Topic: Best Way to Get Rid of Paper Wasps?

[Dr. Frankenstein]

I was out working on a CB500 in the garage today and happened to notice a paper wasp silently flying around up high near the apex of the garage...and then I noticed two...and then TEN...! And probably more! They were up high, doing their waspy thing, sometimes dipping down to about head height, but I can't abide that. My garage is a rather new metal pole barn with the corrugated type roof, but I can't see a nest anywhere.

How do you guys control wasps and bees and the like in the garage, especially when you can't see the nest? I really can't spray around the seams of the garage with wasp killer, it would splatter all over the bikes I have; Ideally I need something they're attracted to that they can crawl into and can't get out of once they get in, but I'm open to ideas. Paper wasps are pretty docile, but they have to go!

[HondaMan]

Paper wasps are pretty docile, but they have to go!

The hell you say! Around here, they chase people - and hurt my dogs! (That was their BIG mistake...)
I got some "shoots 25 feet" spray, in a black can. One short shot of it (like 1 second) can (and HAS) wipe out an entire large nest in 10 seconds.
Last year, 8 such nests.
The year before, more than a dozen.
Jihad on all paper wasps.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Hey HM! Yeah, so far they are just minding their own business, but like I said they have got to go. I have no idea where they're coming from, but the plan is to get some of that 20-foot spray foam and try as best I can to soak down the rafters - it's just going to be a PITA to cover up all the bikes...has anybody ever used one of those sticky Wasp Trapstiks?

I once found an old Fiat 1500 Cabriolet behind a derelict garage - I opened the door to look inside and the wasps that had built a nest in the doorframe didn't like that! Chased me for about a hundred yards and got me twice! I hate the little bastards.

[Ichiban 4]

I was out working on a CB500 in the garage today and happened to notice a paper wasp silently flying around up high near the apex of the garage...and then I noticed two...and then TEN...! And probably more! They were up high, doing their waspy thing, sometimes dipping down to about head height, but I can't abide that. My garage is a rather new metal pole barn with the corrugated type roof, but I can't see a nest anywhere.

How do you guys control wasps and bees and the like in the garage, especially when you can't see the nest? I really can't spray around the seams of the garage with wasp killer, it would splatter all over the bikes I have; Ideally I need something they're attracted to that they can crawl into and can't get out of once they get in, but I'm open to ideas. Paper wasps are pretty docile, but they have to go!

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This time of year [even in Virginia] they are probably 'scouting' for new locations to build their nest.  The wasps you see are probably 'foundress queens' and won't increase their nest size much until she has a lot of daughters [meaning laying eggs and enlarging the nest size significantly]..to do the construction and foraging work.

A very effective way to prevent that w/o using a lot of pesticides..etc..is to spray the areas around eves/potential nest sites with a mixture of water and clove oil [also called eugenol]..or vanilla extract.  You can get clove oil usually at the local drug store/pharmacy BTW.  Natural vanilla is also more effective [compared to artificial vanilla or 'vanillan']..which you can determine by reading the ingredients label.

As a long time beekeeper myself..I've had to do wasp and bee prevention measures for my various friends and acquaintances BTW

Any further questions..just PM me..

Best..Al/Ichi

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Well, they're not going to build one in my garage! Lol! I went back in and looked around with the lights off and a flashlight and think I've spotted their little premature nesting site - it's in the apex of the garage, where the tin sheets of the roof come together so I squirted a bit of wasp and yellow jacket killer into the area to try to discourage them. I'm an old AF chemical weapons guy and appreciate a good nerve agent. This usually happens every year, I get a few buzzing around in there, but not like this! I have some sticky traps and fake wasp nests coming too, I heard they work to keep wasps away, so what the hell...

That's interesting about the clove oil and vanilla...what's the ratio of clove and/or vanilla? Vanilla is rather expensive, isn't it? But the garage would smell lovely, I would think! 

[Kelly E]

In the spring I'm always on the lookout for wasp/yellow jacket nests. If they are too much for me I call my pest guy. He has a pesticide gun mounted in his truck made from a pressure washer wand that will shoot 30+ feet up and blows the nests apart.

[Ichiban 4]

Well, they're not going to build one in my garage! Lol! I went back in and looked around with the lights off and a flashlight and think I've spotted their little premature nesting site - it's in the apex of the garage, where the tin sheets of the roof come together so I squirted a bit of wasp and yellow jacket killer into the area to try to discourage them. I'm an old AF chemical weapons guy and appreciate a good nerve agent. This usually happens every year, I get a few buzzing around in there, but not like this! I have some sticky traps and fake wasp nests coming too, I heard they work to keep wasps away, so what the hell...

That's interesting about the clove oil and vanilla...what's the ratio of clove and/or vanilla? Vanilla is rather expensive, isn't it? But the garage would smell lovely, I would think! 

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It doesn't take much of either the Clove or Vanilla oil.  I usually put about 1/4 ounce in a 1-quart spray bottle..shake-up thoroughly..and spray away on areas you don't want the wasps to build nests.  You have to remove any nest material you see first though..or they may try to rebuild the nest. these mixtures act as a repellant BTW.  They don't kill the wasps [or bees] directly.  But they seem to hate the smell of those two materials..clove and/or vanilla.  If the area is subject to rain or after protracted periods [several months usually] the odor dissipates..so I've had to rarely re-apply a spray treatment.  After the wasps have apparently been repelled from that area though..they seem to remember that it's not a good place for them to build nests [at least that's been my theory LOL].

BTW You don't have to worry about poisoning yourself or other people who may come in contact with the sprayed areas.  That's one of the reasons that I've been asked to do this for people who have pets or small children in the area..I've surmised.

Best of luck..Al/Ichi