subject: Yellow Jackets And Wasps Need Attention At End Of Summer [print this page] Fall is the perfect time for dealing with yellow jacket and wasp nests. Ideally, nest removal efforts should take place when the temperature is below 50F (10C), which makes early Fall the perfect time for removing these pests from your property. Always take the appropriate precautions, and deal with these pests before they overwhelm you.
If you can do so safely, you need to locate the entrance to the nest. Yellow jackets and some species of wasps enjoy building their nests in cool, dark places. This makes unsealed awnings, the sides of your home, foundations, retaining walls on your property, and even pits in the ground ideal locations for nests. Finding the nest entrance does not mean that you've found the nest, however. Often, the actual mass of the nest is located some distance from the entry point for the nest's security. Depending on the species of wasp you are dealing with, nests could likewise be built in high, open places, but these are easier to spot.
You can't trust that the winter weather will kill of the residents of these nests. People often believe that winter will kill a nest entirely, and that they won't be a threat come next spring. In truth, the cold temperatures will always kill some, but rarely all, of the nest residents. The queen will more than likely survive, as well as a large number of workers. Nests that are not properly removed will flourish when the weather warms again.
Setting out traps that are properly baited will capture some of the insects, but rarely will deal with the infestation at large. Capturing all of the insects in traps is next to impossible. Traps should be used in conjunction with wish and yellow jacket removal tactics.
These nests are least active when the weather is cool and the humidity is high. Early in the morning, or after sunset, is the best time to attack a nest. If you insist on attempting to remove the nest yourself, you will need to drill several access points to where you believe the mass of the nest to be. Insert the appropriate poison based on the species you are dealing with. Observe the site for several days, using traps to catch any stragglers. If your attempts at self-removal prove unsuccessful, it may be time to consider calling an exterminator to remove the nest for you.
