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Integrated Pest Management

Prevent Wasp Nests Under Eaves?

pnw (USDA Z8, Sunset Z5, RHS/UK Z-H5)

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

We've already had 2 wasp nests under our eaves this season (we think paper wasp, but not sure), which is more than usual, so it looks to be a big 'wasp nest' year. Is there any way to prevent more nests from being built, or do we need to kill them after every time they build a nest. I'm fine with killing the wasps, but prefer to not hurt any bees that come along and touch the poison.

Is there a product out there that can help with this? So far, I'm not finding anything that will kill wasps, but not bees. Looking for long-term prevention, as opposed to essential oils that would need respraying often (if they even work).

Do the fake wasp hives actually work? I've read actual studies say they do not work, and we have high winds, so they would most likely blow off or tear apart.

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Comments (5)

Fori
5 years ago
Bees and wasps are sensitive to the same pesticides, but bees don't hang out under the eaves so they'd probably be okay. The safest thing to do is knock off the nests while they're still tiny. The nest-making season isn't that long so just making it part of the daily routine for a while might not be so bad.

The best product for this is probably a broom--hopefully it's not a very tall house!
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
5 years ago
I agree with Fori. If the nests are near places you frequent just knock them off when they're small. But wasps aren't an unmitigated negative. They are important predators of pest species and they are also pollinators so if one can, practically, cohabit with them one should try to do so.
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When wasps build nests where we don't want them, we spray the nest with water. The reason wasps build nest under eaves and porches (and light fixtures) is because these places are sheltered. If they keep getting wet, they'll abandon the nest and find a more suitable place. I don't know a lot about light fixtures, but can imagine that where the wires are, they will crawl through those small spaces.
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Judo, you can't just spray him off, you gotta spray him off then kill him. I guess if I was allergic I would think differently, but I'm not, so I go after them. We have a 2000+ sq ft deck, so I spend all summer long killing wasps when they land on the pool water to drink, one day we killed over 100. plus, with the greenhouse, (they love the greenhouse) we've got a ton, so far in the greenhouse I've killed well over 50 this year. If they are on a plant I don't care about I'll either hit them off with my hand or shoe, hopefully they will hit the floor and I'll smash them, if not they usually fly off. Always destroy the nest they are building cos they will go back. And buy one of those good heavy black fly swatters, they work great. water or insecticidal soap work well to get them off the plant, then you can kill them. Wasps & hornets are the only things I actively go after to kill, I really hate them. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think they might be like other animals, if you run they will chase, if you stand up to them and go after them like a psycho, they run. At least they do from me, I haven't been stung in years. Pam
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pnw (USDA Z8, Sunset Z5, RHS/UK Z-H5)
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks to both of you. Luckily it was small and the house is only one-story. It was only a few feet from the front door, so to protect my family I did need to dispatch it. I love bees, but have been stung by a wasp before - it got under my shirt and stung me twice. Very painful for several days.

Thanks, again!
Fori
5 years ago
I don't blame you. They may be "good bugs" but I'd rather they nested somewhere else. Next to the door is not okay!
pnw (USDA Z8, Sunset Z5, RHS/UK Z-H5) thanked Fori
Fori
last year
Thank you for your spam input, Wendy. I hope readers will realize that any company that needs to resort to this sort of advertising is probably not very good and may actually be ethically challenged.

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