Paper Wasp Control
Eric Ronning
Paper Wasp Identification
Medium sized wasps varying in color from reddish brown, to mostly black, to black and yellow striped. Most easily identified as paper wasps by the nest. Paper wasp nests resemble an upside-down umbrella covered in open cells. The nest attaches to and hangs from a protective object by a single stalk.
Paper Wasp on Nest
Paper Wasp Nest on Soffit
While it is true that paper wasps (a.k.a. umbrella wasps) are among the least aggressive of all vespid wasps, that fact is of little consolation to anyone (especially those who suffer allergic reactions from wasp stings) who, welcome mat or no, finds a paper wasp nest hanging above their front door. The bad news is that, at last count, there were just under 20 species of paper wasp (Polistes spp.) found across North America. The good news is that it's usually much easier to control paper wasps than it is most other types.
Controlling Paper Wasps
Locate all paper wasp nests. Chances are, you already know where one paper wasp nest is. While that's a good start, you'll still need to scour your property for others. Moving slowly and deliberately, so as not to excite any wasps you happen across, start looking under any foliage (trees, shrubs, etc.) that may provide paper wasps with even a slight measure of protection. Next, look in and under human-made structures such as attics, crawlspaces, garages, sheds, eaves, decks, bay windows, etc. Once you've exhausted the obvious hiding places, look for paper wasps and their nests behind shutters and in voids (structural cracks, holes or cracks in siding, open pipes, etc.).
Suit up! When working towards paper wasp control, it's vitally important to protect yourself. Yes, they're comparatively docile wasps, but if you piss 'em off, they'll attack, and a paper wasp sting hurts like hell. Obviously, the best thing you can do is to purchase a bee suit. These can be purchased for as little as 30 to 40 bucks, and I guarantee you'll get more than one use out of it. Otherwise, spring for a bee veil, a good pair of coveralls, some high-sleeved leather gloves, and a pair of tall leather boots. Once you get your boots and gloves on, secure the pant legs around the boots and the gloves around your forearms with rubber bands or strings so paper wasps can't sneak in.
Exterminate paper wasps with wasp spray. To kill paper wasps found under foliage, eaves, decks, or ledges or in attics, crawlspaces, or outbuildings, use a can of aerosol wasp spray. Aerosol paper wasp killers have a very quick knockdown time and can generally shoot up to 20ft. Look for brands such as Wasp-X Wasp & Hornet Spray, Fireback Wasp & Hornet Jet Spray, or Wasp Freeze. While aerosols are excellent, they're not your only option. If you have a pump sprayer, consider using Cynoff-EC, Cyper WP, or Cy-Kick CS. Whatever you use, wait until evening when most of the wasps are back in the nest before spraying, and wait at least 24 hours before suiting up again and moving ahead with paper wasp nest removal.
Kill paper wasps found in voids. Paper wasp control can become slightly more difficult if they've taken up residence in voids behind siding, in brick walls, in cracks in the foundations, or inside hollow trees. In many cases, it's still possible to use one of the paper wasp sprays mentioned above. Sometimes, however, direct access to the nest isn't possible. In these cases, after donning your protective gear, drill several holes into the tree, wall, siding, or what-have-you to give yourself direct access to the nest. Once your holes are drilled, use a hand duster to pump copious amounts of an apicidal dust such as Apicide, Delta Dust, Drione, Dursban, or Sevin into and around the nest.
Block off nesting sites. After your success with paper wasp extermination, you'll need to block access to good nesting sites. Start with places where nests have been in the past. Blocking them may require mixing up some cement or mortar, replacing broken siding, plugging pipes, or any number of unpleasant chores. It's important, though. If they've been there in the past, they'll be back. After closing off the obvious spots, walk around your house and outbuildings and carefully inspect for any holes, cracks, or openings that a single paper wasp could fit into into, and caulk them. This will keep queens from overwintering in your walls, attics, and crawlspaces. See our Home Pest Control article for more in-depth information on pest-proofing your buildings.
Keep paper wasps from coming back. Do this by spraying potential paper wasp nesting areas with a residual insecticide. This is best accomplished by mixing either a liquid concentrate or wettable powder insecticide with water in a pump sprayer. Most residual insecticide sprays are effective for up to three months after application and, if diligently reapplied, will allow you to avoid having to deal with paper wasp removal in the future. In the paragraph on wasp spray found above, I mention several products that are good for killing paper wasps quickly. Those same products also happen to offer very effective residual paper wasp control. If those are unavailable to you, look also for Cynoff WP, Termidor SC, Talstar P, or Suspend SC.
Consider Hiring Professional Exterminators
There are circumstances in which it's wise to hire trained individuals to get rid of paper wasps for you. Once such circumstance is if you or someone in your family is or may be allergic to wasp stings. It just isn't worth the risk. Allergies aside, sometimes nests are too high and homeowners don't have the proper equipment to take care of the problem safely. In other cases, paper wasp nests can be difficult to find, especially if they are in voids. If they are in voids, homeowners may not have the equipment or skills to get to them. Sometimes people are too frightened of wasps to want to get near enough to kill them, and sometimes, people just plain don't want to deal with it themselves. Period. Whatever your reasoning, if you do plan to hire an exterminator for getting rid of paper wasps, I urge you to look at our Pest Control Services page for tips on dealing with providers.
Natural Paper Wasp Control
Use soapy water. A mixture of dish detergent and water, when sprayed on paper wasps and paper wasp nests, is an effective paper wasp killer. Gently mix 1/3 cup of soap per gallon of water in your sprayer and go to town. Spray paper wasp nests in the early morning or late evening when the wasps are home. Effects are not as quick as with commercial wasp sprays, so protect yourself, keep your distance, and be prepared to get the hell out of there.
Try MotherEarth 2% Py Contact Aerosol. This product works great for killing paper wasps and has a quick knockdown time. It's made with pyrethrins, a natural insecticide derived from the heads of certain chrysanthemum flowers.
Give 'em the boot! Not for the faint of heart, this method for killing paper wasps and destroying their nests requires no chemicals of any kind, just guts. In the early morning or in the late evening, when the paper wasps are in their nest, and after you've fully protected yourself using the methods mentioned to the left, simply knock the nest down with a stick, rake, shovel, or other implement, and quickly squash the nest with your boot.
Control aphid populations. If there's one thing paper wasps love and gardeners tend to have in abundance, it's aphids. Removing this paper wasp food source makes hanging around your yard and garden less desirable to the wasps. Check out our article on aphid control, learn how to control them, and improve your chances for controlling paper wasps.