Where do wasps hide their home?
Autumn time has come, and you noticed a lonely wasp on the balcony. And calmly releasing her into the wild, they forgot in a few minutes. And in the spring, when they got ready to grow seedlings or just take a breath of air, they were forced to capitulate due to an encounter with a dozen insects. How did this happen?
It turns out that if a wasp flew to you in the fall, and even with the windows closed, there is reason to be wary and start looking for cracks immediately. That same lonely wasp returned to the warm balcony and spent the winter there safely. And in the spring, she began to arrange her home. If the female begins to build a nest, this is a serious problem for all family members. It's time to look for the hive.
Where should I start? The most popular settlements can be divided into 2 types: internal (ceilings, cracks in walls and cladding, stored items) and external (under a window sill or eaves, in storm pipes).
If the gray, cone-shaped, humming house does not immediately catch your eye, you can try to track it down. Set up an ambush on the balcony. If you see where wasps dive most often, you probably found a hive. But what if there are wasps, but they periodically fly in just to have a snack? This means it’s time to go outside and inspect the loggia from the outside.
How to remove wasps from the balcony
The easiest and most affordable way is to call the sanitary and epidemiological station employees. With the help of equipment, they will be able to quickly and easily destroy insects and remove a wasp’s nest. The procedure is very fast. The only drawback is that you have to pay money for the call.
How to do it yourself:
- Purchase chemicals to control insects (they are sold in specialty stores) and poison the insects;
- Use polyurethane foam;
- Set a trap.
Chemicals are applied to the surface of the nest, then the wasps themselves transfer it to the inside. After a short time, the drug will begin to act, which will lead to the death of insects.
Another completely inhumane method is to blow out the nest with foam
But at the same time, it is important to ensure that the wasps do not bite their executioner. It is better to do this at night when the insects are sleeping
Otherwise, bites on the face and buttocks cannot be avoided. The entrance of the nest should be blown out. Then remove the house and bury it.
More gentle traps can be made from watermelon or melon rind, treated with the same chemical. The wasps will want to eat in any case, and will soon die under the influence of aggressive chemical components.
To fight wasps. Basic methods of destruction
So, the hive has been found. But how to get rid of a wasp nest on the balcony without destroying the floor of the apartment. It’s worth mentioning right away that you won’t be able to simply get the wasps out of the house. This is the same as evicting residents of a multi-storey building a year after moving in. Insects will defend themselves and protect their queen, even at the cost of their lives. Therefore, you either need to block the entrance to the balcony, or get rid of the wasp’s nest using the methods presented below.
Method No. 1. Poison
The method is effective, but time-consuming. It will take about a week (maybe more). But you can get rid of other crawling/flying insects, if any, at once.
Necessary:
- prepare an unnecessary container (you can cut a plastic bottle) with holes;
- mix honey with boric acid and pour into the prepared trap;
- place the “treat” near the wasp’s nest (it’s safer to do this at night);
- check after a week for the presence of living individuals.
Regarding the last point, you should be careful. Firstly, do not rush to check the result. Secondly, the adults will carry the poison into the hive and spread the bait to the larvae, and then to the queen. This means that when checking, no one should buzz in the nest. This should be checked with a long stick by knocking on the socket. Carry out all actions against bees with the door open to allow escape. You will probably have to add more filling if the process is taking too long and there are still enough live wasps.
Method No. 2. Drowning
What if the balcony is constantly used and there is no time to wait for the results of etching? How to remove a wasp nest on a balcony in the summer in a few hours? Very simple and economical. True, there will be a caveat here - the method is only for a flat ceiling. And so, you will need to prepare: a bucket, water and a stepladder.
Now, fill a bucket suitable for the size of the nest with water to the brim. Carefully and without sudden movements we “put” it on the hive. We support it with a stepladder. All. To check the result, tap the bucket with a stick. If there is no buzzing in response, the balcony is cleared.
