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Wasps and Insect Hornets

Solitary Wasps   /   Social Wasps

Wasps have smooth bodies, as opposed to bees that have hairy bodies. They are about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch long in a variety of colors and shapes. They live off other insects, primarily spiders. They are considered social insects, with one egg producing queen. They build their nest from wood fibers, producing a paper like shelter. The Paper Wasp commonly builds it's nest under the eaves of houses or under porch roofs.

Recommended Products for Wasp Control

Recommended products and treatment for wasps:

• Cyzmic CS
• Cyper WP .

Spray in the area of the wasp infestation. Both insecticides are professional general purpose pest control insecticides.

Cyzmic CS leaves no visible residue, while Cyper WP(wettable-powder) may leave a powder-film like residue seen against dark surfaces.

• PT Wasp / Hornets Killer

The Pt Wasp/Hornet Freeze is an aerosol that would give a very quick knock down of the nest. You can spray as far away as 15 feet. The Freeze brand in these aerosols have an oily base so care should be considered when using not to stain a surface.

• EcoPco Jet Wasp/Hornet Contact Insecticide

The Eco Jet Wasp/Hornet Contact Insecticide is another alternative. The ECO PCO line is much less toxic than other insecticides because they are made up of botanical lines

Spraying into wasp nests should ALWAYS be done at night. Wasps are far less aggressive and are all at home.

Using residual insecticides such as Cyzmic CS or Cyper WP , sprayed around the area where they have a tendency to nest would give you even better control.

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Solitary Wasps Characteristics:

1/4- to 2-inches in length. Dull black or brown to brilliant red, yellow or blue, many with a metallic sheen to the bodies or wings. Wasp body type, frequently with a long slender petiole (connection) between the abdomen and the thorax.

Habits:
Adults emerge in spring, mate and begin construction of the wasp nests, which may contain one or more cells. Capture and sting insects or spiders to provision nests. Solitary wasps are generally considered to be beneficial insects. Potter wasps build tiny jug-shaped mud wasp nests.
Cicada killers and spider wasps build their wasp nests in the ground by burrowing.
The digger wasps, cicada killers and burrowing spider wasps cause concern because of their activity in lawns or other high traffic areas and can be controlled by applying residual dusts such as Delta Dust into the burrows. We have several dusters for application of dusts.

Mud daubers build a variety of mud nests, including organ-pipe nests and globular nests.

Mud Dauber wasps are not social wasps like Paper wasps.
They are in a different family.
Many paralyze spiders to provision mud cells built to enclose eggs, larvae and pupae.
The mud cells form long clay tubes or large lumps.
The wasps are slender; they are shiny black or brown, orange or yellow, with black markings.
Many have long slender thread waists.


Like Carpenter bees there is no protective worker caste; these wasps are not aggressive; they will not sting unless pressed or handled.
Mud Daubers place their mud nests in protected places like electric motors, sheds, attics, against house siding and under porch ceilings.

Control:

Mud dauber and potter wasps can be eliminated easily by tearing down the nests and killing the adults with an aerosol product such as  CB 80 Pyrethrin Aerosol

Health Risks:
Have stingers but are usually not aggressive and sting only when handled.

Social Wasps

Social Wasps (Hornets , Yellow jackets, Paper Wasps)

Characteristics:
Typical "wasp" body type:
- a short, narrow attachment between the thorax and the abdomen, which is spindle shaped and tipped with a long stinger.
Thorax and abdomen brightly marked with yellow, red or brown on a black background.



Yellow jackets- bright yellow and black patterns.


Bald-faced hornet - white and black.

Paper wasps - yellow, brown or red patterns on black.

Giant European Insect Hornet - brown and yellow.












Giant European hornet nest.


Hornets nests resemble a large, inverted tear-drop shaped ball which typically is attached to a tree, bush or side of a building.
Hornet nests may contain thousands of wasps which are extremely aggressive when disturbed. Insect Hornets are most commonly are found in hollow trees. However, hornets nests also can be found in barns, attics, hollow walls, and abandoned bee hives.

The hornets nests built in unprotected places are covered with a brown envelope (paper) composed of chewed plant fibers. The brown color will help distinguish it from the more common gray nests of aerial nesting yellow jackets (also called baldfaced or black hornets).




Paper wasps, hornets and yellow jackets construct nests of a paper-like material which is a mixture of finely chewed wood fragments and salivary secretions of the wasps.
Paper wasps typically build their umbrella-shaped nests under eaves and ledges.
These wasps are not as aggressive as yellow jackets or hornets, and can be eliminated rather easily with a wasp and hornet spray such as PT Wasp and Hornet Killer.

Hornets-

These have large grayish-brown carton like structure, many times hanging from a tree or bush. They are considered wasps.

Control:

Treating hornets should be done at night, without shaking the nest.
You will need a quick spray of PT Wasp and Hornet Killer

Care should be taken when spraying directly on trees and bushes with product, spraying as little as possible.
If you spray on a house, it is recommended that you clean the area the next day.

When dealing with social wasps, wear protective equipment including a bee hat, long-sleeved shirt, coveralls, eye wear and gloves.

Locate the wasp nest by examining all protected areas in the vicinity of wasp activity.

Simply removing the wasp nest will not resolve the problem, because surviving wasps will reconstruct a new one.

The best strategy is to treat the wasp nest at night when all the workers and queen are present.

Spraying into hornets nests should ALWAYS be done at night.
They are far less aggressive and are all at home.
This tactic maximizes the effect of the pesticide application by killing most if not all of the wasps.
If treatment is made at night, avoid shining a light directly on the nest or use a red filter on the flashlight.
Daytime treatments are successful when the wasp nest is treated or if the wasps present on the nest are killed.
Then, the wasp nest is removed and the attachment area treated.
Returning workers looking for the wasp nest contact the residual and die.
Complete the job by removing the wasp nest, particularly if it is inside an attic, wall void, etc. This service prevents secondary infestations by dermestids or other pests.


For these hornets we recommend a Wasp and Hornet Killer, spraying into their wasp nest to get a quick knock down then an insecticidal dust like Delta Dust to dust into the their entrance at night....wear protective clothing and try not to use any lights...even at that you still can get stung. Treatment can be accomplished by applying a wasp freeze-type , PT Wasp and Hornet Killer directly into the nest opening.

Hornets nests have a single opening, usually toward the bottom, where the wasps enter and exit.
It is essential that the paper envelope of the nest not be broken open during treatment or the irritated wasps will scatter in all directions, causing even greater problems.

Hornets are far more difficult and dangerous to control than paper wasps.




A full wasp suit sealed at the wrists, ankles and collar is recommended when disposing of a hornet nest.

Treatment of wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets is best performed at night;
paper wasps can be eliminated during the daytime provided you do not stand directly below the nest during treatment.

Most wasp and hornet sprays cause insects to drop instantly when contacted by the insecticide.
Standing directly below a nest increases one's risk of being stung.