best way to kill wasp nests?

[e9999]

while fighting my yearly battle with cliff swallows, I just noticed that there a couple of what I guess are wasp nests under the eaves. A muddy looking affair with visible combs. Maybe 8" long and 3" wide or so. Not a distinct hanging ball, more like a mud cake attached to the eave. Have not seen evidence of live wasps and don't know how old these things are, could easily be a year old.

So, what's the best way to handle those, assuming they are live? I have seen pics of spray cans with very long range. One of these nests is 20' up in the air so I'd rather not get attacked while on a ladder. So, spray from far away, wait a few days, spray again etc?

Suggestions on good products and good way to do this as a DIY?

 

[jeffro109]

Those are called 'mud dobbers' around here, look like a wasp with a longer thin section between the front and rear portions.

I've never sprayed one, usually just smash it or scrape it off. Hit it with a garden hose maybe for the high ones??

 

[agomez]

dude why the hell are you killing birds and bees?

 

[Titan]

dude why the **** are you killing birds and bees?

He resigned his commission with PETA,now he's on a rampage...

 

[Michael Hanson]

Hi, WD-40. Mike

 

[splitshot]

If they are Dobbers, leave them alone, they are harmless unless you are a spider..

 

[e9999]

If they are Dobbers, leave them alone, they are harmless unless you are a spider..

ah, interesting point. I admit I am associating wasps with nasty stings, likely mistakenly then. How can I tell which it is?

these things don't bore into the wood, right?

 

[splitshot]

As someone here once told me, Google is your friend.

 

[tclark]

The wasps that'll hurt ya make paper nests; as stated those are "dirt dobbers" around here and don't hurt a thing.

 

[DSRTRDR]

why do you hate cliff swallows

and yes, I spray the wasps nests - I have been stung before and didn't like it one bit

 

[e9999]

why do you hate cliff swallows

and yes, I spray the wasps nests - I have been stung before and didn't like it one bit

don't get me started on the evil freakish birds...

let's see:

- they multiply every year like crazy if you give them a chance to nest and can no longer get rid if them without a major hassle once they know the place
- they remember the place they hatched and come back every year in greater numbers, bringing their buddies along
- they have you climb repeatedly on slippery roofs and tall unstable ladders
- they cover everything in mud
- they cover everything in guano too, with perfect aim for the Cruiser
- they make an ugly loud shrieking noise right next to your bedroom window and wake up at 4am
- their fledglings are probably protected so you can't do anything to the nests and your house after they lay eggs

that's enough for me. Yes, they look cute on Nova but believe me it's a different story in real life.

For a while there, I would leave one (1) nest alone as my contribution to nature. But I learned quickly that doesn't work very well. Only keeps the problem going forever.

One potentially good thing is that they probably eat mosquitoes. But we don't have many so that doesn't do not much good for me.

Anyway...

what do you spray your wasps with?

 

[Brentbba]

I just use wasp spray you can get at Home Depot/Lowes. The stuff that sprays long distance. It's worked very effectively for me around the house. Spray in the evening when they are in the nest. I've eliminated several nests as they've gotten started this way.

 

[agomez]

Why don't you try educating yourself and do some research on how to deal with them? And if you're climbing a slippery roof on an unstable ladder you're stupid. Oh wait you're e9999999 never mind.

 

[Fast Eddy]

M-80 on a long stick. Use ear plugs.

 

[cruiserpilot]

We get the really nasty Yellow Jackets here by the thousands, and they make little round nests up in the eves and inside rear view mirrors, inside door jambs. And they will attack and sting with attitude.
I have lots of dogs, so NO to poison.

I buy brake cleaner by the case, and with the little plastic red tube, it is accurate to 15'. Kills them almost on contact!! They won't nest back, and it is not something the dcgs eat, so it's safe.
Also, $2 a can, cheapest wasp killer there is.

But mud dobbers are harmless to people. Swallows bring luck, I have a tarp over my 60 in the garage right now, cause that s*** leaves a mark! But I put up with it, cause they are fellow aviators and better pilots than I am.

 

[tclark]

Why don't you try educating yourself and do some research on how to deal with them? And if you're climbing a slippery roof on an unstable ladder you're stupid. Oh wait you're e9999999 never mind.

What the crap was that about?

 

[Pin_Head]

I just use wasp spray you can get at Home Depot/Lowes. The stuff that sprays long distance. It's worked very effectively for me around the house. Spray in the evening when they are in the nest. I've eliminated several nests as they've gotten started this way.

X2 the stuff is called "Why Spray" and my wife got it at Lowes. The main ingredients are lemon grass oil, clove oil and rosemary oil. I was pissed and didn't believe it because the stuff sounded too organic to do any good, but I had an 8 inch yellow jacket nest between me and the paint job I needed to get done. I stood back about 10 feet ready to run and hosed them. One minute later, there were a hundred dead wasps. I was amazed!

http://www.rescue.com/product/why-spray-wasp-hornet-and-yellowjacket-nests

 

[warpdriv]

I leave them all along until they start building where I need to be. Then I knock the nest down with a loooong piece of wood. They help with bugs. The large red ones are in my garden a lot. The deal is we leave each other alone.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

dude why the hell are you killing birds and bees?

you owe me a keyboard dammit

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

the wasp sleeps soundly at night, you can do whatever you want to em......I like fire myself, might pull the nests off the house before you light em tho....