Tools and Materials
How to Get Rid of Wasps
Wasps are nothing to mess around with. Whether you're dealing with paper wasps, yellow jackets, hornets or any of the other thousands of wasp species, their sting can be extremely dangerous. In fact, wasp stings can be deadly if you're allergic to their venom or if you're stung multiple times.
Two popular methods for getting rid of wasps are a wasp repellent or a wasp trap. But before you start killing wasps, it's important to know whether you're dealing with wasps or bees.
Wasps Versus Bees
People often confuse bees and wasps, especially yellow jackets, which are a type of wasp. Bees feed on pollen and nectar, while wasps primarily feed on other insects and sugary foods. Bees are also plumper, rounder and hairier than wasps, which tend to be smooth and often shiny. Bees build their hives from wax, whereas wasps build theirs from chewed-up wood fibers.
Bees are endangered. If you find a beehive, contact a local beekeeping group to see if they can rehome the hive.
Different Types of Wasps
The four most common types of wasps are paper wasps, yellow jackets, hornets and mud daubers. The first three are social wasps and will attack in swarms; mud daubers are solitary wasps and generally more docile than their counterparts.
What Is the Easiest Way to Get Rid of Wasps?
Multiple wasps could indicate the presence of multiple nests. Wasps like to build their nests under windows and eaves, on the outside edges of structures (such as your house, garage or shed), on the ground near plants and bushes, in trees or inside your garage or shed.
For large nests, it's best to call a professional. However, with proper precautions, you can safely and easily eliminate small nests with any of these methods for killing wasps.
How Do You Keep Wasps Away?
Now that you've eliminated an active wasp nest, it's time to prepare your surroundings to prevent future nests. Determine the areas around your property that would make an attractive spot for wasps to build their nests. Wasps tend to look for a horizontal space to build their nests — eaves, overhangs and corners of porch ceilings are popular spots. Spray the areas with a residual liquid pesticide to discourage the wasps.
Eliminate or move any food sources that might attract wasps. At the beginning of the season, wasps are looking for protein sources such as spiders and insects. Later in the year, they'll start to look for sugary foods, such as fallen fruit or hummingbird feeders.
Try planting wasp-repellant plants, such as mint, basil, lemongrass or sage. Ask one of the Lowe's associates in the Garden Center for further assistance.
If you're worried about wasps getting inside your home, garage or shed, fill any cracks or crevices and seal your doors and windows.
If you get stung by a wasp and the symptoms are severe, seek medical attention. Common symptoms of a wasp sting include pain at the site of the sting, redness or rash, welts, dizziness, inflammation/itching and difficulty breathing.