How To Get Rid Of Wasp Nest In South Africa
What is Wasp Nest?
A wasp’s nest is a complex structure that is a specialized nursery for all aerial-nest-building wasp species.
How To Get Rid Of Wasp Nest In South Africa
Step 1: Gather your protective clothing and gear.
It’s important to know what you’re up against when preparing for wasp removal. Wasps, unlike bees, do not lose their stinger when they sting, which means they can sting over and over again.
Step 2: Locate the nest.
If you haven’t done so already, the first step in getting rid of wasps is to locate the wasp nest. There are at least two strategies, one more sophisticated than the other. First, if you are able to distinguish the species of wasp that’s been hanging around your property (see below), you can then research its nesting habits. Some wasps prefer building their nests in trees, while others tend to build theirs in man-made structures.
Knowing your enemy enables you to narrow the search range so you can find the nest more quickly. Alternatively, simply walk around your property, checking all those snug, out-of-the-way hiding places that wasps are known to haunt roof eaves and rafters, wall cavities, crawl spaces, railings, fence posts, and tree branches.
Step 3: Identify the type of stinging insects you’re dealing with.
The best way to get rid of wasps is to know your enemy as well as possible. When you know which species you’re dealing with, you can maximize your odds of victory.
Step 4: Choose your wasp removal battle plan.
Having properly equipped yourself for battle, you are now ready to choose the best way to get rid of wasps.
Step 5: Time your attack carefully.
Timing is everything with wasp removal. It’s best to approach the nest at night when most or all of the wasps are inside it. While it may seem counterintuitive to mount your attack when the wasps are “at home,” wasps pose less of a threat inside the nest than flying around it. Wasps are also less aggressive at night and have slower reaction times.
Step 6: Execute your extermination plan.
The best way to get rid of wasp nests is to kill as many wasps as possible in the first strike to eliminate, or at least weaken, a counterattack. With that in mind, a stealthy shock and awe attack is the best option. Don’t use a standard flashlight, which will alert the wasps to your presence. Instead, use an amber-colored light.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
What is the easiest way to get rid of a wasp nest?
Approach the nest in the evening hours once you’re sure all the wasps inside it are dead. Use a garbage bag to cover the nest. Gently pull the nest from the tree or wall it’s attached to, and seal the bag around it. Throw the garbage bag and the nest away in an outdoor trash can with a tight-fitting lid.
How do I permanently get rid of wasps?
Boiling Water. Pouring a bucket of boiling water onto the wasp nest accomplishes two things: It immediately kills scores of wasps, and it ruins their nest. It may, however, take a few bucketfuls to destroy the nest and completely detach it from its hanging spot.
What home remedy kills wasps?
You can also create a wasp-repelling spray using essential oils, with 1 teaspoon clove oil, 1 teaspoon lemongrass oil, 1 teaspoon geranium essential oil, and 6 cups of water. Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle, then spray it thoroughly onto the wasp nest at night when the wasps are less active.
How long do wasp nests last?
Wasp nests usually last around three to four months during the summer. When we reach the end of summer and temperatures start to drop, so do wasp numbers. The colder weather and lack of food will kill off the nest and the new queens will hibernate ready for the next wasp season.
How does vinegar get rid of wasps?
Combine equal parts vinegar and water in a plastic spray bottle. White distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar both work equally well for repelling wasps without killing them. Spray bottles are inexpensive and can be found at any home improvement, convenience, or general merchandise store. Wear protective clothing.
Do wasps come back to the same nest every year?
Wasps do not generally return to the same place year after year. However, some roofs are favored for their position and habitat. Some people say to us “we get a wasp nest every year”. If you appear to get a wasp nest every year, take a look at your roof, is it exposed to the sun all day?
What happens if you leave a wasp nest?
The nest will die off naturally, even if left alone. In late spring and early summer, wasp nests can often be successfully treated using proprietary brands of insecticide for the specific control of wasps’ nests.
Do wasps come back after nest is gone?
Wasp nests are easy for wasps to come back to time and time again because they are filled with and surrounded by these pheromones. Even after removing the nest, those pheromones can linger and stick around where the nest was. Pheromones help wasps protect their nests as well.
What time of day do wasps return to nest?
Wasps return home in the evening after a long day’s work. If you’ve struggled to get rid of a wasp nest, it might be because you spray during their work hours. Wasps that return to a missing nest will often start to rebuild in the same spot.
Pest-repellent plants are known to keep wasps away due to their pungent smell. Plants like Peppermint, spearmint, basil, eucalyptus, cloves, geranium, thyme citronella, and lemongrass are wasp repellent. Cultivating them in your garden will help eliminate any wasp colony nesting there.