Bees, wasps and scorpions are dangerous because of their painful and potentially harmful stings.

Pest Control For Biting & Stinging Pests

Wasp nests and bee hives can be removed by professionals with protective gear. Insecticides are also used. Scorpion problems are usually treated chemically.

During the day locate the nest. Control should be done at night when most of the hornets are in the nest. Apply an appropriately labeled insecticide through the entrance hole of the nest. The nest should be removed, placed in a plastic garbage bag, and discarded so that no emerging pupae can cause problems.

If a hornet nest is built high in a tree, you may choose to simply wait until the colony dies out in late fall or early winter. The nest will slowly deteriorate from weather or from attack by hungry birds. If a nest is located where people may be stung or if the clients are hypersensitive to bee/wasp stings, then colony destruction may be appropriate. Here are some points to consider as you decide how to approach the problem:

Control is best achieved by applying a pesticide directly into the nest opening. This can be done at anytime of the day, but near dusk, most of the wasps are more likely to be inside the nest. Direct the pesticide into the nest opening and then move away from the area in case any of the wasps emerge from the nest. You may need to repeat the treatment on the following evening.

Long sleeved shirt and long pants should be worn when spraying to make the applicator feel more at ease.

If the nest is in a wall, it may be desirable to remove it after spraying to avoid attracting carpet beetles that can invade the home and attack garments made of wool, silk or fur.

Chemical control should be a last resort as worker populations are gone after a hard freeze or several frosts. There are literally hundreds of insecticide products in various formulations labeled for wasp and hornet control. Control of these social wasps, although not difficult, has its element of risk in being stung. 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.

For control of wasps and hornets that build aerial nests near windows, eaves, in trees, etc., insecticides are formulated in pressurized containers that emit a long, narrow stream of spray 15 to 20 feet. Wasp freeze or wasp stopper compounds, containing highly volatile solvents mixed with pyrethrins, or some of the newer pyrethroids, produce instant knockdown for wasps hit. By approaching a hornet nest, spraying in a sweeping motion, the area can be cleared of guards at the nest, followed by directing the spray stream into the entrance hole at the nest bottom to kill those inside. During the day, this technique does not alarm other hornets returning from the field. No other insecticide needs to be introduced into the nest since all adults present are killed and the immature stages (eggs and larvae) die from lack of care.

Following treatment, wait a day to ensure that the colony is destroyed, then scrape or knock down the nest. This will prevent secondary problems from carpet beetles, ants and other scavenging insects.

Pest Management Professionals will sometimes remove a hornet nest, which is attached to a branch by slipping a plastic garbage bag over the intact nest and clipping it at the point of attachment. This technique should be done at night with a wasp suit.