Red Paper Wasps - Ask Extension
I have some red paper wasp that gather on large glass windows and one crape myrtle tree. The area is mostly sunny.I can't locate any nest. They se...
Knowledgebase
Red Paper Wasps #148012
Asked August 19, 2013, 3:04 PM EDT
I have some red paper wasp that gather on large glass windows and one crape myrtle tree. The area is mostly sunny.
I can't locate any nest. They seem to stay in the same general area.
How can I get rid of them? Where can I look for nest - I don't see any weep holes or access to my attic/house.
I can't locate any nest. They seem to stay in the same general area.
How can I get rid of them? Where can I look for nest - I don't see any weep holes or access to my attic/house.
Bexar County Texas
Expert Response
They may be trying to start a nest in the corner of that window. They may also be attracted to a pheromone another (old) nest left behind or another wasps left behind. Either way, I would spray that area of the window and any other where they regularly congregate with ammonia (you can use a cleaner with ammonia). The ammonia will dissolve the pheromone, which may be attracting them back to the same spot.
Watch it and see if they come back and you may have to respray the area again.
Watch it and see if they come back and you may have to respray the area again.
Thank you for the quick response.
As a followup:
As a followup:
- Can I use straight ammonia (not part of a household cleaner), or is a general purpose cleaner (typically window cleaners contain ammonia) better? Is it safe for plants?
- What about over the counter wasp/hornet sprays? And, are they effective and safe for plants?
- Some of the wasps are landing on plants.
Yes, you can use straight ammonia - most people have some household cleaner with ammonia in it already on hand, and as long as you use anything with ammonia you will remove that scent that attracts them to the same spot.
I'm not sure if ammonia will harm plants - to be safe, I would spray a small portion of the plant (a couple leaves) and give it a couple days. I would imagine that pure ammonia would probably cause some leaf burn. It should not affect the overall health of the plant, however, but will likely burn the leaves it touches.
Over the counter wasps sprays will kill the wasps you hit. If it is a larger nest and they attracted to the window and plant for some reason, it will not leave a residual that will kill others recruiting to that point. If you choose the wasp spray and you see them coming back to the same spots, definitely try the ammonia trick to see if that deters or at least confuses them.
If the wasps are only a nuisance and they are attacking, it might interest you to know that they are pollinators, so they may be pollinating the plants they are landing on. They are also predators and eat caterpillars, scales, and other harmful pests.
I'm not sure if ammonia will harm plants - to be safe, I would spray a small portion of the plant (a couple leaves) and give it a couple days. I would imagine that pure ammonia would probably cause some leaf burn. It should not affect the overall health of the plant, however, but will likely burn the leaves it touches.
Over the counter wasps sprays will kill the wasps you hit. If it is a larger nest and they attracted to the window and plant for some reason, it will not leave a residual that will kill others recruiting to that point. If you choose the wasp spray and you see them coming back to the same spots, definitely try the ammonia trick to see if that deters or at least confuses them.
If the wasps are only a nuisance and they are attacking, it might interest you to know that they are pollinators, so they may be pollinating the plants they are landing on. They are also predators and eat caterpillars, scales, and other harmful pests.
