Hornets are larger than wasps and generally more aggressive. That said, they won’t generally attack unless they are provoked, or you are too close to their nest. It should be noted that a nest can contain hundreds of hornets. You don’t want them all chasing you.
The problem is that hornets tend to build nests near humans. You’re likely to find one under the eaves of your home or in your garage. These insects are too dangerous to deal with yourself; that’s why you should check over here for your local expert and have them deal with them for you.
Of course, they say prevention is better than cure, and this is a good motto to apply to hornets. The good news is there are several things you can do to keep the hornets away.
Eliminate Waste Access
Hornets, like many other insects, are attracted to sources of food. That means that if you leave your rubbish, particularly food waste, in open containers, the hornets will make a beeline straight for them. You can avoid this by covering all waste containers and making sure all waste is bagged, and the bags are sealed.
Bird Food
In the winter, the birds are probably very grateful for the food you provide. However, they don’t usually need it in the summer. As this food can attract a variety of flying insects, it’s a good idea to remove all bird feeders for the summer.
Hornets feed on smaller flying insects; if you are attracted them to the garden, the hornets will follow.
Fix Everything
Hornets look for small gaps to create their nests. These can be around the edge of your roof, in your garages, or even in rodent holes in the ground. Take a good look around your home and fill in any potential nesting holes.
This will encourage them to fly on and create a nest elsewhere.
Add A Fake
Hornets won’t generally build a nest within 200 feet of another one. That means you can purchase a fake nest from your local garden store and hang it in your garden. This will usually keep the hornets away, encouraging them to create a nest elsewhere.
Create A Hornet Trap
A hornet trap is designed to let the hornets in but not out. You can buy them, but it is easy to make your own one. Simply cut a 2L plastic bottle approximately ¼ of the way from the lid. Flip this section and place it in the rest of the bottle. Make sure you take the lid off.
Then, simply add a sweet liquid such as to the bottle part of the trap. The hornet will be attracted by the sweetness and fly into the liquid. But, it won’t be able to fly back out.
Planting
There are various plants that discourage hornets from coming near you and your garden. The most common ones are marigolds, geraniums, and pennyroyals. Putting these around seating areas will help you to relax without being bothered by these insects.
Care For Home Fixtures and Structure
Make a tour of your home to identify any potential problem spots. A potential hornet nest could live in cracked panels, soffit gaps, and fissures. Make sure the screens on the windows, doors and other openings are in good working order to prevent unwanted visitors. Check your yard for any rat burrows or prospective rodent holes that hornets could use as a home. Fill the hole with soil or debris if they aren’t there, or sometimes even if they are.
Use Cautions Outdoors
Avoid wearing overpowering perfumes, and sweet scents when outside and choose unscented, sanitary items instead.
Hornets typically aren’t drawn to perfumes, but if you have a sweet-smelling scent, they might hang around you. These parasites utilize their sense of smell to locate flowers, so when they discover flowers around you, they mistake you for one. The same goes for protecting your feet from stray hornets: put on boots.
Make A Spray Of Soap And Water
A soap-and-water mixture works well to kill hornets and provides excellent defence against yellowjacket and mud dauber wasps. Grab a spray bottle, fill it with water up to the top, and then add two tablespoons of dish soap. Spray the soap and water combination on the yellow jacket or hornet nest after fully shaking it. They will undoubtedly stop breathing and, as a result, pass away immediately.
Combine Essential Oils
Wasps and hornets can be effectively repelled by essential oils. To effectively repel hornets, combine a few drops of lemongrass, geranium, and clove essential oils. Combine this essential oil mixed with a few tablespoons of soapy water in a spray bottle. Spray this solution on any hornet nests you find, and make sure to search in all corners and under porch roofs and eaves. Apply this mixture wherever you’ve previously noticed nests. This is an effective defence since certain hornets like to construct nests in the same location each year. Another use for peppermint oil is as a potent hornet repellant.
Apply A Dryer Sheet
Hornets, bees, and other wasps detest the smell of dryer sheets and will avoid it at all costs. To keep the space free of pests, spread some sheets around your back patio or wherever you’re hosting a gathering. Mothballs are another option for dryer sheets.
HORNETS LIVE WHERE?
Attics, treetops, beneath decks, sheds, garages, and hollow tree trunks are common places where hornets like to build their nests. This lone wasp prefers enclosed areas as well. In gardens, meadows, and parks, one may come across these old, abandoned mouse burrows. Hornets that build their nests underground put people in danger.
In densely populated areas, hornet and yellow jacket nests carry the risk of being accidentally walked on, leading the hornets to attack the unwary human.
TYPES OF HORNETS
Hornets, the biggest social wasps, resemble their closely related yellow-striped relatives, the yellow jacket, paper wasp, worker wasps, cicada killer, honey bee, and mud dauber wasp in appearance. They are the largest social wasps.
- The bald-faced hornet, which is primarily black in appearance with a predominantly white face, is one of the most prevalent species of hornet in the United States. They can create clear paper nests, which are typically affixed to trees. Their nests have an amazing appearance, are smooth and conical, and can be anywhere between a grapefruit’s diameter and a beach ball in size.
- The European hornet is a different type of hornet species. It has a considerable size, between 34 and more than 1 inch, brown with yellow abdomen stripes, and a pale face. These hornets build nests out of paper cartons, which are typically protected by a brown paper bag. The nests are typically discovered in hollow trees, barns, and walls of homes and other structures.
- Both types of wasps are quite hazardous. If you come across a wasp colony, try to avoid making sudden, jarring movements that can spook the wasps. These hornets have a so-called smooth stinger, which enables the wasps to attack continuously until the threat they have sensed has subsided.
WHAT TO DO IF A HORNET STUNS YOU?
First, try your best to avoid getting stung repeatedly. If you’ve been stung, swiftly but quietly leave the area. Hornets normally sting when you approach their nest, so if you remain where you are, they will probably continue to sting you. To avoid giving them any reason to sting you further, it is best to leave that region or location immediately. If you unintentionally attract a hornet, carefully brush it off and proceed quietly. Not to worry.
Although stings from hornets typically result in minor symptoms, they can also trigger allergic reactions or other more severe symptoms. Therefore, clean the wound from the wasp sting as quickly as you can with soap and water, and then apply ice to reduce swelling and inflammation.
To relieve any soreness, take ibuprofen. Use a topical steroid to relieve itching if it is a problem for you.
It could be a sign of infection if the area where you were stung remains inflamed or turns bright red and feels warm. Consult your doctor for therapy if that is the case.
WAYS TO PREVENT HORNET STINGS
Avoiding individual wasps, nests, swarms, and colonies is the best approach to prevent stings. If you come across one, move swiftly and collectedly the other way. You won’t be able to further aggravate the insects if you do this. Additionally, you must escape in a straight route because turning around and going backwards would only keep you in the danger zone longer.
If a swarm decides to attack you, move away from it as quickly as you can. You might be able to convince the insects that you are not a threat by moving away from the area, increasing the likelihood that they will leave you alone.
Don’t panic if you have one or two stinging insects following you around. Most likely, the hornet is only evaluating the danger. Avoid swatting it or jerking it violently from side to side as this could provoke a sting.
Conclusion
Contrary to other insects, which only occasionally sting when they feel extremely threatened, hornets are aggressive pests and will attack anyone or anything that enters their space. The most secure method to handle your problem is to call a professional.