From springtime to fall, wasps are standard backyard visitors. These pests eat your flower garden, fruit trees, and berry bushes, making you interact with them in ways that you don’t want to and that are often painful!
You may see wasps outside, but they can sometimes get inside. If this happens, you may be wondering how to get a wasp out of your house without getting stung.
If you catch a wasp or two coming through your front door, keep reading to learn how to safely get rid of them. For large-scale wasp hive removals, consider giving us a call here at proof. !.
Safely Removing a Wasp That Has Gotten Inside Your Home
It happens to all of us – you’re relaxing at home when you suddenly notice an unwelcome guest buzzing around. A lone wasp has somehow made its way inside and is aimlessly bouncing off walls and windows trying to get out. While your first instinct may be to swat at it or flee take a deep breath. Getting rid of a single indoor wasp can easily be done without any drama. Here are some simple, effective methods to humanely remove a wasp that has crept into your house.
Locate the Wasp
The first step is finding where the stray wasp is currently located. Visually track it to determine which room it is flying in. Shut the door to contain it in that area. This prevents the wasp from circling throughout the entire house as you try to remove it.
If you lose sight of the wasp, don’t panic. Simply walk slowly through rooms scanning the walls, windows, and ceiling to spot it again. Avoid sudden movements and swatting which will only aggravate the wasp.
Open a Door or Window
With the wasp confined to one room, proceed to open a window or exterior door in that area This provides an exit route for the wasp to fly right out of your house
Choose the door or window that is closest to where you last spotted the wasp. This makes it easier for the insect to find its way out
If possible, open the window or door fully to create a wide access point. You want the wasp to have a clear, unobstructed path outdoors.
Checking On the Wasp
Give the wasp some time to find its way out through the open window or door. Periodically check to see if has exited on its own.
Do this quietly and cautiously from across the room. You don’t want to startle or provoke the wasp into flying at you.
If the wasp hasn’t left after 10-15 minutes, gently encourage it by waving a magazine, book, or other object in its direction to guide it towards the exit.
Close the Window or Door
Once you confirm the wasp is no longer in the house, securely close the window or door you opened. Conduct one final scan of the room to be absolutely certain the wasp found its way out.
If it’s later in the day when cooler temperatures arrive, make sure to shut the window or door after a few hours anyway so you don’t allow more wasps or other insects inside overnight.
Use a Fan or Fly Swatter
For a wasp that is stubbornly clinging to a wall or window screen, you can forcibly blow it outside using a fan. Position the fan 2-3 feet from where the wasp is perched and turn it on low speed, directing the airflow toward the open door or window. The gentle current will push the wasp in that direction until it flies out.
Only use a fly swatter as a last resort on a wasp that refuses to leave. Since swatting agitates wasps, protect yourself by wearing thick clothing with only your eyes exposed. You want to avoid stings from an angry wasp defending itself.
When to Call an Exterminator
While removing an occasional rogue wasp from indoors is no big deal, a larger infestation requires professional assistance. Contact a pest management expert if you spot:
- Multiple wasps appearing inside daily
- Wasps congregating at a certain area in your home
- Buzzing sounds indicating a nest within walls or attic
- Numerous wasps circulating outdoors around the property
Prevent Wasps From Entering
To help keep wasps from infiltrating your house in the future:
- Use caulk and sealants to plug any exterior cracks and crevices
- Repair damaged window screens that have holes
- Install weatherstripping under doors and around windows
- Keep food properly sealed or covered when eating outdoors
- Remove trash frequently to discourage wasps from scavenging
With some strategic preparation and quick action when a stray wasp appears, you can safely resolve the issue yourself. But never hesitate to call a pro for a more severe wasp infestation – attempting removal could aggravate the nest and put you at risk of multiple stings.
Why Are Wasps Indoors?
Surprisingly, there are many reasons a wasp may wander into your home. Many common outdoor pests, like ants, bees, sowbugs, centipedes, and ladybugs, occasionally infest our homes.
Most homeowners encounter indoor wasps by accident. Many fly inside from an open door or window, not meaning to stick around. However, this isn’t always the case.
