Yellow jackets were once known as the “bees’ nest builder” because of their ability to construct a home for an entire colony (honeybees do this too, and so do some wasps). The name yellow jacket is a derivative of the distinctive coloring on their stomachs. If you experience infestation within your attic or eaves, you may want to consider the best pest control for yellow jackets. If you have a pest problem, and if that pest is yellow jackets, then you’ve come to the right place! If you are looking for yellow jacket control in , or , you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re looking for services like termite control or great tips on controlling a yellow jacket infestation that you can use yourself, we’ve got you covered. Yellow Jacket Control – Especially for You In the last few years, yellow jackets have grown increasingly aggressive. While this pest has always been a nuisance in the past, recently, there has been a severe increase in the number of people that are stung by this insect. Whether you find them attacking your yard or home or getting into your grill and stealing your food at a picnic or a cookout, yellow jacket control is something that everyone needs to consider.
Best Pest Control For Yellow Jackets
How do you get yellow jackets?
Yellow jackets are found in countries worldwide and are most prominent during summer and the early days of fall. Like other insects, yellow jackets are attracted to sugary substances. During the larvae stage, yellow jackets feed on a variety of proteins in the form of small insects brought back to the hive by the adults.
Since yellow jackets nest underground, they’re attracted to properties with open rodent holes and burrows. Combine that with exposed trash nearby, and chances are good that you’ll eventually get a yellow jacket infestation. Because yellow jackets are aggressive, easily provoked, and attack in swarms, they can pose a significant threat to anyone on the property.
How to check for yellow jackets
You likely won’t know you have a yellow jacket problem until you see them flying around your property. While they’re similar in color to bees, the shape and visible body texture is an easy way to tell them apart. Yellow jackets are smaller, have a slimmer waist, and smooth texture, and they’ll most likely congregate around open trash cans, outdoor restaurants, and other places where sugary substances are easily accessible.
Before you start to get rid of yellow jackets, you’ll need to determine where their food source is and potential locations for hives. All yellow jackets use the same flight path back and forth, making it easy to track the source. Follow them at a safe distance as they fly around your property until they reach the hive. Once you’ve found the hive, check other areas of your front and back yard, and around the perimeter of your home for additional hiding places.
How long can yellow jacket infestations last?
Yellow jacket infestations last for the duration of the summer season. Once the season is up, the queen will fly to another location to make a new hive. The vast majority of yellow jackets left behind will die at the end of the season, and hives are never reused.
How to get rid of yellow jackets step by step
Once you’ve found a hive, move quickly to eradicate the problem. Even though yellow jacket infestations are temporary, they can be a real nuisance and potentially dangerous if someone develops an allergic reaction to their sting. Learn how to kill yellow jackets with the following steps.
Step 1: Select your yellow jacket treatment
There are numerous products available for purchase that you can use to get rid of yellow jackets. The most common include sprays, traps, and baits.
Step 2: Find the nest
Finding the nest is essential to eradicating a yellow jacket infestation. Before venturing out, put on a long-sleeve shirt, pants, a mask, and protective eyewear. As you follow the yellow jacket around your property, listen for loud buzzing noises that could indicate the location of the nest.
Step 3: Find the entry and exit points
Since yellow jackets live underground in animal burrows, you’ll need to locate both the entry point and exit point of the nest. Do this by looking for holes in the ground that are closely guarded by a few yellow jackets hovering nearby.
Step 4: Apply the treatment
Once you’ve located the nest, wait until dusk or just before sunrise to apply the treatment. This makes it harder for the yellow jackets to find and sting you. While there are a number of treatments available, an aerosol spray is safest for homeowners. The product should feature a long-range spray that allows you to stand back from the hole. Make sure to spray both the entrance and exit holes of the nest for at least one minute each, moving in circular motions and covering as much of the interior nest walls as possible. If any yellow jackets escape, spray them directly before they can fly away.
Step 5: Check the nest for activity
After treating the nest, wait 24 hours, and check for additional yellow jacket activity. Apply treatment again if needed.
Products you can use to treat yellow jacket infestations
- Ortho Home Defense Hornet & Wasp Killer. When using this guide on how to get rid of yellow jackets, this aerosol spray will allow you to keep a safe distance of up to 20 feet.
- RESCUE! Reusable Yellow Jacket Trap. This trap lures yellow jackets with a special non-toxic chemical. Once inside, the yellow jackets die from dehydration.
- RESCUE! Disposable Yellow Jacket Trap. This yellow jacket trap is effective for luring all types of yellow jacket species and then drowning them in a nontoxic liquid.
- Bonide 363 Spider and Ground Bee Killer. This product helps kill and prevent further infestations. Apply it to the exterior of your home, dark corners, and holes as needed.
Don’t want to use chemical cleaners? Here’s how to get rid of yellow jackets naturally
If you don’t want to use chemicals on your property, natural home remedies can be just as effective if you’ve got the supplies in your home.
Place glass bowls on both the entrance and exit holes of the hive. This will trap the yellow jackets inside, leaving them to starve to death. Dry ice can also be an effective and swift killer of yellow jackets when you dump it into the nest and cover both holes with dirt.
