP POLE.  This device holds a can of Stinger and is
then controlled with a string.  The Wasp Pole
is comprised of four, 4 feet sections which are
connected and amount to a length of about 18 feet.
The average 5'-6' person will be able to reach up
and treat nests over 20 feet high with this device
and can reach much higher with optional extensions
or ladders. 
	If you have a mature bald faced hornet nest 
or many paper wasp nests to treat, you will find using
a concentrate more efficient and cost effective.  
CYPERMETHRIN mixes easy and can be sprayed with one of our
SPRAYERS.  Saturate the outside of the entire 
nest to the point of runoff.  Then spray directly into 
the main entrance/exit hole.  The Cypermethrin 
will leave a residual which will kill any wasp which 
walks on it.  Nests treated this way should be left 
alone for a day or two to insure a complete kill.  
You can remove the nest after a few days. The
following video shows how wasps react to being sprayed.


	If the nest is thought to be in between siding,
underneath a facia board, behind a shutter, under
a deck, around a window frame, in the side of 
a building or anywhere that a liquid or wasp
freeze treatment may not work, than the use of 
a dry dust called DRIONE is best. This dust is very
fine and will penetrate deep into the void.  Use 
an applicator such as a CRUSADER and blow the dust
directly into where the wasps are entering and
exiting.  It naturally finds it's way into
cracks, crevices and voids where wasps like to
nest and roost. It will cling to surfaces making
it impossible for wasps to walk or use the area
forcing them to go elsewhere. A great place to apply
it is through cracks and seams of decks. Though these
small gaps may look too tight for any insect to enter, 
they actually make prime locations for many pests.
Decks which are built close to the ground are
particularly prone to such infestations. Wasps, ants
and other pests will readily seek such areas because
they provide ideal shelter and locations for nests.
All wood will release odors which naturally
attract wasps so decks are always attracting new
activity throughout the warm season. If you are not
able to spray the Cypermethrin up underneath such
areas because the decking is too tight and sealed
on all sides, simply blow the Drione Dust through
as many access points as you can find. It's
natural characteristic of being able to float
lightly in the air will insure much of it finds
the bottom of the decking where wasps like to nest.
Applications will last 1-2 months under the decking
and though moisture will break it down, Drione is
so repellent to wasps they will be forced to move
elsewhere for nesting. This forced relocation, which
will happen immediately following your treatment, will
greatly reduce activity on your deck. Expect immediate
results. Since facia boards, gutters, roof lines and 
most any type of siding can provide similar areas ideal
for nesting, consider treating all such areas with
the Drione as well. If you have a lot of these
areas to treat, consider the purchase of a 
larger duster. The DUST-R is ideal for when you
have a lot of treating. It features a large dust
tank which cuts down on how much time you need
to spend filling it. If you have a lot of high
places to reach, the LONG REACH DUST-R might
be the better choice. It's essentially the same 
unit as the Dust-R but it comes with a series
of extensions which enable the applicator to reach
over 12 feet up while standing on the ground. Of
course you can use it while standing on a ladder for
additional coverage. However, if you need to reach
really high locations, the DUSTICK is the tool for
the job. It features 4 extensions which can be used
one at a time or all together. Combined with the
Dust Tank on top and the pump assembly on the bottom,
you will be able to treat locations over 25 feet
high while standing on the ground! When you have
a lot of facia boards and trim on the home and
wasps are penetrating through such locations,
Drione Dust applied with one of these dusters is
the best bet for long term control. It will also
kill them on contact as well as repel them. It is
also strong enough to dry up the eggs as well
as the pupae.  Drione Dust also lasts a  long time
and will stay in the void providing control of any
wasps which may have been a way from the nest
during treatment.  It has many applications and
is recommended for Carpenter Bees and
Carpenter Ants as well.
	To stop new wasps from creating nests 
on or around your home, use the Cypermethrin listed
above. Mix it with water and spray surfaces of the 
home where these creatures are likely to nest.  This 
will include overhangs, bushes, siding, soffits,
around windows, down spouts, gutters, shutters,
water spickets, doors, garages, shingles and any
where you have seen them flying.  This treatment
will not bother paint, plants, animals or any
other item around the home. Since you are only
mixing one ounce to a gallon of water it is
simply far too diluted to have any impact on
something other than insects.  Just keep children
and pets away during the actual application but
they can return as soon as it dries, which is
usually within an hour, without any hazard. The 
residual should last 2-4 weeks and if applied in the 
spring and throughout the summer you should be able to 
keep them away from your home.  This is important as 
many of these wasps have queens in their colony which
will overwinter in a nest sight.  The following 
spring they will emerge and tend to start new
colonies in areas close to where they over
winter and where there have been previous nests.
If you see a lot of wasps collecting on the outside
of your building in the fall, be sure and spray
them heavy with our Cypermethrin immediately. These
wasps are getting ready to hibernate and have chosen
your home for this purpose. If you don't kill them
before they move under siding and into the wall
voids of your home, you will probably have some
finding their way into your living area all through
the winter. If this starts to happen, you will need
to use the Drione listed above with the Crusader
and treat all electric light fixtures, switch plates
and electric outlets by first removing the cover and
then by squeezing some dust into the space. This
treatment will keep them from entering your living
area but if they are active on the second level of
the home, you will need to dust your attic. Again,
use the dust we have featured above and apply it with
a DUSTIN MIZER to get complete coverage. The Dustin 
Mizer is able to project the dust 20-30 feet and 
will get the needed coverage over insulation and 
throughout the spaces where wasps will readily nest.
	Paper Wasps and Bald Faced Hornets can be 
frightening.  Once identified, keep people away to 
prevent anyone from being stung.  Treat the nests at 
night for quick and complete control.  Remove the 
nest once all activity ceases.  Be sure to spray
with Cypermethrin throughout the spring and summer
to keep help repel them. Wasps can be a painful 
nuisance in the summer.  Keep your common 
ground free of their nests to insure your family is 
safe.

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