How to Get Rid Of Wasps Organically & Safely

August 17th, 2008 Posted in Stinging Insects


Need to learn how to get rid of paper wasps? You’ve come to the right place. This article is your one-stop-information-shop for everything you need to eliminate wasps and prevent them in the first place. Here you will learn about:


Identifying the Problem

First, the basics. There is a difference between paper wasps, yellow jackets, hornets and bees:

If you’re dealing with paper wasps, read on. If you’re still not sure, take a look at the common places where paper wasps nest.

Although paper wasps and their appetite for insects can act as a form of natural pest control, their aggressive nature and brutal stings can quickly earn them a bad reputation. Unlike bees, which are generally passive and prefer to stick around flowers, paper wasps are territorial. Chances are, you’ve experienced this first-hand if you’ve ever been chased out of your shed or spent more time dodging wasps than eating food at a barbecue.

In rare occasions, the toxins in wasp stings can cause allergic reactions and even death.


Locating the Nest

Although they typically build nests in out-of-the-way locations, such as under decks or awnings, paper wasps can become a danger when they come into close contact with humans. Instead of individually killing wasps, one at a time, it is important to locate the nest and treat the entire area. (In fact, individually killing one wasp within 15 feet of its nest releases a scent that attracts even more wasps.)

The best way to locate a nest is by simply watching a paper wasp’s flight patterns. Pay attention to where it’s heading, and observe where it stops. There are many different places where paper wasps build nests (including on limbs, overhangs, eaves of buildings, beams and supports in attics, garages, sheds, and other similar places.

Choosing a Wasp Spray

Once you identify the nest’s location, it is time to select a method of treatment. Keep in mind that wasp nests that are not near your home or in areas of human activity may be best left undisturbed. Nests near human activity can pose a potential problem and should be eradicated. Wasp-specific insecticide sprays are the most common tools for removing nests.

Insecticide sprays can be broken down into two types:

  1. organic insecticides

  2. synthetic insecticides

Organic insecticides are composed of natural ingredients such as plant oils or fatty acids. Although typically not as popular as big, brand-name (synthetic) pesticides, synthetic insecticides are quickly gaining distribution and use as consumers look for alternatives that are safe for the environment and effective. Even though all organic insecticides are not the same, products such as EcoSMART’s Wasp and Hornet Killer contain biodegradable, nontoxic compounds that are safe for use around children and pets.

Synthetic insecticides are composed of man-made chemicals. Most of the traditional bug and wasp sprays are synthetic—while these are considered highly effective at removing pests, there are also potential dangers in synthetic insecticide use. Most synthetic insecticides are highly toxic and can harm people, pets, and the environment.







  1. 17 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!

  2. By Nik on Aug 21, 2008

    How informative! Thanks to you, I now know how to handle my terrible wasp infestation. I’ve been trying for months to get rid of them, but nothing has worked. I’m so excited that an environmentally-friendly product exists on the market and is readily available.

  3. By Andy W. on Aug 21, 2008

    Wow! I’m so happy to read about a safe way to get rid of wasps without hurting my birds’ nests! Thanks!!

  4. By Trent on Sep 12, 2008

    I found another way. I had a nest of about 50 or so in the wiring of an old tractor that I was working on. I went in after dark and hit them with a blast of compressed air, the kind that you use when you blow our your computer keyboard. If you hold the can upside down it provides frostbite in about 3 seconds … I successfully removed them with no stings.

  5. By Nathan on Sep 30, 2008

    I have a log home that is infested with paper wasps. I can’t find the nest but I’m guessing it’s in the gaps between the boards in the ceiling or between the logs. What should I do? There are hundreds if not thousands now and there were none all summer.

  6. By ashley on Sep 30, 2008

    One way to help pinpoint the location of the nest is to watch from where they fly in and out.

  7. By Joey Rahimi on Oct 1, 2008

    You really need to have a professional come out and handle that problem. They need someone who knows what they are doing to locate and eliminate the nests, and seal up the areas where they are building the nests.

    This job is too complex for the average homeowner to handle.

  8. By Carolyn G on May 1, 2009

    I am seeing them start their nests and it’s not even June. I really need to nip it in the bud

  9. By Judith Stopyak on Jul 10, 2009

    We live on a horse farm and would like to be able to test a product that would be safer to use around animal areas than other ones available.

