ANY CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS FOR WASPS?

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I live in northwest Tn and we are being attacked badly by wasps this year. If I went to the store and bought enough cans of raid to kill them I would be broke and wal-mart would be out of stock. I read somewhere that you can make a solution out of something that is cheaper than raid and you can make enough of it to put in a pump type sprayer. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated or if anyone knows about a web site or anything. It is so bad that we can't even get in the yard without getting stung. Thanks greatly. Brad H.

-- Brad H. (FIRE_RESCUE126@HOTMAIL.COM), April 29, 2002

Answers

This is kind of dangerous but you could put a gallon of gasoline in a pump up sprayer and spray them with it. Knocks em right down to the ground and they die almost right away. Do it early in the morning or late evening while they are on the nests to get most of them. But like I said IT'S DANGEROUS!!! ANY SPARK OR FLAME AND THE GASOLINE CATCHES FIRE!!! I did this all the time as a kid to get the fair grounds ready for the fair.

-- Paul Martin (rpm44@centurytel.net), May 01, 2002.

Brad, call your local County Extension Agent. The first thing you need to do is to identify the critters. Are they really wasps? Are they Hornets? This is important because many people will come out and remove Hornets nests(they sell them for the venom), depending on the species. Your extension agent can help you with this. Usually these species are not all that volatile. So, some questions for you and your family. Are you wearing aftershave, perfume, perfumed soap, shampoo, body powder or anything else that is "flavored " with perfumes? WE have no problems with any of these species and we have lots of them 'cause we wear only unscented things on our bodies in the spring and summer. Do your homework and don't forget that these are valuable species which are predators and and eat many harmful insects and pollinate lots of plants that we need. I hope this this helps a little and gives you some ideas to work with. :) LQ

-- Little Quacker in OR (carouselxing@juno.com), May 01, 2002.

Once put an extra stong mix of cattle fly spray, Corral I think it was, in a pump up and it worked pretty good if you made contact. Liquid corral is about 10 to 15 dollars for a qt and pretty stinky. Don

-- Don (dairyagri@yahoo.com), May 01, 2002.

I've had success using pyrethrum-based products such as permetherin which is sold at most farm supply stores and is often used in and around dairy barns. Pyrethrum-based products are non-toxic to humans and I believe most animals. Once or twice I've mixed in a little Orthene to not only knock down wasps, but to make sure they didn't get up again. About four ounces of the pyrethrum-based product added to a gallon of water in a pump sprayer seems to work for me. You might think about spraying where wasps hang out, like under eaves, under porches, cracks in foundations, porch ceilings, etc. If I have a lot of wasps or mud dabbers building nests where I don't want them to, I wait until late afternoon or early evening when they've all come home from work and then spray their nests. I think pyrethrum is also effective on yellow jackets, but the hive or mound would probably have to be located and saturated. The effectiveness of pyrethrum doesn't last all that long, usually no more than a week or so, and is also weakened by sunlight and rain. Pyrethrum is also very effective in controlling the annual invasion of lady bugs into the house. Lady bugs are nice, but when a million of those Asian critters want to move into my house, I have no problem culling the herd. Always seems to be plenty of them left alive to get all the aphids in next year's garden. A quart of pyrethrum concentrate costs about $25.00 in this area, but lasts quite a while -- maybe a year or two. Hope this helps.

-- Ed (ecpubs@lynchburg.net), May 01, 2002.

Like Paul said. Gas. Kills them dead. If you use a plastic sprayer it won`t last long. Gas eats it up. But it will darn sure kill them. Quick. And the gas will evaporate quick. Good luck. Rog

-- Rog (zipsmykat@aol.com), May 01, 2002.


I've had a wasp problem in the mudroom of my house for years. This year I planted feverfew just outside the door. Seems to be keeping them out. Doesn't work on moths though, they still come in.

-- VickiP. (countrymous@webtv.net), May 02, 2002.

I think Stan has a good solution; insects 'breathe' through their skin. Soap / detergent (sp?) covers their skin, rendering them unable to breathe. I think this is how the majority of those 'Raid' type sprays work also.

Just be sure to really mix it well, then rinse it clean with water to be sure all residue is gone. Good luck.

-- j.r. guerra in s. tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), May 02, 2002.


Are the nests located where you can get at them? Most wasps/bees are gathered in their nest at night, we usually attack them then. We use a torch and keep a bucket of water handy, the smaller nests we just flame them for a couple seconds, it scorches off the outer walls, instantly evaporates their wings so they fall straight to the ground, then we promptly step on them. I have taken large jars, slipped it up against the flat surface they're on, the slid a sharp knife along between jar mouth and surface and nipped the nest off. Then slapped the jar lid back on. Put this in the fridge for an hour, they're too cold then to move, then dispose of them (drop in campfire, step on them, whatever QUICK method comes to hand).

