How to Get Rid of Paper Wasps (4 Easy Steps)

In this video, we’ll show you how to identify and get rid of paper wasps on your property.

Shop for Stryker Wasp & Hornet Killer here!

Shop for Sylo Insecticide here!

Shop for Pyrid Aerosol Insecticide here!

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Introduction: 0:00
How to Identify Paper Wasps: 0:30
How to Inspect for Paper Wasps: 1:30
How to Treat for Paper Wasps: 1:50
How to Prevent Paper Wasps: 4:23

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Most paper wasps grow to be 1-inch in length, but a few can grow as large as 1.5 inches. Paper wasps have two wings, and they’re bodies will be black or brown with red or yellow markings. It’s easy to confuse these for other wasp species, like yellow jackets, but you can tell paper wasps apart as they have thinner waists and longer legs.

You can also identify paper wasps by looking at their nest. A paper wasp nest is made from a paper-like material, hence their name, and is shaped similarly to an open umbrella, although you might only see the nest exposed from below. From below, you’ll see one comb made up of many hexagonal cells. If you see a nest that looks cone-like or enclosed, then this is a different wasp species and may require a different treatment approach.

To confirm paper wasp activity on your property, look around structures to find where paper wasps can establish their nests. Paper wasps tend to build nests on elevated parts of manmade structures. Common spots include door frames, window frames, outdoor ceilings, eaves, and trees. In rare cases, paper wasps can even build nests indoors if the ceiling is high enough. You can use the presence of any nearby wasps to help you locate any nests, since wasps usually travel within a set distance from home.

To treat paper wasps, use Stryker Wasp and Hornet Killer to deal with any wasps and nests on your property, then follow-up with a barrier application of Sylo Insecticide. Use Pyrid Aerosol for wasps that make their ways indoors.

Although Sylo will continue to protect treated areas for 90 days after application, you can take further steps to ensure paper wasps stay away from your property. Make sure your property is kept clean. Pick up trash and make sure no food is left outside. Trim back any overhanging tree branches and overgrown shrubbery. Wasps will establish in almost any hanging space, so it’ll benefit you to limit their choices on your property.

Regularly check your property for any further wasp activity. If you find new nests forming, it’ll be easier to treat them sooner rather than later. Treat the nest with Stryker, then protect the spot with an application of Sylo.

Visit our website to learn more about paper wasps and shop for pro-grade products!

Thanks for watching!

#diypestcontrol #solutionspestandlawn #paperwasps

[TheCrazyBird]

Just want to say thank you for including identification, I thought I had yellow jackets, I now know I have paper wasps and am on the right video 👍

[IrishGirl]

We coexist peacefully with a small paperwasp nest, (after different attempts to try to repel her from wanting to create nests were unsuccessful), right next to our back door! She will allow us to open and close the door without attacking or becoming aggressive. I can actually get close enough to see the larvae move and she'll just continue to work. Today she flew right over my head, (she doesn't leave the nest often), and I thought she was on the attack but she was off to get supplies. It's like we have an understanding. Lol. Although I can say she's been a nice neighbor, (mosquito population in area is down), I can't say her family will be as friendly...I have a feeling we will not be using the back door the rest of summer. Sigh...

[mamasaid]

Had to have the exterminator come out to my house for these yellow and brown banded paper wasps today. I have been battling with them all summer and I hope this time I have won!

[troytaylor]

I actually want more paper wasp, other wasp like mud daubers except for bald faced hornets. I haven't seen a single inch worm or horned tomato worm in 6 years now since I stopped trying to kill wasp. I haven't been stung by one yet even while painting the house around their nest, doing that kinda made me nervous.

[CrankyPantss]

We have quite a few paper wasps that build their nests in our shrubs, (specifically sunshine ligustrum). The store-bought Raid wasp killer has destroyed the part of any kind of shrubs that we’ve had that it touches. We don’t want to rip out all of the shrubs in the front and back yards. Is your recommended chemical treatment safe on our greenery?

