Organic Insecticides | Organic Pesticides | EcoSMART Bug Spray

Killing Yellow Jackets Naturally

September 25th, 2008 Posted in Stinging Insects

There are a couple of options available to you that will get rid of yellow jackets, including yellow jacket traps and yellow jacket insecticides. This article will explain these options and will also discuss prevention, preventing stings, and treatment of stings.

Yellow Jacket Traps

“Yellow jacket traps (commercial or otherwise) have not shown to be of any value in reducing a yellow jacket problem.” Traps are only effective at temporarily moving yellow jackets away from humans during outdoor activities, and do not permanently eliminate yellow jackets. So, if you hope to get rid of your yellow jacket problem once and for all, see yellow jacket insecticide below. If, however, you are concerned with temporarily assuaging the problem, read on.

Limit the amount of exposed food in your gathering area as it will be competition for either commercial or homemade traps and may attract yellow jackets into your activity area despite your precautions.

Commercial Traps
Commercial traps have either dry or liquid bait (artificial attractant or real food) in a container designed so yellow jackets cannot escape; synthetic attractants are stronger and more effective, so be careful not to spill synthetic attractant on yourself or you’ll be yellow jacket bait! Both rechargeable and disposable traps work.

To use:

• Use 2- traps per acre and place 20 feet away from the site of your activity a few days before your event or at least by the morning of your event.
• Cautiously approach traps when finished with outdoor activity, take them down, and put the traps in the freezer for a day to kill any trapped yellow jackets.

Homemade Traps
There are also a couple of ways to create a homemade trap, if you prefer a cheaper option:

• Stinky Option
• Sweet Option

Yellow Jacket Insecticide

The most effective way to get rid of yellow jackets is to use an insecticide. There are traditional synthetic chemical sprays and new organic, eco-friendly sprays that work. Be sure to use much caution when using either type of spray to avoid getting stung; you can accomplish this by wearing protective clothing, including gloves and a veil to cover the face.

Be sure to use a spray with some range (at least ten feet) so you can keep your distance from the nest. The best time of day to use spray on a nest is in the late evening or cool periods in the morning when the majority of the colony is in the nest.

Do not use a flashlight since the yellow jackets may follow the light beam straight to its source—you! Keep in mind that repeated application may be necessary for underground nests since the actual nest may be some distance away from the entrance. Follow the directions contained on any spray bottle to be sure you use it correctly.

Organic Insecticide

Organic insecticide sprays are operated the same way as conventional chemical sprays, however, you do not need to worry about protecting yourself from chemicals. EcoSMART’s Wasp and Hornet Killer is a spray that is safe for the environment as well as safe to use around children and pets as confirmed by tests performed at the following universities: the University of California-Riverside, the University of California-Davis, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Georgia.

It is for use outdoors or in non-living areas, such as attics and crawl spaces and works by blocking Octopamine neuro-receptors, which do not exist within mammals; this explains why it is safe around people and pets. Blocking these receptors in yellow jackets leads to their immobilization followed by death.

The active ingredients are:

• Peppermint oil (1.0%)
• 2-Phenethyl Propionate (. %)—found in Japanese Beetle Pesticides

Yellow Jacket Prevention

Now that you know how to get rid of yellow jackets, you are probably curious as to how to keep the pests away in the future. Following the subsequent tips will ensure you won’t be having many more encounters with yellow jackets.

• Keep food, in particular ripe fruit and soft drinks, covered until eaten when cooking outdoors. Always pour soft drinks into cups to avoid discovering a yellow jacket hiding in your can.
• Keep trash in tightly covered containers, and keep the containers clean, especially in late summer and early autumn.
• Pick fruits the minute they ripen and dispose of any fallen, rotting fruit, when harvesting.
• Avoid wearing perfume, hair products, lotions, heavy-scented soaps, etc. when spending lengthy periods outside.
• Avoid wearing shiny buckles or jewelry, bright flowery prints, black or wool, and loose-fitting clothing—it may trap yellow jackets!
• You may also want to consider wearing a hat and closed shoes as further protection.

How to Prevent a Sting

The best way to prevent a sting is to avoid contact with yellow jackets at all (see above). Be on the look out for nests by watching where yellow jackets are flying; yellow jackets that are flying in and out from a single location are most likely coming or leaving from their nest.

Quick movements provoke attacks/stings, so don’t swing or strike if you come in contact with a yellow jacket. Don’t run away, either, even though yellow jackets can be outrun since they fly about 6-7 mph; the rapid movement that is necessary to start running will most likely cause a yellow jacket to sting before you get a chance to actually get anywhere.

Instead, slowly raise your hand toward your face for protection while remaining calm and stationary for awhile; then, slowly walk away toward bushes or the indoors being sure to not step on a ground nest.

Protect children from nests by teaching them to never throw rocks or water at a nest; protect yourself from nests by avoiding the use of power lawn equipment near a nest.

Yellow Jacket Sting

You should never do an outdoor activity alone if you are hypersensitive, since help may be needed to begin emergency treatment immediately.

Give acetaminophen immediately after a stinging incident for relief of pain and burning. To treat a yellow jacket sting, rub each wound for 20 minutes with a cotton ball or swab soaked in a solution of meat tenderizer diluted with water, while being sure to avoid contact around eyes.

The solution will neutralize the venom and relieve the pain. If you do not have meat tenderizer available, applying an aluminum-based deodorant or a baking soda solution for the same amount of time will work.

For persistent pain, rub wound with an ice cube for ten minutes. Applying hydrocortisone cream will help ease an itchy wound.

Going green means not only keeping my little niece and nephew healthy, but defending the environment from harmful chemicals and activities caused by humans. We hope you try EcoSMART to effectively get rid of pests in your home while keeping your family and pets safe.