  10. By Diane W on Jul 10, 2009

    This sounds perfect as we live in the woods and every year my husband goes out and knocks the nests down as soon as they start to build them. We never get them all though.
    We cannot use a chemical spray on them as we do not like chemical sprays but we also have a well and do not want any type of contamination in our ground water.
    I would love to test this product.

  11. By Karen on Jul 29, 2009

    Thank you! My 8 month-old daughter was stung last night and since my husband has a severe bee/wasp allergy we spent the evening in the ER. Thankfully she’s fine, but I want to make sure I can get rid of the wasps so that they don’t come back (they like to nest in our mailbox). I will try EcoSMART to get rid of the current nest, but is there any child-safe way to ensure they don’t come back?

  12. By Carol Schulz on Aug 10, 2009

    We suddenly find ourselves raising our grandson. He is using parts of the yard and buildings we have not bothered with much in awhile; have left the bugs alone since they generally leave us alone in return. However, our little explorer is bound to get himself into trouble if we don’t eliminate the paper wasps. I hate to kill them as their niche in the ecosystem is bound to be filled by something i like a lot less, but our boy’s safety must come first. If there is no “havahart trap” for wasps, then the reluctant second choice will have to be something organic and safe. Very interested in your line of products…

    Sincerely,

    Carol Schulz
    Wisconsin

  13. By Melanie Handville on Aug 13, 2009

    I got your product a few weeks ago to try becase I was looking for something that was safe for my family , pets and ecofriendly. Last week I got the chance to use your wasp and hornit killer. My son stung by our pool and I used your spray that night. We had several hives under the top rail of our pool that had formed within a week. I check every few days for them because my daughter and myself are allergic to them. I was so amazed at how fast, far and wide your product sprayed. It covered the hive in a matter of seconds. And what was even better is the smell was not strong or harsh at all. My son ended up with an allergic reaction to the sting that day and all I can say is how happy I am to find an organic product that works so fast and you can get it at the local store instead of having to order it. The next day I went to check and all the wasp were taken care of from all five hives I sprayed the night before. I did not see even one left moving around. I even sprayed a ground bees nest and had the same results! We will always have your product in our home THANK YOU!!

  14. By Jeanni Fields on Aug 20, 2009

    We recently moved west from Ohio, we moved in the country in a big old 4 bedroom home. I am terribly allergic to wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets. We have them building nests under the edge of the house, under neath a wooden patio out the back door. We have emptied cans of wasp and yellow jacket on contact kill spray, but they are still trying to build nests. I need something to get rid of them and want to be enviromentally safe as we have 2 cats and lots of hummingbirds, and a couple of albino squirrels in our yard. HELP!

  15. By Dan Sharpe on Sep 12, 2009

    Stupid freaking wasps….I’ve killed many in hand-to-hand combat, and used many bottles of Raid, but they keep coming!

  16. By Gloria Middleton on Sep 25, 2009

    Hi, we have a tree next to our home that is infested with every type of insect right now. I mean this sucker is swarming. It is a danger to my kids and family as my daughter was stung just standing in our pool not evn aware she had a wasp on her back. It has scared us all. The wasps and bees are the most scary. I am eager to see what the r3esult would be once we try your product and will report the results ASAP. Thanks!

  17. By Ann Sorensen on Jan 8, 2010

    We just moved into our brand new Fireside log home last May as a second home in NC. While the bottom of our log home has Fireside logs (which are treated for shrinkage and bugs and are grooved to fit together, the top floor of the cabin is just made to look like a cabin. We put a master bedroom and bathroom upstairs in the loft, and have had so many problems with wasps coming into the bathroom. We have no idea where they are coming from. This winter, when we come into the cabin and warm it up; there they are again!! My husband sprayed down many nests last summer around the cabin. The builder thinks they got into the building while it was being built or they found a hole to get into. He suggests we hire a termite company to come in to spray and kill them. I don’t like having to have our new cabin sprayed all over with chemicals. However, even if we got some of your product, I wouldn’t know where to use it to get rid of the wasps. Does anyone have any ideas to help us?

  18. By Rick Vollmer on Jan 9, 2010

    My wife and I have opened a small winery in a building with a 20ft inside peak. We have wasps (fewer in the cold weather) that create a potential hazard for customers who come in for wine tastings. We have not seen a nest but it could be under the insulation. We need a fast and convenient way to get rid of them without use of sprays or oily materials that drip onto tables/floors/equipment. Any suggestions?

17 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers! (details)