Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 7: Find the location of the nest
• Method 2 of 7: Put the hornets in a bag
• Method 3 of 7: Spray insecticide directly on the nest
• Method 4 of 7: Make traps
• Method 5 of 7: Kill hornets that occasionally fly around the house
• Method 6 of 7: Remove the nest
• Method 7 of 7: Change the environment or use an imitation test
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Hornets and wasps can be a nuisance, especially when they build a nest in your home. If you are careful you can control them yourself without calling a professional pest control agent.

To step

1. Put safety first. Wasps and hornets can sting multiple times and will do so aggressively when challenged. Keep in mind that controlling these types of insects can be very risky, even if you are not allergic. So proceed with caution. Call a professional pest controller and ask for advice if you are unsure. You may want to use his or her services if you think the risk is too great to control the hornets themselves.

Method 1 of 7: Find the location of the nest

1. Find the location of the nest. Hornets make their nests from paper or mud-like material. The nest is often shaped like a pinecone, an upside-down hive, or just a large clump. Hornets will look for a sheltered place to build their nest. Their nests can be found under leaves, in tree branches, on windows, in attics, under roof beams, in abandoned houses or vehicles, and so on. Any place that offers shelter from the weather and is quiet can attract hornets that build their nests there.

Method 2 of 7: Put the hornets in a bag

This method can be useful when you can do the job in pairs and the nest is hanging in a low place, such as on a tree branch or in a bush. Perform this method in the evening, when the hornets are less active.

1. Wear proper clothing and protective equipment. Cover yourself from head to toe to protect you from getting stung. Wear thick clothes, gloves and safety goggles.
2. Buy a large, strong plastic bag. The bag must be strong enough so that the plastic does not tear easily.
3. Hold the plastic bag under the tree branch or shrub. Try to estimate which way the nest will travel when it falls down so that you can hold the bag in the right place and the nest will fall into the bag.
4. Use a hedge trimmer with long handles to cut the branch and drop the nest into the bag. You can also cut that part of the nest that is attached to the branch.
5. Fill the bag with a suitable insecticide that works against hornets and tie the bag tightly. Discard or incinerate the bag immediately.

Method 3 of 7: Spray insecticide directly on the nest

1. Buy the right insecticide. Hardware stores and DIY stores have a wide range of sprays for the control of wasps and hornets. Both cheap and more expensive means are available. (Buy the least expensive product; all work in a similar way.) It is recommended that you use two or more aerosols for anything larger than a small litter.
   • Do not buy a generic insecticide unless the label states that the product is also effective against hornets. You need to make sure the spray is strong enough to control hornets.
2. Spray in the evening or at dawn. The wasps or hornets will often be in the nest and getting ready to go to sleep or wake up. They won't be flying around. The evening is also a good time as it will allow them to sleep and be more compliant. However, you will have more trouble seeing and escaping than the nest well becomes aggressive.
3. Wear protective clothing. Wear a long-sleeved shirt and tuck the sleeves into your gloves. Wear long pants and tuck the legs into your socks. Also, wear a wide-brimmed hat with a nylon stocking over it, and tuck the stocking into the neckline of your shirt.
4. Wear a safety mask if you wish or if you work in an enclosed area. Insecticides kill insects, but they are also not very healthy for humans. At the very least, provide good ventilation by turning on a fan, or get out of the room quickly after spraying the nest.
5. Tackle the nest and soak it using the aerosol sprays. Most aerosols have a range of about 15 feet or more. So you can start spraying from a distance, but after a few seconds it is best to get closer and really soak the nest. The chemicals will kill the hornets almost instantly, so you're not at much risk. After spraying the insecticide, leave the area and allow the fumes to dissipate.
   • Wasps or hornets that return to the nest will also die. So leave the nest alone for a few days.

Method 4 of 7: Make traps

Traps can be useful to prevent hornet nuisance. They are less useful once the nest is built, but can prevent too many hornets from entering your yard. Traps allow you to catch scouts and queens looking for a good place to build a nest.

