I generally try to live in peace with wasps but there is a wasp nest on the ceiling in the area where I store my hay and a horse and I have both recently been stung. I’ve cleared out the hay and will throw down a tarp before I spray the nest but I’m still not sure if it’s wise to spray wasp killer in this area. Any suggestions?
We use Victor Poison Free Wasp & Hornet Spray; the active ingredient is mint oil.
Haven’t needed to spray it in our hay shed (yet), but have been using this product for years, and I’d probably do so if needed - although not directly on hay bales, since the strong mint scent (which is actually pleasant) might put horses off. It’s advertised as safe for pets, etc., but of course that doesn’t necessarily mean eating it. But spraying it on other surfaces, or into the air, after re-checking the label.
You might consider one of those Wasp Hornet Yellow Jacket (WHY) baited traps (similar to a fly trap), if suitable for your situation.
Thanks for the tip, Jarpur. I will look into the Victor product. I had considered the WHY traps but they didn’t seem to have good reviews on the one website I checked out.
I made a strong mixture of peppermint oil and water in a spray bottle. We have wasps everywhere this year. I’ve been spraying anywhere I see them hanging out. Leaves
a nice smell and they leave the area. Yes, they come right back and look for other spots.
Must say if we’d been stung I would go to stronger measures. Maybe work at dusk or sundown, first cover the hay with a tarp and then spray using a deadly wasp killer spray.
So, first: early, cool morning. They’ll be sluggish after a cool overnight.
Second: long sleeves, long pants, gloves.
The wasp spray I use is the foaming kind that will encase them. I’d recommend that. You’ll know exactly where it landed and I don’t find that it drips. It’s very effective.
There are times when I don’t want to use the wasp spray for whatever reason. In those cases, early morning, and a shovel to smash them. This works for me because we routinely have mornings that are in the 50-60 degree range. If you don’t have cool mornings, I’d revert to a spray.
The nests I deal with this way are max 3" across with maybe 6-10 wasps max.
Note, the wasps in our area are very good at vengeance - so I tend to do my thing and run like hell inside for a bit in case I missed any, if I’ve misjudged any are able to fly.
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We have found the Victor Poison Free spray to work very well at killing the wasps, although the stream of spray is not quite as long, and strong, as the poisonous-type sprays we’ve tried.
Wasps do recognize individuals, which is why I make sure to change my hat and clothing if I have to eliminate wasps in or around my horse trailer during the daytime, in order to change my appearance.
Also, try not to swat or smash wasps, as they give off pheromones that attract other wasps to attack. The only time I smash a wasp is if one is inside my home, where I know there are no other wasps that will come to attack me.
Also, inside the home, it’s not necessary, IME, to use a chemical wasp spray to down one, as they can’t fly with wet wings. I grab the nearest spray bottle of whatever (plain water, dilute Simple Green solution, Windex, etc.) and douse the wasp until it falls to the floor, then I stomp it (as there aren’t other wasps in the vicinity).
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Thanks to everyone for the tips! I ended up using a high-pressure water hose to blast the nest into a garbage can of soapy water. That killed the queen and the eggs. There were some angry wasps in the area but I was wearing my winter jacket and wool hat so they didn’t get to me. I will make a peppermint oil spray to try to discourage them from coming back. Good to know about the pheromones!
These are good tips! Thank you!
Here’s a tip I learned on a facebook group. Not sure if it works with wasps but worth a try. I had carpenter bees at the barn and the house. Apparently they are territorial and will leave if wasps move in. The tip is to take a gray or tan plastic bag or a brown paper bag and stuff it so it looks like a paper wasp nest, then hang it near where the bees are. I did this in three places and now ALL the bees are gone!
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Imaginique, I bought a fake wasp nest to hang in my barn years ago and it did get rid of the wasps in the barn. It has been hanging there ever since. I was going to buy another for this new spot but stuffing a paper bag is a great idea! Thanks for the tip!
@Jarpur 😮 Wasps recognize faces?
That’s unsettling.
I found a mint-based, safe for pets, spray at Lowe’s.
Worked just like the toxic sprays in both strength of spray & effectiveness.
My nest was in barn eaves outside, but just over the trough, so I did not want to chance poison dripping into the water.
This was years ago & no reoccurrence.
Google shows me EcoSmart carried by TruValue with an 18’ jet, under $5.
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That is very good advice, is also what we have been told.
We use the plain Raid spray stream cans and leave the nests be, so it works to keep other wasps from using that territory, thinking there are some there already.
We have also begun to leave the nests be, since wasps are territorial. Not crazy about the look of wasp nests on the eaves, for example, but leaving the treated nests in place seems to be working at keeping more wasps from moving into the vicinity.
We also painted the ceilings of our home’s porches “porch blue,” after seeing it on so many historical homes. It’s been several years, and we’ve had one tiny attempt at a wasp nest since. Anecdotal, not scientific, but I’ll take it anyway.
Love the idea of a fake nest! Also, bees/wasps don’t see well, do eradicating at night works well.
If it ever comes up, WD40 will drop a wasp from the sky or a nest quite efficiently. Then, you step on them. The heavy oil coats their wings. Learned that in a desperate moment. Not advisable above hay, but still useful to know.
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What a great idea! Thanks, all, who have shared ideas and to OP for raising the subject.
