How to get rid of Hornets?

tallyho8 · Monday at 4:37 PM

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 · Monday at 4:57 PM

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 · Monday at 5:08 PM

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 · Monday at 5:59 PM

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 · Monday at 6:06 PM

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 · Monday at 6:11 PM

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.

tacticalturnip · Monday at 6:16 PM

They don't like Fluid Film...

caver · Monday at 6:32 PM

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 · Monday at 6:36 PM

Here's a commercial version he reviewed.

RjCorazza · Monday at 6:36 PM

tallyho8 said:
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.