The best method of getting rid of yellow jackets is to minimize the chances that they are drawn to your property. Fortunately, you have more control over this than you may realize.
• WHAT ARE YELLOW JACKETS ATTRACTED TO?
Discouraging yellow jackets begins by understanding what attracts them. These wasps are attracted to bright colors and floral prints, so try to avoid wearing these in areas where you think yellow jackets might be present. It also is sensible to avoid using perfumed products like soaps, lotions and shampoos, as these sweet-smelling items are likely to attract pests. Mainly, yellow jackets are attracted to food, especially items that contain sugar like sodas and desserts. Eating indoors may be a good idea if you're bothered by yellow jackets.
• DOES ANYTHING REPEL YELLOW JACKETS?
Certain things might cause yellow jackets to look elsewhere for food or a nesting site. For instance, scientists have observed that herbs such as lemongrass, thyme and spearmint have scents that yellow jackets don't like. Plant these herbs in abundance throughout your yard, and you might have some protection against yellow jackets.
Research indicates that the scent of cucumber slices and dryer sheets also may do the trick as do essential oils like peppermint oil.
Of course, many of these home remedies are not feasible for use in a large yard, and they may do nothing when a nest is already located on the property.
• WHAT WILL KEPP YELLOW JACKETS AWAY?
Homeowners may have limited success with remedies such as those described above. In fact, these approaches may work well if you are only dealing with an occasional, persistent yellow jacket.
However, if your yard feels inundated by yellow jackets or if they are coming into your house, then you will need to take stronger steps. This typically involves hiring a licensed exterminator who can locate the yellow jacket nest and remove it.
HOW TO FIND A YELLOW JACKET NEST
Locating the yellow jacket nest is critical to ending the infestation. Otherwise, you're probably only treating the problem one insect at a time, which is a futile effort at best. Finding the nest isn't always easy, and getting rid of it can be positively dangerous.
• Should I kill a yellow jacket nest?
Yellow jackets are notoriously aggressive, territorial wasps. They are at their worst when in the vicinity of their nests. Accordingly, destroying the nest is an extremely dangerous task.
Even people who are not allergic to stings may have a severe reaction if they are stung several times by wasps. This means that the smart thing to do is to leave yellow jacket nests alone. Contact a reliable pest management company as soon as possible to destroy the yellow jacket nest for you.
• What should you do if you find a yellow jacket nest?
The best thing that you can do after locating a yellow jacket nest is to avoid the area. Warn other people who may venture onto the property about the presence of the nest. You might even want to post signs or put up some kind of barrier if you live on a large piece of property that borders a park, lake or other public area. Then, contact an exterminator. With their knowledge, experience and equipment, they can destroy the nest so that the yellow jackets are no longer a problem.
• Do all yellow jackets return at night?
Virtually all of the colony members will return to the nest as the sun goes down for the day. Accordingly, nighttime can be an especially advantageous time to remove or destroy the nest because it provides maximum efficiency. This is critical because although you may catch some yellow jackets in a trap, the infestation will continue as long as the queen is in the nest and reproducing.
• CAN YOU COVER A YELLOW JACKET NEST IN THE GROUND?
You may occasionally see advice for placing a large glass bowl over the opening of a yellow jacket nest. In a limited sense, this can be effective. However, it is only advisable to try to do so when it is apparent that the yellow jackets are only using one entrance and when the ground is relatively flat. Try placing the bowl over the opening early on a cool morning when the yellow jackets are more likely to be sluggish and still inside the nest.
This sometimes works, but if you would rather not approach the nest at any time, then it is always safer to ask an exterminator to do so.
• DO YELLOW JACKET NESTS HAVE TWO ENTRANCES?
They sometimes do have two or more entrances. While yellow jacket nests are most likely to be found underground, these insects do not dig the burrows themselves. Instead, the queen looks for an existing, abandoned animal burrow to take over. Depending on the type of burrow, it may have several entrances and exits. This means that trying to cover the entrance with a glass bowl probably isn't going to work unless you have several bowls and want to leave them sitting outdoors for a few weeks.
HOW DO I KEEP YELLOW JACKETS OUT OF MY HOUSE?
As annoying and frightening as yellow jackets can be outdoors, they are even more menacing when they come inside. You can take charge with a few simple measures.
• WHY DO I KEEP GETTING YELLOW JACKETS IN MY HOUSE?
Numerous avenues may be available for yellow jackets to enter your house. The easiest and most common method of entry is via an open door or window. Sometimes these insects simply fly in when people come inside, but they also may take advantage of holes in screens on doors and windows. Making sure that all of your screens are in good shape is an excellent way to protect your family.
It also is possible that yellow jackets have found a gap or hole in the home's exterior that they are using. This may be an opening where wiring or plumbing enters the structure or a hole that was created by another pest. It's wise to inspect the building's exterior to look for any possible access points, and then eliminate them.
• HOW DO I GET OF YELLOW JACKETS IN MY HOUSE?
If you have yellow jackets in your home, then it's usually best not to swat at them. You might leave a window open for a few minutes and hope that the insect will fly away, but this may only invite more intruders inside.
You might try placing a shallow pan of sugar water somewhere in the house. This will attract the pests, and it may drown many of them. Those that are now drowned may be sprayed with a yellow jacket killer.
HOW TO GET RID OF YELLOW JACKETS IN A WALL
Yellow jackets don't always nest in underground burrows. When they nest in a wall, they can be extraordinarily difficult to control.
• CAN YELLOW JACKETS EAT THROUGH WALLS?
Homeowners frequently are surprised to learn that yellow jackets can eat through walls, including drywall and plaster. It's disturbing to hear the sounds of scratching and ticking coming from behind walls as the colony builds a nest and goes about its business.
• YELLOW JACKETS IN THE WALL
It is possible for yellow jackets to eat their way through an interior wall, allowing dozens of pests to spill into the home's living spaces. If you suspect that yellow jackets have built a nest in your walls, then it is not wise to block the outside entrance, as this may only encourage them to come into the house. Moreover, if you see discoloration on an interior ceiling or wall, do not touch it. The wall may be very fragile, and touching it may cause it to burst, pouring the wasps into your home.
If you encounter such a situation it is imperative to contact a professional pest control provider as soon as possible.
WHAT HOME REMEDY WILL KILL YELLOW JACKETS?
It would be convenient to have a DIY home remedy for killing yellow jackets. Unfortunately, these methods usually only treat the symptoms of the problem rather than the cause.
• CAN VINEGAR KILL YELLOW JACKETS?
Technically, vinegar can kill yellow jackets. However, this is not effective against the colony's queen as she does not leave the nest and will continue reproducing as long as she is alive.
• WILL DISH SOAP AND WATER KILL YELLOW JACKETS?
This is another popular DIY method of killing yellow jackets, but it has the same limitations. Namely, while this method works to kill individual colony members, it will not destroy the queen or the nest, so the problem will continue.
• DO NATURAL YELLOW JACKET REPELLENTS WORK?
Peppermint oil, spearmint plants, cucumber slices and thyme all can do their part to keep yellow jackets at bay. These are non-lethal repellents, but are not often effective when yellow jackets are strongly attracted to an area because of frequent outdoor meals or a dirty garbage can.
HOW WE TREAT FOR YELLOW JACKET WASPS
Here at Newtown Termite & Pest Control, we use a multi-faceted approach for treating hornets and wasps that have become problematic for area homes and businesses. Our methodology involves making use of the most appropriate detection, prevention, and treatments methods available. By combining these measures, we ensure that your home or business remains free of wasps and hornets.
