Hornets, wasps or bees nesting at home: how to eradicate and what to avoid?

As summer approaches, hornets and wasps start nesting. Unfortunately, they are often unwelcome visitors, as their favourite places to settle are attics, windowsills, eaves, cracks in walls, etc.

A wasp or hornet nest in the home is not only unpleasant but also dangerous. These insects appear at first glance to be quite harmless, even quite beautiful. However, if you find a hornet or wasp nest in your home or other premises, you should not rejoice – both hornets and wasps are aggressive and dangerous, and can attack people.

This often makes the destruction of a hornet nest or the removal of wasp nests unavoidable. It is important to be properly prepared and knowledgeable, and if you don’t know how to eradicate a hornets’ nest safely, you should call on the help of professionals.

Common mistakes when exterminating a wasp or hornet nest

Before you start exterminating a wasp or hornet nest, it is important to know what not to do. Reckless attempts to eradicate a nest or to annoy these insects can put you and others at serious risk.

Such mistakes are common, but they can be easily avoided – it is important to know what not to do before trying to destroy a hornet or wasp nest.

• Do not touch the nest. Sometimes when you see a nest, you want to remove it or knock it down more quickly. But hornets or wasps, sensing danger, give off chemical alarms, thus summoning the whole swarm to their aid, which would be really dangerous for you. So don’t annoy them.
• Don’t kill wasps, hornets during the day. Both wasps and hornets are active at this time of the day, and trying to kill them can cause a dangerous reaction. The most effective and less dangerous way to kill wasps or hornets will be at night, when they are asleep and less alert.
• Don’t forget your protective equipment. Do not go near a nest without proper clothing – wear a hood, gloves, tight-fitting clothing and eye protection.
• Do not spray any products on the nest during the day or try to chase the insects out of the area – this will only make them angrier.

When can you exterminate a hornets’ nest yourself and when should you call in the experts?

Before considering how to eradicate hornets or wasps, it is important to first assess the complexity of the situation. Is the wasp or hornet nest small, barely starting to turn? Or is it already large and active?

We do not recommend touching large nests yourself, as this is dangerous. In this case, the best solution is to get professional help to safely remove the hornet or wasp nest and protect yourself.

If the nest is small, recently spotted and easily accessible, you can follow our advice and remove the hornet or wasp nest yourself, reducing the risk to yourself and others.

By the way, hornets and wasps are often confused, and their behaviour and dangerousness differ. It is therefore advisable to be aware of their differences before undertaking extermination activities.

How to prepare for the safe destruction of a hornet or wasp nest?

Before starting any action, it is essential to be properly prepared – exterminating hornets or wasps without safety precautions can be dangerous. These insects become aggressive when they feel threatened, so the most important thing is to ensure your safety:

• Dress thickly – a hood, long sleeves and thick clothing are useful.
• Protect your eyes with wide plastic glasses.
• Wear thick gloves to cover your hands and wrists.
• Protect your face, neck and other exposed areas.
• While the hornets’ nest is being destroyed, make sure that the household is safely indoors or at a safe distance.

Hornets are less active at night, so if possible, move the destruction of a hornet nest to night.

Exterminating hornets and wasps: safe ways to eradicate a nest

If you find a hornet or wasp nest, it is important to know how to eradicate these insects safely. There are several ways – the choice depends on where the nest is located and how large it is.

How do I eradicate a hornets’ nest in the ground?

If you find a hornets’ nest in the ground, the solution can be quite simple – pour water over it. Hot or even boiling water will have the greatest effect, and you can supplement the water with special insecticides for even better results. At night, while the hornets are asleep, fill the nest and cover the entrance with a large stone.

How do I eradicate a hornet or wasp nest that is hanging?

If a wasp or hornet nest is hanging in a deck, shelter or tree, it can be destroyed in two different ways.

1. Cover the socket with polythene (suffocation)

Use a polythene bag or film, and prepare strong adhesive tape to ensure a strong grip. At night, cover the socket tightly with the film or bag and stick it to the wall or other surface to which the socket is attached. Insects will not be able to escape and will suffocate.

2. Physically remove the nest and destroy it

This method is only suitable when the nest is easily accessible and not very active. Operate at night when the insects are asleep. Carefully cover the nest with a sturdy plastic bag from the bottom, unhook and tie it tightly.

Never try to remove the hornets’ nest with bare hands or without protective equipment – this is extremely dangerous.

After the nest has been removed, destroy the hornets and wasps using special products designed for this purpose. This is one of the safer methods if you have the means to implement it safely.

How do I eradicate a hornet or wasp nest outdoors with traps?

If a hornet or wasp nest is outdoors and difficult to reach, or if the insects are flying nearby but the exact location of the nest cannot be found, wasp and hornet trapping may help.

They are available for purchase, but you can easily make them yourself:

• Take a larger plastic bottle (about a couple of litres);
• Cut off the top of the bottle (about one third);
• Turn the cut part upside down and insert it into the lower part of the bottle;
• Add a wasp-attracting drink inside – it should be sweet, sticky, slightly acidic, for example water with jam or sweet fruit;
• Add some boric acid;
• Punch a couple of holes in the upper part to allow the trap to be hung;
• Hang it where you see insects most often. If there are a lot of insects, it is a good idea to make several traps.

How to destroy a hornets’ nest in hard-to-reach places?

And how do we destroy a hornet’s nest that we cannot reach? These insects are more difficult to fight if they settle in a crack or other hard-to-reach place.

In this case, try spraying with special products. But be careful, dress appropriately and remember that wasps and hornets are vicious and dangerous.

If none of these methods work for you, seem too complicated or you just don’t dare to do it yourself, then the best option is to seek professional help. Hornet extermination and wasp extermination services will help you solve the problem effectively and safely.

How can I prevent hornets or wasps from nesting in my home or yard?

To avoid this uninvited neighbourhood, it is recommended that you regularly inspect your home, summer house or other premises. Hornets and wasps tend to nest in attics, outbuildings, under roof slopes, in ridges or in cracks in walls.

It is worth checking these areas particularly carefully in spring, which is when the first signs of hornets or wasps nesting are most often seen. This will help you to prevent a nest that has not yet become established. Also check where hornets have nested before – these insects often return to the same places. It is also important to seal up any cracks where the insects can get into the loft or other room.

If you want to make your yard or farmhouse less attractive to wasps and hornets, plant plants that these insects do not like: mint, eucalyptus, thyme.

Bees’ or bumblebees’ nest: what to do and is it really necessary to exterminate?

To some people, bees and bumblebees look very similar, but it’s important to know the differences. Bumblebees are wild bees that often make their home in burrows dug by moles, in bird nests, under turf or in the ground.

When considering how to eradicate a bee or bumblebee nest, experts remind people that bee nests are usually not a danger and should not be destroyed. Bumblebees are not aggressive, they do not harm humans, and they even help in the garden by pollinating plants and maintaining the natural ecosystem.Therefore, if you find one or more bee or bumblebee nests, you shouldn’t exterminate them. If you are unsure whether they are bees or hornets, it is best to consult a specialist.

Professional wasp or hornet nest removal

If you have found a hornet or wasp nest indoors and you don’t know how to eradicate it safely, are afraid of the insects’ aggression, or just want a quick and reliable solution, it’s best to contact a professional.

Professional hornet nest removal ensures that the job is done safely, efficiently and without additional risks. Specialists have extensive knowledge of hornet and wasp behaviour, biology and nest structure, and can tailor the most appropriate solutions to the specific situation.

It is often not possible to remove a hornet or wasp nest yourself, especially if the nest is difficult to access or very active. So call in the professionals to take care of everything from A to Z.