Method No. 3. Burning
Do not use on plastic and wooden balconies. You should resort to this method only if the question is “How to get rid of a wasp nest on the balcony?” - is very sharp. The hive will blaze like a torch, you may not be able to extinguish the fire on your own without consequences! But it is very convenient as a deliverer under the balcony. On a concrete base, for example, or on a brick wall. But still, you should be extremely careful and warn your neighbors.
Again, it is worth going out to fight wasps at night. At this time, insects are sleepy and inactive. Prepare a set of spray bottle and gasoline. Carefully spray the nest with flammable liquid. There is no need to fill the floor of the wall; the hive is highly flammable. And immediately set it on fire. Have a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher ready just in case.
Method No. 4. Chemicals
No matter what insects appear at home, most residents run to the store for supplies. Now there is a huge selection of insecticides (chemicals) on the shelves. Therefore, choosing the right one will not be difficult.
Methods of their use depend on the type of active substance. But, to achieve faster results, you will need an additional accessory. Plastic bag. Fill it with purchased poison and tape tightly around the nest. It is better to leave such a trap overnight. We check it in the standard way - tap the bag with any object, if there is no buzzing - everything was successful.
Method No. 5. Fumigation with smoke
The method is folk and quite ancient. Due to the strong smell and smoke, it is not recommended to use it in a city apartment. This product is more suitable for treating country houses. Also, the method is time consuming. To implement this you will need: a “potbelly stove” and fresh pine needles. If you still intend to carry out this procedure in the apartment, inform your neighbors. Otherwise, the arrival of emergency services cannot be avoided.
So, place a “potbelly stove” under the hive, melt it with fresh pine needles (possibly with the addition of plastic), point it at the nest, and heat it until the wasps give up the territory.
Method No. 6. Polyurethane foam
If you have sufficient skill in handling this building material, then this option is just for you. Like the previous methods, it should be performed closer to night.
So, prepare a balloon, try to approach the nest as quietly as possible, and then blow out the entrance. The method is extremely inhumane, but if there is a choice - the safety of the family or the life of insects, you have to choose. All that remains is to remove the nest and carefully carry it away. The place where the hive was located must be thoroughly treated with a strong-smelling disinfectant and washed with potassium permanganate. This is done to prevent settlers from returning to their favorite territory.
Method No. 7. Kerosene
Again, the traditional way. A relatively humane method, because adults will still leave their nest alive. The only thing left to do is throw the house away. To do this, you will need to coat the nest with kerosene every night. Continue until there are no adults left.
Method No. 8. Extreme
It should only be used as a last resort. Suitable only for low-lying nests. You should be especially careful when handling boiling water.
And so, you need to prepare a pan of suitable volume and fill it with boiling water. Then put it tightly on the socket. Support it with a stepladder as in the case of ordinary water. This cruel method will get rid of wasps in a very short period.
There are quite a lot of methods of struggle, some are quite extreme and it is better not to make them public. From the methods collected in this article, everyone can find one that suits them. The key to any approach is to be vigilant and cautious.
How to get rid of it: proven methods
An important point is the location of the wasp nest. If the ball is in a convenient place, it is not difficult to destroy pests, but, unfortunately, wasps often build a house at the top of the balcony or near it, at the junction with metal structures, for example, a window sill.
You always need to think through an action plan to protect the owner and household members. If you doubt your abilities or are afraid of stinging insects, you will need the help of special services. In this case, the success of the treatment will be guaranteed and there will be no risk to the health of residents.
On a note! It is advisable to carry out the destruction of pests in the evening, when the wasps gather in the nest. In this case, there is hope to get rid of all the wasps living on the balcony.
Option one – the nest is located in a convenient location:
purchase an insecticide against wasps, a regular aerosol Dichlorvos or a Mosquitoll brand product “From wasp nests” is suitable; protect your face, hands, eyes; take a large plastic bag, carefully approach the nest, wrap the hard ball in plastic; it is important to act quickly, but without sudden movements; a plastic bag needs to be tied around the wasp nest so that the polyethylene adheres well to the home of stinging insects; Carefully make a small hole in the bag, spray a powerful insecticide inside, close the hole with tape or put another bag on top; wait until the insects inside die. You need to carefully read the inscription on the can and find out how long the treatment lasts to kill the wasps. On average, a bag of sprayed insecticide should remain on the nest for 40 minutes to 1 hour; After the specified time, carefully separate the wasp nest from the surface. You must wear thick gloves. Next, place the ball in another bag, take it to a landfill, and burn it; upon returning home, you need to clean off the remains of the nest from the surface, eliminate all the cracks, spray with natural ingredients to repel pests or insecticides to destroy random individuals, so that wasps do not settle on the balcony.
