About Me

Controlling and Deterring Large Pests

Hello, and welcome to my blog! My name is Dee, and I hate pests. I have struggled with many pests in my home, but contrary to popular misconception, these pests have been bigger than mice or cockroaches or ants. Rather, I have had squirrels in the attic and various marsupials living under my porch. This blog is devoted to getting rid of the larger animals. It contains everything I have learned about removing and deterring these creatures. If you hate pests but want to focus on the larger pests, you have come to the right place. Please explore my blog and enjoy!

Latest Posts

Tags

Controlling and Deterring Large Pests

How To Identify And Get Rid Of A Hornet Nest

by Katrina Alvarez

Hornets are one guest you certainly don't want to see at your summer garden party.  Although they look like wasps, hornets are much larger and more aggressive.  If you have children and pets, you are strongly advised to evict the hornets before you allow your family to play in the garden. 

So, how do you know that the nest you've spotted belongs to hornets, and how do you go about removing it safely?  Read on to find out more:

Correctly identifying the hornet nest

Hornet nests are usually large, conical shaped structures made of intricate, grey paper-like layers.  Colonies are established in late spring and are active right through the summer months before disbanding in the autumn.  Although hornets do occasionally build nests in concealed areas like house lofts, their preferred site is among the branches of a tree.

Safety first

Unlike wasps and bees, hornets are extremely aggressive.  When disturbed or swatted, they release a chemical pheromone that acts as a call-to-arms to the soldiers of the colony who then emerge en masse to attack the source of the perceived threat.  For this reason you should wear a thick, long-sleeved top, full-length trousers tucked into socks to prevent the hornets from getting inside the legs and stinging you, a face mask, goggles and thick, rubber gloves. 

If you are allergic to wasp or bee stings, do not tackle this job yourself.  Contact a professional pest control company and ask them to remove the hornet colony for you.   

Getting rid of the hornet nest

  1. During daylight hours, you'll see hornets coming and going from the nest as they forage for food.  At night, the nest will be inactive with all its residents safely inside, and this is therefore the best time to deal with it.  Wait until darkness has fallen and all external activity has ceased.  
  2. If you need light, use a torch but don't shine it directly onto the nest as this could just serve to attract a swarm of angry hornets!  A good tip is to place a red filter over the torch.  Insects cannot see red light so you will be able to get the job done without disturbing the nest's occupants.  
  3. There is generally just one entry and exit route from the nest and it's this area that you need to concentrate on.  Use a hornet-specific product in a jet spray formulation (obtainable from good DIY stores or your local pest control company).  This is important as you don't want to get any closer to the nest than you have to, and a jet spray will allow you to reach nests that are sited high up without having to use a ladder.  
  4. Aim the spray straight into the entry/exit hole in the nest.  Maintain a strong jet of spray for at least 20 seconds.  Don't hang around to see what happens next!  Vacate the area quickly, return to the house and shut your windows and doors.  
  5. The following day, spray the nest again as before, even if there appears to be no activity.  It's possible that some of the hornets got away unscathed during the first treatment and you need to be sure that they're all dead before you remove the nest.  
  6. When all activity has ceased, knock the nest down using a long-handled broom or similar garden tool.  Seal the defunct nest into a rubbish bag and burn it.

Hornets do not generally return to the same nest each year, so once you've removed the nest, your problem should be solved.

Share