Howdy, we have a bell type wind chime that Yellow Jackets seem to have made their home. Is just regular Flying Insect killer the best thing? Is any time better than another???

They are slower and less aggressive in the mornings when it is cooler. Wasp spray is my go to method because I have a lot of tall eaves and soffits. What makes one can better than others is the stream holding together and not turning into mist and the distance it can project that stream. They all seem to kill on contact.

Make sure your Flying Insect Killer spray is NOT the kind for flies, gnats, and oh by the way will kill wasps. Those are too much of a mist/fog and don't have the distance or cause instant death like true wasp killer sprays.

I use off the shelf wasp spray and wait until sundown to get them all on the nest. Just did this to my outdoor umbrella.

That's a great idea. Now explain how I'm going to get up to my two story roof?

My son puts on leather gloves, slowly approaches the nest, and squeezes it with both hands. I sometimes wish there was something he is afraid of.

These help for those 2nd story roof line nests. Just screw it on the end of an extendable paint roller rod.

https://a.co/d/0c3Vj8hh

This stuff kills instantly. Half of them seize up and don't even fall off of the nest.

ETA...be sure to get the green can. The orange one sucks.

Kill the wasp and knock down the nest however you wish. Then spray with bifen I/T. Spray any areas they like to build once a year in the early spring prior to them building and you will be set for the season.

Without Aggies at QB and WR, they are pretty easy to defeat.

B-1 83 said:

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Mas89 said:

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My son puts on leather gloves, slowly approaches the nest, and squeezes it with both hands. I sometimes wish there was something he is afraid of.

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My grandad would get a big paintbrush with "burnt oil" and walk up and paint them. His old skin was so thick if he got stung I don't think he knew it.

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grandads are so awesome

For one summer in college I worked pest control. We normally used dedicated insecticides. However, one job we had was treating an outdoor pavilion that was only used sporadically. It was pretty thick with spiders, daddy long legs, mud dobbers, wasps and such. Someone had rented it for a company picnic the next week and wanted all the bugs cleared out. The owner of our pest control company took care of the wasps personally by throwing a cup of gasoline on each nest. In his words, "I have used a lot of stuff to kill yellow jackets, but nothing as cheap and effective as a splash of gasoline."

I don't have anything useful to add other than this thread is bringing back memories of my summer working on my uncles organic farm in Minnesota. He would say "hey there's a wasp nest in the shed, let me go get the wasp killer"

Then he would hand me a broom

It did help me with that extra speed later that fall on the basketball court, wouldn't recommend it though

Army62 said:

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Paper wasps and yellow jackets look very similar.

Paper wasps are the ones with the open honey comb looking nests and are more docile and super easy to kill with the wasp spray, especially in the AM.

Yellow jackets have a covered nest and one hole to go in or out. They can can build their nests in the ground or in a wall. They are far more aggressive and much harder to kill with the spray. Tying to kill them with spray can really piss them off and they will come looking for you.

I truly wish I did not know the difference.

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Not all yellow jacket nests are covered. They can still be the open honeycomb type.

Op, go out at night and spray them and the nest with yellow jack spray if that's what they actually are. Had yellow jackets take over my yard on a new house last summer and that's what I would do in addition to setting out these traps:
https://www.amazon.com/RESCUE-Non-Toxic-Reusable-Trap-Yellowjackets/dp/B07SVF6WGQ/ref=asc_df_B07SVF6WGQ?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80401998412481&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=m&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=90469&hvtargid=pla-4584001477990494&psc=1&hvocijid=1827499796597333073-B07SVF6WGQ-&hvexpln=0

These are sold at my local Home Depot

As easy as this sounds, I've sprinkled Diatomaceous earth on/into/around a true yellow jacket nest that was in the ground...with a 1.5" hole for entrance. I did it around 10 p.m. Worked great.

This is the answer, did a short gig in pest control once. Nothing lives through this. Ever. Everything else after this is diet coke. Raid/ortho or whatever is not even close. Available on Amazon.


https://pestcontrol.basf.us/products/pt--wasp-freeze-wasp---hornet-insecticide.html

Yellow jacket nests are enclosed, often underground or hidden, and house large aggressive colonies, while paper wasp nests are open, umbrella-shaped, and smaller with less aggressive inhabitants.
Nest Structure

Yellow jacket nests are made from chewed wood fibers mixed with saliva, forming a papery material. They feature multiple layers of protective envelopes surrounding stacked hexagonal combs inside, with a single entrance usually at the bottom for aerial nests or leading into underground burrows. These nests can grow several feet in diameter and house thousands of wasps, providing protection from weather and predators

Paper wasp nests are also made from papery material but have an open, umbrella-like shape with exposed cells where eggs are laid. They are generally smaller, supporting colonies of 20100 workers, and are attached to eaves, porch ceilings, or tree branches via a thin stalk

Nest Location

Yellow jackets often build nests underground, in wall voids, or in hollow trees, making them difficult to spot. Some species also construct aerial nests on homes, trees, or light poles, but they are usually well concealed

Paper wasps prefer above-ground locations, such as eaves, tree branches, or ledges, where their nests are more visible and accessible

Behavior and Aggression
Yellow jackets are highly aggressive and will sting repeatedly if their nest is disturbed. They are scavengers, attracted to meat, sweets, and garbage, and their large colonies make them a significant threat during late summer

Paper wasps are less aggressive, generally stinging only when provoked. They feed mostly on nectar and caterpillars, contributing to pollination and pest control in gardens

• Yellow jackets: Stocky, compact body, short legs, black antennae, rapid darting flight. Nests are enclosed and often hidden.
• Paper wasps: Slender, long dangling legs, slightly reddish or brownish coloration, calm drifting flight. Nests are open and umbrella-shaped
Understanding these differences is crucial for safe identification and management, as yellow jacket nests require more caution and often professional removal due to their size and aggressive nature, while paper wasp nests can sometimes be managed with careful DIY methods

Bucket of water and dish soap

If it's up high on the second story and not anywhere people can get to, just leave it. They aren't going to be a risk for stings.

In Brazoria County we were told to leave them alone because they would kill the pecan web worms that cover entire trees in giant webs

I would knock the nests down with an extendable pole to get them away from traffic areas at the house so they could go build somewhere else

Easy to kill web worms by punching a hole in the protective nest. The wasps do the rest. The wasps use the hole to enter. I use a extension pole saw.