If you decide to use either option, make sure to wear protective clothing and gloves.
When to call a professional exterminator to treat yellow jackets
Not all yellow jacket hives can be eradicated with DIY products. If the hive is too big or you’re unable to reach it with a spray from a safe distance, calling a professional exterminator might be your best option.
Yellow jacket hives can be difficult to find if they’re located in bushes or up trees. If you’ve already eliminated one hive but still notice yellow jackets flying around your property, call a professional to finish the job.
How to keep yellow jackets out of your home
The best way to prevent yellow jackets from returning to your home is by filling any visible holes in your yard. If your trash cans are stored outside, make sure they’re covered at all times. Investing in a yellow jacket deterrent is advisable if infestations are a constant problem in your area.
- Targets Yellowjackets – Lured in by our specially formulated attractant, yellowjackets fly in through the holes in the bottom of the trap and become trapped. Once inside, they die from dehydration.
- Attracts Multiple Species – This trap lures roughly a dozen species of stinging yellow jackets found in North America. (Please note: this trap only targets yellowjackets; it will not catch wasps or hornets).
- Reusable – Durable plastic construction is built to withstand many seasons of use. The included attractant lasts for weeks without daily maintenance. Additional attractant refills are available (sold separately).
- Won’t Attract Honeybees – Our Reusable Yellowjacket Trap is specially designed to attract and kill yellowjackets, not beneficial honeybees.
- Made in the USA – At RESCUE!, our goal is to design and manufacture the safest and most effective pest control solutions available. We proudly manufacture our products in the USA!
Additional Info :
| Color | Yellow & Green |
- FOR RESCUE! WHY TRAP – This refill works with the RESCUE! WHY Non-Toxic Reusable Trap for Wasp, Hornet and Yellowjackets, and provides 2 weeks of attractant power.
- WHAT IT CATCHES – This attractant lures paper wasps, red wasps, bald-faced hornets, European hornets, and yellowjackets. The two-week supply includes three attractants that work together inside the trap.
- NO KILLING AGENT – Unlike potentially harmful sprays and chemicals, the WHY Trap and its attractant rely on a non-toxic mode of action, killing insects naturally.
- WHERE TO USE – For best results, use the WHY Trap outdoors, at least 20 feet away from where you want to enjoy outdoor activities.
- MADE IN THE USA – At RESCUE!, our goal is to design, manufacture, and market the safest and most effective pest control solutions available for homeowners. We are proud to manufacture our products in the USA!
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 12 Inches |
| Width | 5.25 Inches |
| Length | 3.63 Inches |
- THE ORIGINAL – There’s a reason you see this trap everywhere: it’s the original, and it works! There are roughly a dozen species of stinging yellow jackets throughout North America, and this trap is designed to lure them all.
- HIGHLY EFFECTIVE – Lured in by our specially formulated attractant, yellowjackets fly in through the holes in the bottom of the trap, continue upward through the interior cone, and become trapped. Once inside, they die from dehydration—no killing agent required.
- NON-TOXIC – Unlike potentially harmful sprays, this trap relies on a non-toxic mode of action to eliminate yellowjackets. Its durable plastic construction is built to withstand many seasons of use. Attractant refills are available.
- SMARTER PEST CONTROL – Our Reusable Yellowjacket Trap is specially designed to attract and kill yellowjackets, not beneficial honeybees. The included attractant lasts for weeks without daily maintenance.
- MADE IN THE USA – At RESCUE!, our goal is to design, manufacture, and market the safest and most effective pest control solutions available for homeowners. We are proud to manufacture our products in the USA!
Additional Info :
| Color | Yellow |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 10 Inches |
| Width | 6 Inches |
| Length | 6 Inches |
- Controls yellow jackets, flies, and fruit flies
- Ideal to use for picnics, camping, and cookouts
- Natural bait contains carbohydrates and protein, not hazardous sprays or aerosols
- Bait is effective in all geographic regions
- Easy to use and reusable
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 9.09842518757 Inches |
| Width | 4.330708657 Inches |
| Length | 4.330708657 Inches |
| Weight | 0.19 Pounds |
- Lure & Eliminate Yellowjackets – This disposable yellowjacket trap targets and traps all major species of yellowjackets found east of the Rocky Mountains in North America.
- Most Effective During Summer – This trap is most effective during summer months when the weather is warm and dry. (Please note: this trap only targets yellowjackets; it will not catch wasps or hornets).
- Easy to Use – Just add water to activate the powdered attractant and hang the trap outside! The attractant lasts for weeks, and no rebaiting is necessary. Once it’s full, dispose in the trash.
- East of the Rockies – Make sure you choose the right trap! The attractant in this model is specially formulated to lure yellowjacket species found in states east of the Rocky Mountains.
- Made in the USA – At RESCUE!, our goal is to design and manufacture the safest and most effective pest control solutions available. We proudly manufacture our products in the USA!
Additional Info :
| Color | Green |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Weight | 0.22 Pounds |