Option two – the wasp’s nest is located in an inconvenient place.
Many owners make the mistake of trying to knock down a wasp house with a stick or mop, which can lead to an attack by angry insects, multiple bites, and serious health consequences. There are safer methods.
Proven methods of dealing with wasps if the nest is difficult to reach:
method number 1. For a glazed balcony, the treatment is easiest: you need to put on protective clothing, a respirator, close the door to the room, and spray a powerful insecticide in all corners, walls and floors. It is important to go through all the corners, wait the allotted time according to the instructions to destroy pests. After the interval after treatment, you need to carefully remove the nest, first cover the ball with a bag, take it to a landfill, and burn it. Effective drugs: Cucaracha, Karbofos, Dichlorvos, Mosquitoll, Executioner. The insecticidal effect lasts from two days to 14 days; method No. 2. Mix boric acid with fruit, sweet syrup, lemonade, boiled meat or fish. The smell of food attracts harmful insects, the poisonous bait gets not only into the stomach, but also remains on the paws, wasps infect their relatives. Boric acid affects the transmission of nerve impulses, causes paralysis, and the entire swarm gradually dies. A more active insecticidal effect is provided by concentrated poison of the brands Get, Clean House, Raid, Delta Zone and Lambda Zone. The method of application is indicated on the packaging for powerful insecticides. It is important that children and pets do not reach the containers.
Chemical means for destruction
On the shelves of a hardware store there is a huge selection of insect repellents. And you don’t have to look for a spray can with a wasp icon among them. A remedy against any insects, even garden ones, is suitable as a poison. After all, their biochemistry is based on similar functions. Therefore, you should not look for a miracle drug and overpay huge sums for it. You just need to figure out what types of insecticides there are, what the differences are and what is important to pay attention to.
The wasp nest, in most cases, is located vertically, so it is more convenient to consider the option in the form of an aerosol or a concentrate diluted with water. So, in the future, simplify your task with the help of a spray bottle. But powder cannot destroy the hive. But it can be used as a replacement for boric acid in bait.
The selected product must meet basic requirements. Firstly, it does not have a strong odor and has low toxicity, i.e. not pose a danger to both people and domestic animals. Secondly, be highly toxic to insects and have a good rate of exposure. It is worth keeping in mind that exterminating adults is not enough. It is necessary to destroy both the larvae and the queen in the nest.
Types of insecticides:
- Concentrates
. A universal option. They combine cost-effectiveness and high efficiency. If diluted with water according to the instructions, they can be used to treat the hive. In undiluted form - as an additive to bait. These include: Karbofos, GET, Lambda-zone, Delta-zone, etc. - Ready-made aerosols
. A more expensive option, but immediately ready for use. For example: Clean House, Bros, Delecia, Mosquitall, etc. - Powders and gels
. Ideal for making traps. These include: borax or boric acid, etc. - Glue
. More useful for catching individual adults.
In general, chemical products are presented in a wide range. Everyone has their own positive and negative qualities. And all that remains is to make a choice based on your own preferences.
Destroying a nest with water
This method is not at all a fire hazard; it is not recommended to use it if you do not have the necessary skill. This method is not simple, but it is quite effective. It is recommended to use it if the wasp's nest is attached to the ceiling. To do this, you need to take a bucket of water and fill it with water to the brim, then lift it so that you can see that the edges rest against the ceiling, and the nest should be completely immersed in water. It is recommended to support the water container from below, using a regular stepladder. This structure needs to stand for several hours. However, before you lower everything, you need to make sure that the wasps have died, and for this it is recommended to knock on the bucket with an iron rod or an ordinary wooden mop. You need to listen to see if there is any buzzing and only then lower the bucket, because if the wasps are alive, bad luck, they will fly out and bite.
