How to Get Rid of Ground Wasps

If you discover yellow jackets nesting inside your home, you can choose to ignore them or call a pest control company to destroy the nest. Never plug the outside opening of these nests because this will force the wasps to chew their way into the interior of the house and this is never a good thing.

Bee, wasp or hornet nest: Which one is it?

One of the most common questions Master Gardeners get during the fall is how to get rid of a bee’s nest. Before you go about destroying a nest, you need to determine whether it is a nest of bees, wasps or hornets.

While all of these species have their own important role and place within the ecosystem, native bees are especially important for pollination services that provide much of our food, food for wildlife, and beauty in the landscape.

Is it a bee, wasp or hornet?

Why are bees, hornets and wasps so often confused? Maybe it is the fact they all buzz and many of us associate that sound with bees. They also all defend their territory by stinging. Whatever the reason, it is important to properly identify what buzzing critter has built a nest to assess what steps to take in the best interest of both humans and the insect.

To identify what insect you have you can use an online app like iNaturalist, bring a sample to your local extension office, or send a photo to your local extension educator. A recent Yard and Garden News article compared different online apps.

Ground nesting bees

You may have noticed some individual holes in the ground located in a more undisturbed area, in your vegetable garden or in your lawn. These are most likely the nests of solitary native bees, so they do not have a queen and rarely want to sting.

These bees have hairy bodies and will fly away rather than stay and defend their territory like a wasp or hornet.

Ground nesting wasps

Ground nesters could also be the eastern yellow jacket. Different from ground-nesting bees, they form colonies beneath the soil and will aggressively protect them.

This species is often attracted to our food during family picnics. If you have this wasp nesting in an area that sees a lot of people traffic, you will want to get rid of this nest for your own safety.

Getting rid of a wasp nest is tricky

Wasps and hornets often make their nests in areas that can interfere with our daily human travel. They build paper-like nests under house eaves or in trees in the yard. If they feel threatened, hornets and wasps will defend their territory by repeatedly stinging anyone who tries to destroy the nest.

Interestingly, hornets and wasps are also predatory insects, preying upon other insects, bees included, and eating them.

The wasps that are most problematic this time of year are yellow jackets, bald-faced hornets and paper wasps, which are social insects that live in large colonies. They construct their nests in the ground, in trees, under eaves and inside wall voids and attics. Nest construction starts in late spring and continues throughout the summer. The last brood raised includes males and next year’s queens. Due to the importance of these reproducers, the worker wasps become very protective and aggressive toward those who get too close to the nest this time of year.

In the fall, after the new queens leave, the nests are abandoned, and all the workers eventually die due to starvation and cold weather. Old nests are never reused, but a favorable nesting site may be selected year after year.

Nests located in out-of-the-way sites that are not likely to be disturbed can be ignored since they are going to die out later in the year. Small, exposed paper wasp nests are easily controlled by aerosol wasp sprays that produce a concentrated stream of insecticide that has a range of 15 to 20 feet. Paper wasps do not cover their nests in a papier-mache exterior like those of yellow jackets and bald-faced hornets, so their brood cells and workers are exposed and vulnerable. Simply point the nozzle at the nest and spray.

Sometimes, you need a professional

The larger nests of yellow jackets and bald-faced hornets that are protected by a papier-mache coating are more challenging and best left to pest control professionals. No attempt should be made to kill a nest that is located high in the upper branches of a tree, especially if using a ladder is required to reach the nest.

If the nest is located close to the ground in a tree, shrub or on a building, then you may have a fighting chance to survive the experience unscathed. The best time of day to spray is early morning when most of the wasps will be inside the nest and activity is at a minimum.

• Spray the main opening at the bottom of the nest first, and keep spraying this opening for at least 10 seconds.
• Then spray other openings on the sides of the nest.
• Spray the openings for as long as possible and then quickly leave the immediate area by a predetermined escape route.
• Watch the nest throughout the day. If activity persists, hit it again the next morning following the procedures outlined above.
• Once activity has tapered off and most of the wasps are killed, knock the nest down with a rake or other long-handle tool, break it apart and saturate the pieces with spray.

Removing yellow jacket ground nests

Ground-nesting yellow jackets are often discovered while mowing the lawn or weeding gardens and flower beds. Ground nests are easily controlled with a single application of insecticidal dust directed at the nest opening. Insecticidal dusts work well in these cases because the wasps pick up the dust as they enter the nest and carry it to the core of the nest. This contaminates the entire nest and soon all the wasps will die off, normally within one or two days.

• Early morning is the preferred treatment time.
• Pour the recommended amount of insecticidal garden dust into a disposable paper cup and approach the nest cautiously.
• Pour the cup directly into the opening and quickly move away from the nest.
• If this is done correctly, white, dust-covered wasps will quickly emerge from the opening and fly off.
• Don’t cover the opening with soil or rocks; leave it open so the wasps can enter and leave as they please.

