How to get rid of yellowjackets

How to Get Rid of Yellowjackets

Summer is the best time of year. The long days when the trees are green and the flowers are in bloom. However, it does have its downsides. Namely, it’s the time of year when all the pests come out to play. Chief amongst these is the yellowjacket. Though at first glance it might not look particularly threatening, yellowjackets pack a mean sting. Approach their nest, and you’ll likely see a swarm descend upon you. Worst of all, some people can die from a sting, due to allergic reactions. If the yellowjackets nest in your home, you’re now stuck with a potentially dangerous pest till winter. However, some nests have been known to last years.

Therefore, it can be essential to get rid of yellowjackets when they first appear. Here are some tips for getting rid of yellowjackets.

First time lucky

Your first opportunity to get rid of yellowjackets is before the nest has even been built. This involves capturing the queen. Towards the end of spring and start of summer, the queen can be spotted bouncing around, looking for a nest. She is looking for somewhere warm and sheltered—for instance, a shed or the eaves of a house. Yellowjackets will also nest underground or in a decaying log.

The queen is around 18mm in length. If you catch her at this point, no nest will be built. However, you’re likely to miss her.

So, what can you do if the nest is established?

This could include any sheltered area such as eaves of homes or buildings, satellite dishes, inside of a gas grill, inside a vent pipe, inside of wall voids, inside electrical boxes, or underneath a deck.

New nests are constructed every year however in some cases, the European paper wasp will reuse an old nest as long as it’s empty.

Insecticide

If you suspect you have yellowjackets, you’ll need to find the nest. Look for the area from which the yellowjackets are coming and going. Nests are often built in dark and secluded spaces, and occasionally, they will even build aerial nests on tree branches. If you hear a buzzing sound, you’re close. But be careful, get too close, and the yellowjackets will become extremely territorial.

Next, you’ll need some bug spray. A simple can of bug spray will do. Stand at a safe distance and spray. However, consider your retreat strategy. Once disturbed, the yellowjackets are likely to attack. In doing so, they can swarm and sting. So, wear protective clothing, including masks and thick, long sleeve jackets. It’s best to deal with the nest at dusk, as this is when the yellowjackets will be least active.

Now, this might sound dangerous. Put simply: it is. No professional would advise you to tackle yellowjackets untrained and unprepared. At worst, yellowjackets in your house will burrow or chew their way through into a living space, creating an even worse problem.

Therefore, if you do find yellowjackets, your best option is to hire an exterminator. This is especially important if the yellowjackets are inside or under your home, or if you have multiple nests. However, exterminators may be reluctant to remove a nest unless it poses a direct risk to humans or animals. But if you are determined to remove the nest, it is always helpful to get a professional’s opinion first.

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How to get rid of yellowjackets