How to Destroy a Wasp’s Nest

Wasps are part of nature’s design and their nests, as a general rule, should be left undisturbed. Wasps are usually non-aggressive and don’t pose a serious threat to humans. However, if a wasp nest is located too close to the home or in a location that is in conflict with human activity, then you may need to remove the nest.

If you know wasps are nesting nearby but can’t find their location, you may be able to locate the nest by observing the flight patterns of the wasps: if they are flying in a straight line, they’re likely on a flight path to or from the nest. Wasps flying directly in and out of a single location may be entering and leaving their nest.

Before approaching the nest, be sure to wear protective clothing that covers the whole body, including gloves and a veil that covers your face, ears, and neck. Wear several layers of shirts and pants. Tape clothing cuffs at wrists and ankles close to your body. Check carefully to ensure there are no exposed parts of the body; wasps may target even the smallest exposed areas.

Wait until well after dark before removing the nest. Wasps are drowsy and slower to react during the night, but you should still exercise caution during the nest removal process. Use a headlamp if you have one; otherwise have a helper to hold a flashlight for you. You’ll need both hands free. Filter the flashlight by wrapping the lens with red cellophane or thin red cloth, as wasps are attracted by yellow light. A headlamp with a red light setting is even better. Step lightly and try not to talk when approaching the nest; wasps are sensitive to vibrations.

Aerial Nests

Place a cloth bag over the entire nest and quickly tie it off at the top; as you draw in the tie, pull the nest free. The bag should be well sealed. Set the bag in a pail of water; drop a rock on the bag to keep it fully submerged.

Ground Nests

If the entrance to the nest is easy to see, it can be blocked using a large, clear bowl. Use caution as there may be more than one entrance to underground nests. Set the bowl over the nest entrance and work it into the ground a bit so there are no exit routes for the wasps. This will confuse the wasps, but they won’t try to dig a new entrance. The bowl should remain in place for several weeks.

Underground or Inside Wall Nests

Nests in wall voids or underground are more difficult to remove, and should be left to the professional. (If you detect a wasp nest in the wall, do not try to eradicate it from the outside. This will force them further into the house.) When hiring a professional to treat wasp problems in the home, ask what methods will be used. A non-toxic alternative to insect sprays and dusts is vacuuming. Some professional exterminators are equipped with specially adapted vacuum cleaners to draw out the wasps, which are then sold to pharmaceutical companies who extract the venom for immunotherapy.

Never try to burn an active wasp nest or flood a nest with water, since this will likely make the wasps angry and aggressive.

After Removing the Nest

After you remove a wasp nest, you’ll want to make sure that new nests don’t appear in the same location. Seal cracks and holes with spray foam, place your traps, and hang fake wasp nests in areas where you want to deter new nest builders. You can also treat these areas with the DIY repellents listed above. In most cases, newly mated wasp queens are the only ones to survive the winter—and they hibernate outside the nest in burrows or other protected locations. Most wasps will not recolonize old nests, so once a nest is dormant or empty, there is no need to remove it.

The exception is German yellowjackets, which have been known to live in the same nest for multiple years. In North America, the German yellowjacket nests predominantly in building cavities where nests have been known to reach 14 feet long. Removing the nests of German yellowjackets is a job best left to professionals.