How to Get Rid of Yellow Jackets, Hornets, & Wasps Effectively

Yellow jackets, hornets, and wasps can be a nuisance and a potential threat to the safety of your home and family. When these stinging insects decide to set up shop in your yard or home, it's essential to take action to eliminate them effectively. In this blog post, we'll discuss what you should know about these flying insects, how and where to spot them, and provide some tips on how to get rid of yellow jackets and the different ways to get rid of wasps in your home using simple and effective methods that professionals use.

What You Should Know About Yellow Jackets, Hornets, & Wasps

Before we get into the details of how to get rid of hornets, jackets, or wasps, it's important to understand that these are social insects, so they'll likely amass in one place. While they play essential roles in pollination and controlling other pests, they can be aggressive when disturbed and can deliver painful stings, which can cause allergic reactions in some individuals.

Yellow jackets are known for their yellow and black striped bodies, hornets are larger and have a reddish-brown head and thorax with a black and white striped abdomen, and wasps are typically slender with long legs and a distinct waist.

What Attracts These Flying Insects to Your Home and How and Where to Spot Them?

When it comes to learning how to get rid of yellow jackets, hornets, and wasps, it's vital to know a bit more about them. For instance, these flying insects are attracted to various factors, such as food sources, nesting sites, and environmental conditions. Open trash bins, outdoor dining areas, and gardens are some places where these insects can find food. They may also be attracted to the structural elements of your home for nesting purposes.

These include eaves, hollow logs, decks, attics, tree stumps, walls, and tree branches. To spot their nests, look for paper-like structures hanging from trees, eaves, or other protected areas around your home. Yellow jackets may also build their nests underground, in which case you can spot them by the presence of a hole surrounded by small piles of dirt and their yellow and black abdomen color.

How to Get Rid of Yellow Jackets, Hornets, & Wasps

If you're tired of dealing with these pests invading your home and yard, the constant buzzing, and the risk of painful stings when you have young kids and pets around, we've got you covered. In this section, we'll share some proven methods for getting rid of these unwelcome guests. 

• Use Insecticide Sprays: Apply a wasp and hornet aerosol spray to the nest, ideally at night when the insects are less active. Ensure you follow the label instructions and use protective clothing to avoid stings.

• Try a Bait Station: Set up bait stations containing insecticide-laced food that the insects will take back to their nests, eventually killing the entire colony. This is a perfect tip on how to get rid of yellow jackets that nest in ground holes. Place the bait stations in areas where you've seen the insects foraging.

• Remove Food Sources: Keep trash cans and bins covered and clean up outdoor eating areas to discourage insects from foraging around your home. These are areas where sugars are common, easily attracting these insects. So, as you learn how to get rid of hornets, jackets, and wasps, keep this in mind.

• Block Nest Entrances: If you've located an underground yellow jacket nest, wait until evening when the insects are less active, and then carefully cover the entrance with a large, clear glass bowl. This traps the yellow jackets, preventing them from exiting the nest and eventually leading to their death.

• Set Up Traps: Another great tip on how to get rid of yellow jackets, hornets, and wasps is to hang traps around your property, especially near known nesting areas. These traps often use attractants to lure the insects in and prevent them from escaping.

Get Started With DIY Pest Control Solutions 

For those who prefer a DIY approach, opting for effective pest control products can help you tackle your yellow jacket, hornet, and wasp problem. From aerosol insecticide sprays specifically designed for wasps and hornets to insecticide dusts that can be applied to the nest entrance and bait stations with insecticide-laced food, DIY Pest Warehouse has everything you need to get rid of these pests.

We're your trusted source for all your DIY pest control needs. Order now and enjoy fast, free shipping in the U.S., affordable pricing, and excellent customer service and product support. Want to learn more about how to get rid of yellow jackets, hornets, and wasps? Contact our industry experts. Get more insights on pest control, including ways to get rid of wasps that keep coming back to your home, by reading our guides section or exploring our blog.