How to Get Rid of Yellow Jackets

LAST UPDATED: November 30, 2023

What have you ever heard about yellow jackets? Whether these are true or false facts, any sort of pest infestation around humans needs an in-depth review and expert analysis.

So, welcome to the yellow jacket encyclopedia!

Have you got a yellow jacket nest in the house? Then hurry up to find out everything on how to get rid of wasps & yellow jackets in particular!

It’s well-known that a yellow jacket bee is probably the most aggressive type of wasps, building nests, gathering food, and stinging others, of course. Unlike honey bees, the yellow jacket infestation is extremely ‘socially active’, especially if being bothered.
Contrary to popular belief that yellow jackets are to be beneficial insects as well, this is your year-round threat, totally.

9 Essentials for Every Homeowner

These are ground-dwelling wasps, often mistaken for bees, which disturb the most in autumn, when their numbers are very high.
They’re small, about 10-16 mm long, insects with black & yellow-banded/white-black bodies. That’s why ‘yellow jackets’ have got their specific name.
Each creature has a smooth stinger for biting multiple (!) times, in contrast to honey bee (only once).
Yellow jackets, being pollinators, are considered beneficial, as they eat harmful pests.
However, they’re scavengers as well, who love not only sugary substances but even fish and meat!
Many yellow jacket bees are ground-nesters. So, their colonies are found in:
- sidewalk cracks
- under porches
- around railroad ties
- and at the tree bases
Alternatively, there are nests in low-hanging branches, in bushes or manmade structures.
Entomologists say that yellow jackets build their new nest each year. This process starts in spring from a single queen, but finishes in autumn by, at least, 1, 000 workers.
These wasps are simply defensive of their nest, but not searching for people to sting. Thus, when being threatened, they attack the dangerous object in mass.
By the way, different sounds and vibrations over underground nests or nearby can trigger the attacks of yellow jackets.
These nests are bulky, multi-tiered or paper ones, the size of a ball. The best thing to do after being attacked is to run away as fast as possible.
Each person may respond to stings differently. But yellow jackets can become life-threatening for some people, because of an anaphylactic shock. As a result, those people may need emergency yellow jacket treatment.
Typically, a person suffers from difficulty breathing.
No doubt that yellow jacket prevention is always better than running during the possible attack.
If a few yellow jackets are noticed, you should look for the nearest nest. In a word, be aware of your surroundings!

How to Exterminate Yellow Jackets Right?

Do you know that once you have identified a yellow jacket nest, it is necessary to wait until dark? Indeed, at night, these pests do not fly and thus, this is a good time to work without disturbing the wasps.

What else do the entomologists recommend to get rid of yellow jacket bees? Discover a few lines you’ve probably never been guided within your own approach “How do I get rid of yellow jackets?”

The easiest method is a specific killer for wasp nests, either in powder or as a spray.

Amazingly, but the easiest & sure way to kill your yellow jackets is to wait for the cold weather set outdoors! Get to know that only queens can survive in winter, by sheltering in some protected place: a hollow tree, an attic or dead tree bark.
The yellow jacket colony remains active for only 1 summer.
In fact, your next battle may start or even not in spring, when the queen creates a new nest in the ground.
Are you going to deal with bees or wasps in the warm season? Then the easiest method to kill their pest infestation is a specific killer for wasp nests, either in powder or as a spray.
In your case, this is a yellow jacket insecticide with deltamethrin, which should be placed over the nest entrance at night. As a result, the yellow jackets will get it on the bodies while traveling into their nest.
This approach takes a couple of days, reduces any chances of being stung, and is non-confrontational in general. So, the powders are both dusted along the soil and squeezed into the insect nest with a household turkey baster.
A natural yellow jacket repellant or an aerosol wasp spray can also kill this type of wasps, is aimed directly at their nest and working quickly.
But, synthetic killers contain dangerous toxins plus require extreme care around humans, pets, and food. Alternatively, organic chemicals with plant oils & fatty acids are biodegradable and safe for living things.
If you call any professional exterminator, he will vacuum yellow jackets out of the ground. The workers will be sucked inside until the nest is completely emptied. Then the pros will plug the cleaner with duct tape and let the machine alone for several days before getting out the remains.
Similarly, you may use a bug zapper, placing it next to the nest hole and turning it on. The yellow jackets will aggressively attack the noisy intruder and just fry!

5 Expert Advice to Get Rid of Them in the Ground

1. In the right place, at the right time.
The best time to kill any wasp nest (and a yellow jacket one as well) is at night in late spring (when insects feed their young) or in early summer (when the newborn colony is already nest-embedded).
In fall the insects become more aggressive around people because their food supplies run out.
2. Red light!
While working at night, you will need a flashlight, right? So, get it red, as far as yellow jackets can see nothing in red light. Consequently, they will not notice any movement outside the nest.
Also, wear ‘long-sleeve’ jackets against ‘yellow’ jackets and their repeated stinging.
3. Aerosol or dust?
- How to get rid of yellow jackets in the ground?
  Just pour the insecticide powder into the hole, and then cover it with soil.
- How to eliminate yellow jackets in their exterior nests?
  Simply spray the killing aerosol into the nest, following the package directions.
4. The entire colony must be gone.
Remember that a yellow jacket nest usually holds up to 3,000 individuals. That means you have to use the right compounds and wait for evidence that you’ve killed every flying yellow jacket!
Depending on the nest size, the chosen insecticides may be applied 2-3 times.
5. Prevention is always better than cure!

How to get rid of yellow jackets naturally? Well, why not prevent the insects from disturbing you by keeping trash cans tightly closed and keeping no food outdoors?

Yellow jackets are extremely attracted to garbage and many other human foods, especially meats and sweets.

So, here are your recommended measures of control:
- Sanitation (eliminate all possible food sources, empty the open containers regularly, etc).
- Keeping your lawn dry & cut high (do not invite the beetles to your yard, because their eggs are the yellow jackets’ food).