1. Make a vinegar trap. Create a traditional wasp trap by cutting the neck off a large soda bottle. Turn the neck of the bottle down so that the funnel portion is up, and insert the neck into the rest of the soda bottle. This will be the tunnel through which the wasps will enter. Poke two holes on both sides of the trap and pull a wire through them to hang the trap on. Tie the rope on both sides.
   • Place a cup of apple cider vinegar, a drop of dish soap and a little raw meat in the trap. You can hang the raw meat with a rope or fishing line.
   • Hang the trap where you have seen hornets flying around. Wait. The hornets will fall into the bottle and drown or be unable to find their way out.
   • To catch the queen, use this trap early in the spring to lure her in. Queens wake up early in the spring and then begin their search for a suitable place to build a nest. If you catch a queen with your trap, you have one less colony in your backyard.
2. Drop a bucket. Fill a bucket with sugar water, vinegar and a little mild dish soap. Set the bucket outside and wait for the hornets to pass by and drown.
   • Replace the mixture in the bucket regularly.
3. Make as many traps as you think you will need to reach the whole place. One trap may be enough, but if you have several attractive eaves where the hornets could build their nests, it is best to set up several traps. There may be times when you accidentally keep the hornets away from one place just to encourage them to build a nest on the other side of your house!

Method 5 of 7: Kill hornets that occasionally fly around the house

1. Vacuum the hornet. Simply point the vacuum cleaner mouth at the hornet and vacuum it up.
   • Note that hitting or crushing hornets releases a chemical signal that encourages other hornets to fly to the spot and stab you in defense. Even though this may not be an issue indoors, be careful. Never smack a hornet outside!

Method 6 of 7: Remove the nest

1. Remove the nest completely if you wish. Pull it down (while still wearing protective gear) and dispose of it in a large plastic bag that you can tie closed. If the nest was in an enclosed area such as a ventilation duct or an air conditioning duct, a long, serrated bread knife could be helpful in removing the nest.
   • Seal any gaps that hornets would enter through and which you can find by looking around. This will help prevent new hornets from entering your home.
2. Check your home regularly afterwards. A small nest is easy to remove - spray with insecticide and pull the nest down, while a large nest will likely require you to repeat the whole process.

Method 7 of 7: Change the environment or use an imitation test

The hornets will return. If they liked the place where they initially built the nest, it will make sense for them to rebuild it there. To stop this you have to change the environment or use an imitation test.

1. Consider changing the environment. Depending on where the hornets built their nest, there are several possible ways to make the environment look different. This will hopefully deter them from rebuilding the nest. You can do the following:
   • Prune branches and shrubs or even cut down the tree.
   • Repaint a wall, eaves, birdhouse, or other objects around your home.
   • Hang glittering mobiles, mirrors or CDs that reflect the sun. Hang them close to the site of the destroyed or removed nest.
   • Another element in your garden or home where the hornets flew around change drastically.
2. Use an imitation test. Buy an imitation nest at a hardware store. The reasoning behind this is that hornets will stay away when they see an existing nest. This is because hornets are territorial insects. Replace the imitation nest every year to make sure it is neat and looks intact.
3. Keep protein sources away from hornets. Hornets mainly feed on insects and thrive on protein sources. Do not feed your pets close to or on the place where the nest used to be and do not leave any animal food in that place.
   • Always seal your waste properly. This will not only scare away hornets, but also all kinds of pests that are in your garden.

Tips

• If you don't want to fight the hornets yourself, look up a professional pest control agent in the Yellow Pages or on the internet who can help you control bees or hornets. This is especially important if you have an allergy, are concerned about how the hornets might react, or are not confident in fighting these insects.
• The best way to avoid having to remove a nest is to prevent the nest from actually being built. Make sure to seal your home as much as possible to prevent wasps, hornets or other insects from entering. Attics often become vulnerable when ventilation grilles deteriorate or shift. Hardware stores sell cheap covering materials for ventilation grilles that you can easily screw or nail on from the outside.

Warnings

• Some people recommend spraying the nest with a strong spray of soapy water. While this may break the nest and make the hornets homeless, it will also annoy the hornets, making you a clear live target. This is not recommended. It is much better to call in a professional pest controller.
• Don't do stupid things like sticking branches in the nest.
• Keep small children, pets, and the elderly away from the toxic fumes of the insecticide. It may be wise not to let anyone in the house if there is a risk of the fumes entering your living room.
• Hornets can become very aggressive. Think of an escape route (or several) in advance and always wear adequate protection.
• Leave the removal of the nest to a professional pest controller if you are concerned about your health, safety or not confident in yourself.

Necessities

• Clothing with long sleeves and legs
• A hat with a wide brim
• A nylon stocking (a used but clean stocking is fine)
• Large, strong plastic bag
• A hedge trimmer with long handles
• Two or more spray cans of insecticide suitable for hornets and wasps
• A knife with a long blade to remove the nest