When you decide to rid yourself of wasps -- particularly yellowjackets or hornets -- by yourself, you need the best equipment at your fingertips. The best product will be determined by the type of insect you are targeting.
For yellowjackets, one of the best solutions is actually entirely home-made. Many people have succeeded in exterminating colonies of yellowjackets nesting underground by pouring a mixture of soap and water into the entrance of a nest. Simple enough, it can be either dish or laundry soap. Covering the entrance with a wet cloth is crucial as well.
When yellowjackets are found nesting in the ground, first try pouring a soap and water solution into the entrance. Many types of soap will work, including dish and laundry soap. With most species of wasps, using some kind of petrol works too, although you should not use gasoline and, whatever type of petrol you use, you must be very careful how you use it. These chemicals are highly flammable and carelessness can, in extreme instances, cost you your home!
For underground nests, some kind of dust insecticide is often more effective than liquid. In some instances, liquids do not even reach the nest. The best brands, however, are Dursban (chlorpyrifos-based dust), Sevin (available as either a liquid or dust and it is a carbaryl-based product), Orthene (acephate-based liquid concentrate), or diazinon (a liquid concentrate).
Aerial nests can be a little trickier simply because you have to watch out for whatever poison you use raining down from on high. Generally you want some kind of projection to allow ample room for your escape.
If you are dealing with only a few wasps, rather than an actual wasp nest, Wasp Freeze is an aerosol product used to knock down wasps in small numbers. One drawback is that it is not considered to have long-term control capabilities.
Demand CS is an odorless insecticide concentrate that kills wasps, bees, plus a host of other household pests. It does particularly well with indoor pest control problems or pest prevention methods. Microencapsulated formulation provides long term control of many pests, including wasps. Another household pest control formula is Demon WP. This is an odorless wettable powder concentrate that is labeled for most household pests.
Cynoff WP has the same active ingredient as Demon W, which is a favorite of pest control technicians for quarterly or annual pest control services. Drione Dust is good for holes, cracks, crevices, wall voids, or other areas where a wasp freeze aerosol cannot be used.
Organic or eco-friendly products are certainly available online. The top-listed include Eco Exempt IC-2 and ECO PCO ACU, which is an aerosol spray primarily derived from plant oils.
Traps are also a good middle-ground solution to controlling populations of wasps. Many different types are available to buy commercially, or you can build your own.
One popular homemade trap is constructed using a regular 2-liter soda bottle and inserting some kind of insect killer, like Fatal Funnel, along with an attractant (the suggested one is a sweet apple juice solution).
An entirely homemade method is to take a two or three liter bottle of soda, cut the bottle right under the funnel to create two pieces, and bait the trap. Once the trap is baited, the funnel-shaped top piece can be fit into the bottom piece.
With three or four holes around the top edges of the bottle, a system is created to take the trap apart for adding new bait and removing dead wasps. The best homemade poisons are made by adding a few drops of dishwashing liquid to water and placing the water in the bottom part of the container. Vaseline or cooking oil pasted around the top of the funnel creates a system for insects to lose their footing when they are investigating the wasp trap.
Depending on the time of year, you need to make a selection about the most appropriate bait. In the early spring, wasps prefer protein foods so hamburger and lunch meat are good options. By late summer, sweet foods are better. Root beer, some other form of sweet liquid, or fruit pieces work well.
