Anyone have any tricks on getting rid of wasps?

[shane96ranger]

These damn wasps are invading my yard. I've already gotten rid of at least a dozen nests this summer. I had a nest that was 6 inches in diameter in my trailer (Ranger bed) last week. Does anyone have any tricks to keeping them from creating the nest to begin with?

I've hung the stupid traps up, but the traps only get 4 or 5 of them before they figure it out. I'd like to get rid of the things for good. I'm scared to let my kids play in the yard because there are more then usual this year.

 

[ProjectSVT_Photographer]

The cheapest method for killing them is carb cleaner or pure bleach in a spray bottle. Both will drop them instantly. Bleach is also a deterrent for them building nests. They don't like the smell. Another trick is whenever you knock down a nest, spray where it was with bleach to knock out the smell of the pheremones they leave behind, otherwise they'll keep coming back to the same place and rebuilding.

 

[straycat]

Go to Ace Hardware or Lowes or Home Depot. Talk to somebody there and tell them what you need. They will help you. I know there are some good products on the market. Pest Control people use good products to keep them away, but I have no idea what they use. I never had that problem in any of our homes before.

 

[Captain Ledd]

The cheapest method for killing them is carb cleaner or pure bleach in a spray bottle. Both will drop them instantly. Bleach is also a deterrent for them building nests. They don't like the smell. Another trick is whenever you knock down a nest, spray where it was with bleach to knock out the smell of the pheremones they leave behind, otherwise they'll keep coming back to the same place and rebuilding.

x2 on the carb cleaner. Brake cleaner works damn good as well.

 

[rangerbum]

The ol Canadian Wasp and bee trap.

Take a 20 oz soda bottle, cut the top 1/3 off just above the label, flip the top piece over and tape the two together converting the top to what resembles a funnel.

But wait, what will attract them to the inside of the bottle you ask? Beer. Bees and wasps are attracted to beer. But they are choosey, they Like Canadian beer the best, what I've found works well is red stripe, kokanee, rainier, and Sierra Nevada all work well. Only use about 2/3 the way up to the bottom of the soda label worth of beer. I know it seems like a waste of beer but if you collect all the "wounded soldiers" art the end of a party night you will have enough.

This is not a joke, we were plagued with them one year and these contraptions saved us! I was taught the technique by professional Canadians.

we tested many beers and it really does make a difference.

 

[dasfinc]

Fire.

Classic "Oh dear lord! Bees! Thread:

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=2243176

 

[Mac]

Couple of really good ideas here. I have always used the sprays that shoot 20 ft but probably not good around kids or pets, bleach sounds like a really good one. I had a strange nest last year in the ground. They had an entrance hole about 4" in diameter, thankfully away from the house. Found the nest when mowing and boy did I ever wake them up,
Dave of the Nord

 

[Colin]

Fire.

Classic "Oh dear lord! Bees! Thread:

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=2243176

that is awesome

+1 on bleach, brake clean, carb cleaner, any kind of spray like that

 

[LearjetMinako]

Fire.

Classic "Oh dear lord! Bees! Thread:

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=2243176

Yep, kill those wasps with FIRE!!! There is a reason why man created fire.

As for the honey bees, let them live. They do more good than harm. Unless they are the killer kind, then lite them on fire too.

 

[superdave1984]

Brake cleaner or electrical contact cleaner. You can kill them from 20 ft away.

 

[shane96ranger]

I've been to all of the local hardware stores, and they want to sell me the traps which aren't working. I've tried different brands and still get the same results. One of them has you stick a piece of meat and some apple juice in it.

The only thing that I've got to work effectively is the spray that Dave is talking about. The only problem is, like Dave said, I don't really want my kids around the stuff.

I want them little bastards dead! I have them in my barbecue every weekend. These little buggers move fast. I found a huge one this morning in the eave of my house which was so high up, the canned stuff was all that was getting them.

I'm going to have to try the Canadian trick. My traps I've used only get a few wasps in them, then they quit going in there.

 

[4.0B2]

ever watch billy the exterminator?

get some of that vexcon stuff! lol

 

[noahkenny]

ever watch billy the exterminator?

get some of that vexcon stuff! lol

Permethrin is what I think Billy uses as it is enviroment friendly. I really like the brake cleaner. If your broke you can mix soap and water and spray it on them. The soap breaks the surface tension of the water allowing it to penatrate there lungs and drowns the hell out of them.

 

[shane96ranger]

Yeah, I've watched Billy a few times. I saw an episode where someone's attic was filled with wasps or yellow jackets (IIRC) and he used the Permethrin stuff. I've also had Terminix spray for them back in April, which I forgot about. They only cover your house, no outbuildings or trailers, etc. I think Permethrin was what the Terminix guy said he used. I know he said it was derived from a geranium.

I bet Topher will know.....

 

[noahkenny]

Yeah, I've watched Billy a few times. I saw an episode where someone's attic was filled with wasps or yellow jackets (IIRC) and he used the Permethrin stuff. I've also had Terminix spray for them back in April, which I forgot about. They only cover your house, no outbuildings or trailers, etc. I think Permethrin was what the Terminix guy said he used. I know he said it was derived from a geranium.

I bet Topher will know.....

I saw that episode. I cant even begin to imagine having that many wasps around . There were several thousand. I had no idea they could build like that. Biggest nest I ever saw was probably no larger than 8 inches in diameter. And I thought we had some big mean ass wasps down here.. Our biggest problem here is damn hornets and yellow jackets..