This method can be used in remote housing, for example on a summer cottage, where hornets may well appear, because they are relatives of wasps. This is very effective if wasps have taken up residence in the attic.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=MjoSoO2KBKg
Security measures
How to remove a wasp nest on the balcony without getting hurt? Well, first you need to realize that a wasp guarding a hive is extremely dangerous. Even more dangerous is the attack of a whole swarm of wasps. Therefore, it is better to warn yourself and fulfill a number of important conditions:
- choose suitable clothing (closed shoes, gloves, a beekeeper’s mask is ideal);
- carry out all the machinations at night, when the wasps are inactive;
- act quickly and thoughtfully.
If the swarm becomes aggressive, immediately return to the apartment. Like any other living beings, after some time they will calm down, and the sabotage can be repeated.
Specialist services
The desire to remove harmful insects from the balcony yourself often leads to severe allergic reactions as a result of multiple bites. A special service will be able to deal with wasps efficiently. The main advantages of turning to specialists:
- professional workers get rid of insects as efficiently and quickly as possible, using proven drugs, as well as a specific strategy for exterminating wasps and other harmful insects;
- you can quickly and inexpensively get rid of wasps, including preventing their further colonization;
- there is no risk of injury or bites;
- there is no need to buy various medications, protective clothing, and then store it;
- receiving appropriate recommendations.
Prevention is the best solution
Dealing with a problem such as wasps on the balcony is an extremely difficult and lengthy procedure. And it is better to prevent this struggle, or eradicate it at the initial stage.
How to minimize the risk of wasps settling on your balcony:
- the balcony should be glazed, ideally;
- the seams between the sheathing and the wall are carefully sealed;
- It would not hurt to protect the storm pipe with a grate;
- do not leave open jars of jam or honey;
- do not turn the balcony into a warehouse, or periodically arrange an audit.
By following these rules, you can free yourself from unnecessary problems. No one wants to destroy an entire population of wasps. In nature, they have their value, so let's be vigilant and not lead to the need for a fight.
In conclusion, it is worth summarizing the main points:
- there is no need to destroy one accidentally lost wasp; it is enough to help it get out into the wild with the help of a matchbox or glass jar;
- If you do find a hive, do not try to knock it down with a stick, as you may provoke wasps and get seriously injured;
- do not risk using extreme folk remedies;
- when choosing chemicals, pay special attention to the safety of the product (it is more convenient to use ready-made aerosols and concentrates);
- follow preventive measures - regularly, in the spring, check the balcony for the presence of wasps, so you will not miss the start of construction of the hive.
Follow simple rules and the question of how to get rid of a wasp nest on the balcony will bypass you.
Should I touch a wasp's nest on the balcony?
Why do doctors strongly advise removing a wasp's nest from the balcony? Perhaps humans can coexist peacefully with insects of this species?
The danger is that wasps perceive any intrusion into their territory as obvious aggression. The housewife goes out to hang up the laundry, moves her hands, takes out clothespins, shakes off the pillowcases - stinging insects perceive all actions as a threat. The answer is immediate: a sting, an attack on a person to protect its nest and young individuals. Representatives of the stinging species do not understand who came out onto the balcony: a child or an adult, which makes an encounter with wasps even more dangerous.
Other important negative factors:
wasps do not leave a sting and can attack several times, which increases the danger from bites; Also, stinging insects often carry certain diseases.
Vinegar essence is a “deadly” smell for wasps
The sharpness of the smell is what makes vinegar another means of fighting wasps. Sometimes an adult is unable to withstand the concentration of vinegar smell, let alone insects.
Pour vinegar into a spray bottle and spray the liquid onto everything around the “dangerous” place: curtains, floors, window frames and all objects located nearby. Wasps, hearing a sharp, intolerable smell, fly away forever.
Vinegar cannot be called the most effective remedy in the fight against wasps, but if you combine it in a complex, for example, with a soap solution or syrup, the effectiveness doubles.