[cds]

I tend to leave em alone cause they don't have large numbers here. The real problem here are hornets and yellow jackets since their nest can be inside your basement.

[LatheWerks]

For wasps inside, I use a vacuum cleaner. So far I've probably vacuumed 60+ without getting stung

[fretmajik]

Wow, my whole life I referred to paper wasps as yellow jackets. Paper wasps have always been real aggressive to me, I hate them :)

[gramda]

Do paper wasps build hives in grass? And it disappeared after a few days, did an animal take it? Thanks

[aspiechan]

I had these bastards in a truss at work. Almost stung my coworker when he was driving the forklift. I drenched them in WD-40!

[De__zu]

Can anyone confirm the relation between paper wasp and pigeons?
I always find them in same spot but only either of them will be present.

[tarikrandom]

Papers wasps are not as aggressive as yellow jackets from my experience.

[limmitchris]

broooo why did they think the back of my 4 wheeler was a good spot

[mariakasstan]

I really like wasps (as I also really like bees and ants) and was hoping to move a paper wasp nest out of the community greenhouse without harming them. My main concern is that other people coming near will act aggressively or start flapping out of fear and get stung. They don't sting me because I feel they sense my peacable attitude. I wish you folks could come up with perhaps a hormone spray that would get them to chill out while I carefully. transport the nest a short distance. There is an extinction crisis occurring among insects more generally. Germany has a very large fine for those destroying a wasp nest, for example, because they seem more aware of the population crash. I especially fear that moving/disrupting the nest in August might disrupt the part of their annual cycle that produces next year's queens so may opt to defend them until they wind up their affairs.in October. Please come up with less lethal ways of dealing with these amazing animals who not only taught us how to make paper but have cousins who showed us how to make pottery, a development that made food storage (grains, oils, wine, etc.) not only possible but practical. It is probably the irrational fears that people have that cause them to act or perhaps smell confrontational and start the conflict on the human side.

[HannahJablama]

What to do when they live in a tree trunk that has a very small hole???

[trevorbyron]

Supposing you don't want to kill them, bit move their nest or discourage them to leave The location

[danhengedthe]

These Paper Wasps are mostly docile and sweet. They can identify a human and if not bothered, they will co exist with you without harm. If one charges you and hits you, it probably won’t sting you, as only females have stingers, but both sex paper wasps will charge you and hit you to defend their nest. Only if provoked or threatened though. I think they are friendly and cool. I’m leaving it there until it becomes a problem. 👍🏻

[GabHeart-rkqm]

No food left outside, grass cut, trim branches,

[Cali-Girl]

Wasps are only a problem if you disturb thier them or their nests. It is not necessary to kill them just because you can. I have huge colonies in my yard. We have a huge hedge along the back of English Laurel. I have lived here year, we have trimmed the whole thing about 60 feet and 4 feet wide, with electric hedge trimmer, and were not stung once. I don't see the nests, but obviously they are somewhere close by. I've been stung plenty of times and it's not fatal, it just hurts. One must just take care not grab them or inadvertently disturb a nest. These insects are great pollinators and are important for the ecosystem. I've lived among these creatures for 60 years and have come to learn how beneficial they are. Anytime I need to remove a "umbrella" type nest to paint, or they are in an area that presents danger to pets or humans like under a porch railing, I just get a long handed tool like a broom and knock it down, and they all scatter and abandon the nest. Once they have flown off, you then dispose of the nest. AT least try to live with nature when possible and avoid poisons.

[dawnwr]

Can you just hire someone to remove the nest I can't use all these pesticides in my gutter area. that's literally where the water from the rain is going to drain and all of that is going to go down into my soil and my grass and I have a garden with edible vegetables so these chemicals are not an option for me. I found an old nest in between my son's bedroom window panes that I got rid of last year but they're back this year and it appears they're either going under loose shingles or on the gutter. I don't see how they can have a successful nest inside of my rain gutters though. especially with all the rain we get here we had downpours tonight so if they had a nest there they drowned. Only thing I can think of is under the shingles maybe but they're definitely on the roof.