How To Get Rid Of Ground Wasps, According To An Expert

Most ground-nesting wasps are solitary and mind their own business as they pollinate plants and prey on unwelcome garden pests, such as caterpillars. But social wasps, which live in a colony with a queen, can become a problem when their nests are situated to close to your living areas.

Ground wasps are usually a type known as yellowjackets, with several different species found in the Southeast. “They’re most aggressive when their colony is at its peak population in late summer and early fall,” says Eric Benson, PhD, professor emeritus and extension entomologist with Clemson University.  “Their numbers can reach the thousands. Unlike honey bees that can sting only once, wasps can sting multiple times and send an alarm pheromone to encourage others to come out and defend the nest.”

The issue often is that you don’t realize a nest is present until it’s disturbed and the workers come pouring out to attack. Vibrations from mowing, string trimming, hedge trimming or even walking by a nest causes the alert. The risk of multiple stings can lead to an allergic reaction, or in rare cases, anaphylactic shock for some people. 

Identifying Ground Wasps

Ground wasps, or yellowjackets, are about ½-inch long with alternating black and yellow bands on the abdomen. They don’t carry pollen like honeybees do in pollen baskets on their rear legs.

They nest in the ground, often adjacent to a stone wall or at the base of a tree, sometimes using holes from root systems or animals such as voles. Within that void in the ground will be a paper nest with multiple layers and cells, says Benson. Occasionally, yellowjackets nest in attics and wall void of houses and sheds.

How To Get Rid Of Ground Wasp Nests

If a nest is on the back of your property out of everyone’s way, you can choose to leave it because the first hard freeze will eliminate most colonies. But if you’ve discovered a nest near your living areas, you can attempt to eliminate it with these steps:

• Wait until evening to treat because most of the workers are out foraging during the day.  
• Use any type of aerosol wasp spray, but make sure it is labeled for quick knockdowns and can spray 10 feet or more so you don’t need to get too close to the nest.
• Don’t shine a flashlight into the hole because the wasps will fly toward it and may sting you. If you must use a light, place it some distance away from you.
• Spray a generous amount of wasp spray directly into the hole.
• Stay away from the nest for at least a day after treatment.
• If you still see activity within a day or two, repeat the treatment. “It’s rarely a one-and-done situation with ground wasps,” says Benson.
• You also can use insecticide dust labeled for wasps. This is in a squeeze bottle with a nozzle top that allows you to dust around the entry hole. “They will get it on their bodies as they crawl in and out, carrying it deep into the nest,” says Benson. Because you will need to get closer to the hole than with sprays, consider wearing protective clothing and using a long-handled applicator.
• If you’ve attempted to eradicate the colony a few times unsuccessfully, call a professional. “Yellowjackets can be challenging to control,” says Benson.
• If you are allergic to stings and for nests inside wall voids or that require a ladder to access, contact a professional.

Preventing Ground Wasps

By midsummer to fall, ground wasp populations are at their peak numbers. Here’s how to keep them from spoiling the fun when you’re trying to enjoy your yard:

• When dining outdoors, keep food covered. “They like the same things we do,” says Benson. That includes sweets and proteins, including foods such as meat, chicken, fish, fruit, sweets, and beverages, including sweet tea and beer.
• Pour drinks out of a soda can into a lidded cup. This prevents foraging wasps from falling in and stinging you.
• Keep garbage cans covered and away from living spaces. Clean them regularly to remove residues that attract wasps.
• Use fans in your outdoor dining area. Although wasps are strong fliers, air currents can push food odors away from your seating area.
• Don’t swat at foraging wasps. That just encourages them to act aggressively in return. Gently shoo them away with a napkin, or just ignore them.
• Pick up fallen fruit and vegetables from your garden so they won’t attract foraging wasps.

Do Ground Wasps Survive Winter?

Yellowjacket colonies typically die out every year when cold weather arrives. However, in recent years, Southern yellowjacket colonies have been found to survive winter in perennial nests in the Lower South, including parts of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. These can be gigantic, with more than 200,00 workers and multiple queens. They require treatment by a professional pest control operator, says Benson.