If you discover yellow jackets nesting inside your home, you can choose to ignore them or call a pest control company to destroy the nest. Never plug the outside opening of these nests because this will force the wasps to chew their way into the interior of the house and this is never a good thing.

Be sure to read and follow all instructions and safety precautions found on the label before using any pesticide.

CAUTION: Mention of a pesticide or use of a pesticide label is for educational purposes only. Always follow the pesticide label directions attached to the pesticide container you are using. Be sure that the area you wish to treat is listed on the label of the pesticide you intend to use. Remember, the label is the law.

Author: Robin Trott, Extension educator, Douglas County

How to Get Rid of Ground Wasps

Heather Bien is an expert decor writer for The Spruce. She splits her time between Washington, D.C. and Locust Hill, VA, receiving her B.A. from the University of Virginia. Her bylines include Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, HelloGiggles, StyleBlueprint, The Knot, MindBodyGreen, and The Everygirl.

When you think of wasp nests, mud or paper nests hidden under awnings and decks may come to mind. But there are also wasps lurking somewhere you might not expect: in the ground. If you spot distinctive yellow and black insects, your next instinct is probably to find out how to get rid of ground wasps.

While ground wasps typically aren’t aggressive, they can sting if their nest is disturbed, and that’s a risk if you don’t realize a nest is underfoot. Although they offer benefits to your yard and garden through pollination and pest control, it that doesn’t mean you want them nesting close to your house. Luckily, there are several ways to get rid of ground wasp nests and send them to find a new home underground.

What Are Ground Wasps?

Ground wasps are typically either yellow jacket hornets or solitary wasps, with the hornets having a reputation as the more aggressive species. Each species looks different, but there are a few similar characteristics.

• Black and yellow striped, ranging from mostly black with yellow stripes on the abdomen to including orange or rust-colored stripes
• Some have slender frames with bulbous abdomens, while others have thick bodies and thoraxes
• Orange or black wings
• .5″ to 1.5″ long

Tip

While you may not want ground wasps invading your garden, they are actually helpful in limiting pests. They often eat larvae, roaches, and other bugs that you don’t want feasting on your plants. When they’re not eliminating pests, they’re pollinating your garden.

What Does a Ground Wasp Nest Look Like?

Because there are several types of species, the best way to identify whether or not you have ground wasps and to treat them is to spot a nest. Often, you’ll first notice holes in your garden. Some species burrow their own holes, while others take over holes created by other insects or animals.

Holes created by ground wasps are around an inch and a half in diameter. Often, the insects prefer sandy soil, which is easier for digging. To dig the holes, they’ll pile the dirt that was once in the ground around the burrowed hole. You will often find several holes near each other with conical piles of dirt nearby. Because they feed on sugary foods, like fruit, you may find these nests near fruit trees or berry bushes.

Before you decide to eliminate the nest, decide whether it’s actually necessary. Is the nest in a place that disturbs your garden? Are you at risk of accidentally stepping on the nest? If so, the risks outweigh the benefits for your garden.

Five Ways to Get Rid of Ground Wasp Nests

If you’ve spotted these dirt piles scattered across your garden and elimination is the best plan, here are five ways to get rid of ground wasp nests.

Warning

To avoid an unwanted run-in with a wasp, take action in the evening or at night. At this time, the wasps are less likely to be active and, therefore, less likely to sting.

Keep Your Yard Moist

This first method is preventative. Ground wasps prefer dry soil because it’s easier for them to dig. Because of this, you’ll often find them burrowing in sand. If you keep your yard moist throughout late spring and early summer, when they’re most likely to nest, you may be able to prevent them from forming nests in your yard.

Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth Around the Nest

Diatomaceous earth is a natural insecticide powder that you can sprinkle around a wasp’s nest to kill the wasps. This method typically takes a few days to work, but it’s one of the most effective ways to remove a ground wasp nest.

Flood the Nest With Soap and Water

If you already have a nest present, cover the nest with landscaping fabric and tack down the edges. Cut a small hole within this fabric, then pour in a mixture of water and liquid dishwashing soap. They won’t be able to find the hole within the fabric to escape, and the dishwashing soap will prevent them from flying. The water will flood the nest, eliminating it.

Spray the Nest With White Vinegar

Wasps detest the smell of vinegar and will actively avoid it. Spray around the nest regularly with white vinegar until they have all evacuated, but be careful to only spray at night when the wasps are less active. Spraying vinegar during the day could anger them, leading to aggressive behavior.

Tip

You can also make DIY wasp traps that work outside of the ground. They won’t eliminate the nest and the problem entirely but will trap wasps when they’re in flight.

Seal the Nest

If you can see just an opening or two, try sealing the nests by covering them with firmly packed dirt or plastic. While the wasps could burrow another hole, you’ll likely make it more difficult for them and destroy much of the nest by trapping them in the ground.