Tips For Eliminating The Ground Wasp Nest From Your Yard Safely

Ground wasps are a number of insect species that are similar to bees and hornets.

This insect is known for its aggressive nature and a painful sting that can be deadly if one is allergic. Ground wasp nests are more dangerous than aerial ones, as they are often hidden, and accidentally stumbling across one of them can bring on the wrath of many angry insects!

Wasps are quite dangerous and approaching them will most likely result in their stinging you! So, if you find these dangerous insects near your house, how must you attempt to get rid of them?

Which is the most dangerous ground wasp species? Keep on reading to find out how to identify a ground wasp nesting site near you and the best method to get rid of a ground wasp nest naturally!

What are ground wasps?

Ground wasps refer to wasps that make their home in the ground—be it underground or other ground-level areas like logs, abandoned ant hills, animal dens, shrubs, and bushes.

The most common types of ground wasps in America are yellow jackets, cicada killer wasps, spider wasps, sand wasps, and digger wasps.

Wasps, like bees, are very social insects and live together in large colonies under the queen.

A wasp colony includes the queen, female worker wasps, and larvae. The workers take care of the young, bring food back, and help to expand the nest, while the queen focuses on laying eggs. Any males born do not live with the colony but fly around independently in search of mates.

Wasps are active from spring to fall, as they mostly die off during the winter. They are most commonly seen during the summer season, which is when you should be most careful of these insects.

What do ground wasps look like?

Identifying ground wasps is very easy, as they are similar in appearance to any other wasp. They are small flying insects, ranging in length from 0.6-2 in (1.5-6 cm). Their bodies are long and they have cinched waists, giving them an hourglass-shaped body.

They have black and yellow stripes on their bodies, similar to bees. These stripes can also be red and brown, depending on the species. Female wasps have sharp stingers containing a venomous substance at the end of their abdomens.

Where do ground wasps nest?

The location of the ground wasp nest usually depends on the queen. However, all the worker wasps have a hand in building the nest.

They prefer to nest in easily accessible areas, like a hole in the ground, an abandoned animal den or burrow, a termite or anthill, or in the space underneath the roots of a tree. If such an area is not easily available, they may also dig the ground themselves if the soil is loose enough.

Ground wasps tend to build their nests in close proximity to food sources- wasps mainly feed on fruits and berries. They are attracted to the smell of fermenting and rotting fruits, as they enjoy feeding on their sweet flesh.

In fact, some species of ground wasps can be incredibly useful for your garden! As the larvae hatch underground, they need to be fed protein-rich food to promote growth.

This can be in the form of various insects, including those that pose a threat to your gardens, like beetles, caterpillars, cicadas, and more. They can rid your garden of these grubs, helping your plants thrive.

However, some wasp species can also be very dangerous. For example, the European beewolf wasps consider bees as their main food source- so having many of them around can greatly diminish the population of these garden-friendly buzzers in the vicinity!

They also cause great harm to beekeepers by destroying apiaries in their hunt for prey. A single beewolf larva can eat up to six bees!

Though they will not attack without reason, ground wasps can be very territorial and aggressive when it comes to defending their nests. Yellowjackets especially go into defensive mode when they feel the slightest threat, so accidentally coming across one of these nests may end up being a very painful encounter!

Unlike bees, wasps do not lose their stringers after a single sting, so they can deal with a number of consecutive attacks in a row. Though a single bite won't do much harm, the fallout of having many wasps attack you at once can be quite traumatic.

The venom in their stings can add up and lead to itchy skin, rashes, or even anaphylactic shock if one is allergic to the stings!

How To Identify Ground Wasps Nests

If you notice a few wasps buzzing around your garden, then there is a good chance that there are wasp nests present on the premises. So, what exactly does a ground wasp nest look like?

It is always better to be aware of what ground wasp nests look like to avoid accidentally stumbling across one of them and being attacked by angry wasps.

Underground wasp nests can be identified by the distinctive cone-shaped pile of dirt around them. These dirt piles have a small entrance in the center, through which the wasps can enter and leave. Many of these piles may be located in close proximity.

They can be found in plain sight as well as hidden in piles of leaves, shrubs, bushes, compost piles, and rotting wood or logs. Though the conical dirt piles may not be present, the large entry-holes are still prevalent.

You might also be able to hear a faint buzzing near these spots, which will confirm the presence of wasps.

You can also try to confirm their presence by setting out small pieces of sugary food near the entrance and trying to observe their activity. If the wasps take the bait, then you can proceed with the nest removal.

If you are aware of the presence of wasp nests in your yard and want to prevent ground wasps from wreaking havoc on your property, the best way to do so is to call a pest control service.

Ground wasps can become very aggressive and sting-happy when confronted, which can lead to you and your family members getting hurt or seriously injured at the site.

Observe all the bird feeders and fruit trees on your property and keep an eye out for any wasps hovering nearby. If you spot them, make sure to cover any sources of food so that they get discouraged and relocate.

If you prefer to handle the issue yourself, then make sure to wear a protective bee-keeper suit while handling the removal. The best time to approach the nest is at night or dawn when they are least active.

If the nest is in the ground, you can drown the wasps inside by using a garden hose or pouring boiling water into the entry hole. Using a simple insecticide spray or wasp repellant at the site won't work, as their nests are quite deep inside the ground, so spraying only the entry point won't reach the inner layers.

If you do use a spray, make sure it has a long nozzle that can be inserted into the entrance.

Wasp powders, wasp dust, aerosols, and liquid insecticide are the most useful tools for the task. Using a thin tube, insert the liquid into the entry point, and it will deal with all the insects inside.

If any wasps emerge from the treated sites because of the disturbance, keep a tool such as a shovel or a rake nearby to smash them with.

Wasp traps are also available, which can simply be placed at the entrance of the nest. However, these only get rid of adults that actually fly out, which is why internal treatment is recommended.

If you find a wasp nest on a tree, you can build a fire at the site to smoke them out of the nest. Approaching them using a ladder is not a great idea, as this will lead to them stinging you and leaving you defenseless against their attacks.

If you are bitten in the process, make sure to keep the sting under observation for a few hours to detect any signs of allergy, as this can be life-threatening.

If the nest in question is far enough from your house that the activity does not concern you, then the best thing to do is leave it alone. After all, wasps are still an important part of the food chain, and if they are not causing anyone any harm, then leaving them alone is the wisest choice.