Are your wasps of a type that will nest in the ground? We've had to deal with yellow jackets that have set up shop underground. When you walk by and the vibration disturbs the nest, that causes them to come after you immediately, you wake them up and they perceive you as the threat. Usually a running hose at night will work, high volumes of water for a few minutes to drown them. And MAKE SURE you watch to see where ALL the holes are, Dad made the mistake of going after a nest with a torch one night, when he attacked one hole they came out of 2 other holes and 3 immediately got stung 4 times before he realized.

I would reccomend the soapy water that Stan mentioned, sometimes we're just a bit too quick to spray chemicals around when more organic methods are available. This time of year nesting birds may pick up the poisoned wasps.

-Chelsea

-- Chelsea (rmbehr@istar.ca), May 02, 2002.


I know this will totally stupid !!... but my husband uses WD 40 in a little can to spray at the wasp. Probably suffocates them. Could you use cheapie hair spray. Figure that stuff just about kills me when used !! Good Luck !!!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), May 02, 2002.

Best thing I've found is also the cheapest. Fill a spray bottle with a 50 percent solution of Pine Sol. It acts like a surfactant and wets their wings. Knocks the bliters right out of the sky and then kills them dead. If you have external nests and use this stuff on the nests the wasps will not come back to that nest. If the nest is big, use one of those hose spray applicator attachnments. As always common sense must take precidence here. BE CAREFUL and if it is to big a job call the exterminator. Cheaper than a trip to the emergency room.

This stuff works on all flying insects and will also kill spiders.

Cheers

-- Joe Longshaw (luddite@positech.net), May 03, 2002.



I use Happy Jack Kennel Dip. A couple tablespoons in a gallon sprayer. It will kill them, but not instantly. We keep a steady stream on the nest, and the wasps fall and we step on them. They will die on their own in a few minutes if we miss any. And I'm not spraying the buildings with anything that would hurt the animals. It's great for flies also, and of course fleas and any other bugs. Get those nest now, before they get bigger. In the evening, and have 2 of you there, one to spray, and one to help watch for more and step on them.

For the yellow jackets in the ground, when you see the hole, go out at night with a flashlight and put a cup of seven dust in the hold and a clump of mud over it really fast.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), May 03, 2002.


I would like to thank every one who has contributed an answer to my question. I am going to go the soapy water or pine sol route because I don't like the harsh chemicals unless I have no other option. If I have no other option I will use the chemicals in a minute. Again thanks a bunch from everyone and if anyone else has a answer please feel free to tell me. I just love to learn all the information that I can get. Thanks again Brad H

-- Brad H. (FIRE_RESCUE126@HOTMAIL.COM), May 03, 2002.

Logging supply places carry sprays just for that. The spray is very long, so you don't have to get too close. Works great.

-- HV (veggie@ourplace.com), May 03, 2002.

hello mr. brad, mr. stan has the right answer [again :}]at the right price too!

i have anphalatic shock reaction to a wasp sting[last sting felt like a horse kicked me & i was prone for 3 days!] so i take my wasp killing very seriously.

use the ultra concentrated liquid dishwashing soap! i use maybe 1/8 cp to a hand-held spayer mix well,[ may need to let it sit over night] and spray away! suffocates & burns them to crisp, hah! exoskellotons are not all they are cracked up to be!

3 different 'better living thru chemicals' friends who have used peppers' soap bottles have traded in the 'long shot' hot shot' whatever bottles of death for soap. they say it works, it works quick & they can let the kids use it too!

also use nicer spay bottles they triggers wear out too fast on the 3 for a dollar ones. remove shutters & other wasp condos smear vaseline on the porch eaves that they build their nests on.

i even go so far as to put up raw 2x4s to encourage the local wood boring bumble bees. they don't look so 'bumbley' when they smack wasps out of the air defending their nests. i've never been attacked by a bumble, they just fly around me find my face take a look & go buzz-buzz ->'oh it's her, cool.' & fly off.

-- bj pepper ,in central MS. (pepper.pepper@excite.com), May 03, 2002.


PINE SOL!!!!! It kills anything that creeps in my house, ants,spiders,wasps,bees, you name it.

-- Jennifer (jfisher4midsouth@rr.com), May 03, 2002.


Hey Brad, I live in Tx and have had my share of those pesky critters...one thing i have used is a cheap oven cleaner..freezes them and leaves them crystalized. I clean windows for a living and even used a water- ivory liquid mix knocks them out...dead. Hope that helps you!! have a good day! Danny

-- Danny Bingham (dlbingham2000@yahoo.com), May 04, 2002.

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