A wasp may come inside for food, especially during the hot late summer months or cool fall days. Because many flowers and greenery begin to die, wasps soon begin aggressively hunting for their next meal.
If you have sweet substances or indoor plants, wasps may flock in for a quick bite. Adult wasps won’t generally eat meat and primarily require plant matter to stay alive. Instead, they consume the larvae’s meat-based secretions.
Growing larvae require protein-rich substances like spiders, bees, and other insects to develop. Some wasps may invade your home looking for these food sources for the colony’s young.
If you’ve only spotted one lone wasp entering your home during the fall, it could be a newly mated queen looking for a place to build a nest or hibernate. Wasps can’t survive the winter, so these queens must find somewhere safe to withstand the elements.
As the weather gets warmer, the queen will either look for a good place to build her hive outside or inside or near your home in the open.
How to Get a Wasp Out of Your House
Is your home being bothered by wasps or other stinging insects? You’ll want to get rid of them as soon as possible.
Wasps are aggressive insects. While they may not bother you while foraging, they are quick to sting once they feel threatened. Despite the need for action, we urge you to stay safe.
Before removing wasps, ensure you can safely exit the situation to avoid a sting. Never engage with wasps unless you’re sure you can stay safe. If you have multiple inside, don’t bother them. Give us a call!.
One lone wasp usually isn’t a significant problem inside. You can always try to push the pest back outside if it’s not bothering you and you want it to go back outside.
You can slowly nudge the wasp toward an open window or door using a fly swatter. Don’t try to make any swift or sudden movements, though. The wasp could begin to sting or grow agitated!.
If you don’t want to get too close to the bug, you can always open a door and use a long broom to slowly move the bug toward the opening. With enough urging, the wasp should get the hint and fly back out.
Remember to keep your distance and watch the wasp’s behavior. If it starts getting angry, retreat and allow some time to cool off. No one wants an accidental sting!.
Feel brave enough? You can even place a glass over a nonmoving wasp and relocate it outside. You’ll just have to catch it while it’s sitting in place. Again, if you do decide to try this, please be careful and never do anything that could hurt you!
How to Get Rid of Wasps Around the House | The Home Depot
FAQ
How do I get rid of one wasp in my house?
How long will a wasp live in my house?
How do you lure a wasp out?
How long do wasps remember you?
How do you get rid of wasp nests?
If possible, use a hose-end sprayer for a more direct application. For larger nests, mix dish soap into your garden sprayer. Only spray nests at night and cover your light source with a cloth or use amber or red bulbs to prevent the wasps from attacking you. Apply WD-40 around deck railings, window sills, and eaves.
How do you get a wasp out of a house?
Be calm and move slowly. Try opening a door or window and hope the wasp flies out. Use a spray of dishwashing liquid and water. Wait for it to land and carefully suction it away with the narrow crevice tool of your vacuum cleaner. Wasps are going to gather where there is easy-to-find food and resources.
How do you get rid of wasps in a trap?
Invert the piece of the bottle you cut off and set it into the top of your trap. Place the trap where you’ve seen wasp activity. Use a commercial wasp spray. “One really good way to get rid of wasps and their nests is to use a wasp spray that can shoot far,” says Smith.
How do you get rid of Wasps at night?
A commercial wasp spray that shoots up to 20 feet is the quickest and easiest way to get rid of wasps. Use the spray at dusk when the wasps have returned to the nest. Which scent deters wasps the most?
How do I get rid of Queen wasps in my house?
The best time to employ this hack is during the spring before the queen wasps have set up their shelter. Start by cleaning the common areas where wasps tend to nest, like under eaves, roof overhangs, windowsills, and other sheltered spots around your home’s exterior. Then, spray WD-40 liberally in each spot.
How do you get rid of wasps on a porch?
Wasps tend to look for a horizontal space to build their nests — eaves, overhangs and corners of porch ceilings are popular spots. Spray the areas with a residual liquid pesticide to discourage the wasps. Eliminate or move any food sources that might attract wasps.