How to get rid of Hornets?

[tallyho8]

I had not been in a shed I have in a couple of months and went it for a second until I saw hornets buzzing and then I ran out. I came back later with a new can of hornet spray and wearing some more protective clothing and located the hornet nest under the bottom shelf inside a closet. I gave the nest a fast spray and quickly ran out again right away as they started buzzing around.

I repeated doing that for the last 4 days and have many dead hornets on the floor but I think they are being born as fast as I spray them because the spray can't get inside the nest. My Doberman got bit when he got too curious and let out a big yelp as he ran away and licked the spot for a long time so I know it will hurt if one gets me. I can't blast the nest with my shotgun where it is and I'm not about to hit it with a stick. My flamethrower is out of the question.

Is there some kind of hornet bait or hornet grenade I can throw in there? (Not a real grenade) I lived here all my life and have never seen hornets anywhere around here before. We have lots of wasps but I know how to deal with them but since the hornets have what seems to be an impenetrable fortress I am stumped.

 

[YanmarFever]

Go in at night with the can of spray and let them have it. They dont fly in the dark. If you have to, take a flashlight.

 

[RjCorazza]

I use a powder called Drione in a puffer type applicator. Apply at night when all hornets are in the nest. They don't get aggravated at first, and I usually have about 20-30 seconds to get out of the area.

 

[tallyho8]

One problem I have is that the bottom of their nest where the entrance hole is,is only about an inch above the floor of the cabinet and in the far back corner. To spray something in the hole I would need a long spray tube with a 90 degree, short upturn at the end of it.

I was wondering if I could get a powerful firecracker (the illegal kind) and throw it under the hole and damage the nest. I don't know how strong the nests are as I never saw one before.

 

[2manyrocks]

That wont kill all of them. Only make the numerous survivors really mad.

Try a strong concentration of dawn dishwashing detergent in a sprayer.

 

[grsthegreat]

I use a product that kills on contact. I mean they just drop dead. I encounter yellow jackets in every electrical panel i open in the summer. I havnt been stung in many years. For nests i simply soak the nest. Seems to kill the inside pests. I buy this by the case.

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[tacticalturnip]

They don't like Fluid Film...

 

[caver]

I was getting out of my backhoe a few weeks ago and saw a cluster of flying insects then saw the hornets nest being built in the end of the loader pivot. I use the boom to block doors on a shipping container. One method I have heard that works is a shallow tub. Put a board across it and attach chicken meat. Flip the board so the meat is down then fill the tub to within an inch of the board/meat adding dish soap. Youtuber Shawn Woods has a video on this somewhere. Previous years they built a big hive on my barn eve.

 

[caver]

Here's a commercial version he reviewed.

 

[RjCorazza]

One problem I have is that the bottom of their nest where the entrance hole is,is only about an inch above the floor of the cabinet and in the far back corner. To spray something in the hole I would need a long spray tube with a 90 degree, short upturn at the end of it.

I was wondering if I could get a powerful firecracker (the illegal kind) and throw it under the hole and damage the nest. I don't know how strong the nests are as I never saw one before.

The powder will fill the nest from the bottom. The dust applicator has a 45 degree bend so accessing the entrance will not be a problem. If you want to get stung up, it sounds like you are on the right path.

 

[Dftodd]

They don't like Fluid Film...

Nor brake cleaner. That's plan B when I run out of wasp spray at work.

 

[mapper]

If you haven't sprayed a nest there are venom collection companies around that will come and harvest the nest for free. Around here they usually respond in a couple of days. They get in there with a vacume cleaner and a bee suit and take the brood with them.
That being said I have found that the vacume with a long wand works pretty well, prop the wand so that the end is near the opening in the nest and let it eat for an hour or so. That will pretty much get all of the adults.
The venom guys put a 1/2" band of white tape around the end of the wand, makes them attack it.
If you use a shop vac with a filter bag some may survive getting sucked up, take the bag out a let them wirle around in the tank, they don't do so well .....

 

[Jstpssng]

I know that it's gas, and gas is well, GAS, but...​

Well, maybe not such a good idea in this scenario.

 

[SPYDERLK]

One problem I have is that the bottom of their nest where the entrance hole is,is only about an inch above the floor of the cabinet and in the far back corner. To spray something in the hole I would need a long spray tube with a 90 degree, short upturn at the end of it.

I was wondering if I could get a powerful firecracker (the illegal kind) and throw it under the hole and damage the nest. I don't know how strong the nests are as I never saw one before.

At night, take a big hypo with 1 or 2 oz gas. Hold your breath. Insert needle in the top of the nest and inject. Leave. Go as far away as you can before you breathe. There are sentries. They can follow a CO2 trail.

The nest will die. Only the sentries will survive and theyll leave.

 

[tallyho8]

I just wanted the fireworks to blow a hole in the nest or blow it apart so I could get the spray inside it. Maybe at night I could hit it with a shovel to try to break it and run away. Then come back and spray after they settle back down.

 

[tallyho8]

At night, take a big hypo with 1 or 2 oz gas. Hold your breath. Insert needle in the top of the nest and inject. Leave. Go as far away as you can before you breathe. There are sentries. They can follow a CO2 trail.

The nest will die. Only the sentries will survive and theyll leave.

I have some big plastic syringes but the last time I put gasoline in one, it melted the plunger and made it stick to the sides so it wouldn't squirt out.

 

[BnRidge]

Two years ago we had a couple nests of yellow jackets, and of course they each had to be right next to an entrance. I tried spraying raid type insecticides. That lasted a little while, but of course didn't get the queen or whatever else was going on inside the nest. In desperation, I looked around and found a large plastic syringe and some 1/4 plastic tubing. Filled it with some diesel, jabbed the tubing into the nest hole, and gave it a few cc shot. Hmm, did that ever confuse them. They had no interest in me, but instead on how are they going to get around whatever just pooped on their pillow. Those inside came out, and the incoming foragers flew around dumbfounded refusing to go in. I stood by 10ft away, and they had no interest in attacking anything or anybody. By day 2 the nests were empty.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have some big plastic syringes but the last time I put gasoline in one, it melted the plunger and made it stick to the sides so it wouldn't squirt out.

Yeah, you only get one brief use from the rubber plunger unless you disassemble and clean and silicone grease it quick; even then a problem. I have saved all mine, and on several been able to substitute an oring. More chemical resistant AND replaceable.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

If it's somewhere you don't mind a temporary mess, Dawn dish soap and water. The soap coats them and they can't breath. It has always worked for me regardless of how I applied. Poured down holes, used a spray tank, even my pressure washer for farther away nests. I have even sprayed up the ridges on metal roof. Always at night, and with an escape route in case things go south...

 

[etpm]

Chlorinated brake cleaner will kill them instantly in my experience. If they are flying and you spray them they will drop out of the air. So get a can, soak the nest, close the door to the shed and come back the next day.
Eric