So, in the farmhouse I just bought (sorry to keep mentioning it, but I have ALL these questions!) I have a fairly serious wasp infestation in the attic. There are literally hundreds (ok maybe scores would be more appropriate, but more than one wasp just seems like a lot) of them clustered around the attic vent most every afternoon. I have considered the kamikaze-type approach of heaving a couple insect bombs up through the trapdoor into the attic and then vacating the premises for a day or so, but would like to try some sort of natural non-chemically type repellent instead. Does anyone have any experience with that sort of thing? What did you use? Did it work? These are demonically possessed red wasps by the way… Please help-there’s an entire section of my yard that I have been avoiding for fear of death from above! 
I think it would help people if we put [wasp question] after the title. What do you say?
Ellen Cherry
IMHO Moderator
Works for me! Thanks.
I don’t think there’s a non-chemical way to get rid of them. We’ve been able to knock down outside nests with the water hose, but that wouldn’t work in your attic.
If the wasps are staying close to the nest and away from people, I’d wait until late fall or winter. They’ll abandon the nest and you can destroy it. Then try to find out where they’re coming in – plug the holes so they won’t come back next year.
Wasps are scary as hell, but they do help control other insects. If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you. But if you want to use your attic, you’ll need to nuke them.
I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit.
It’s the only way to be sure.
Or call an exterminator.
Done.
Shopvac - if you are brave or have beekeeping type clothing. Suck them up and leave them out in the sun for a while.
If they are a serious problem–and wasps for me are always a serious problem, even if it’s just one, because I have a stupid phobia about them–I would call around and see how much an exterminator would charge to take care of this for you. It could be worth it in peace of mind and not having to deal with it yourself.
shiftless-While the Shopvac thing sounds fun, I’m not sure where I could find the appropriate clothing…where DOES one find a pith helmet with insect netting, these days? 
AuntiePam, I’m not sure I can wait until winter-I’ve developed a pretty serious paranoia about going out in the yard-my poor doggies think I’m crazy what with all the ducking and running I’ve been doing out there!
Zebra, nuking seems like a perfectly viable option…do you perhaps know where I could get my hands on a multi-megaton dose of hot radioactive death for the lil buggers?
In all seriousness, I think I’ll just call an exterminator.
I did a little looking, and Yahoo! Answers describes red wasps as docile and not aggressive. Going by the rule of thumb that Yahoo! Answers is Oppositeville, I think we can conclude that they are deadly.
Seriously, though, you’ll find that the only non-chemical method anyone ever discusses (besides prayer) is a half-assed wasp trap contraption involving jelly on the neck of a 2-liter soda bottle, which is aimed at disposing of a couple of wasps here and there.
To eliminate a nest, you’ll need a professional. Throwing a fogger up there may not reach all the crevices where they hide. The queen could burrow in somewhere and wait until next year.
There are queen wasps?
Indeed, and if you don’t invite them to your spring social you’ll find yourself getting snubbed by everyone at the Hamptons.
Seriously though, some wasp species are solitary and some are social.
OK, Tom, now I’m imagining a horrifically large, bloated evil wasp queen commanding her minions to seek and destroy the evil lawn mowing invader…come payday I believe I will have the nice folks over at Terminex come for a visit!
I’m trying to come up with a WASP Queen, Jewish Princess joke, but nothin’s coming.
I remember a case of a caretaker in Colorado who use some kind of chemical bomb to kill a wasp nest, and his young son put the nest of dead wasps on his nightstand because he thought it was interesting. In the middle of the night the wasps came back to life, and covered the young boy with stings. By the time the father covered the nest with a glass bowl turned upside down and brought it outside, it was crawling with angry wasps.
Eventually the young boy started acting weird and writing REDRUM on the walls, and the dad went a little crazy himself and tried to get rid of his family using non-legally sanctioned methods.
Not that this will necessarily happen in your case; but this story should server as reminder that wasps are bad news and can be an indication of worse EVIL to come.
Not sure if this will help, but wasps & bees HATE barbecue smoke and will steer well clear. Has to be charcoal, not gas. If you can get a good mound of charcoal going, and get the smoke to waft in the right direction, you should be able to get close enough to the nest to pick it off.
EDIT: I strongly suspect other types of thick smoke would repel wasps – the trick is getting the smoke into the right area safely.
As for wasp-proof head coverings, you can do ingenious things with parkas, wool scarves, latex Halloween masks, and swimming goggles. You can also ask around to see if someone can lend you a motorcycle helmet.
There is a Dire Warning on my bag of charcoal, declaring that I will die if I light it up in my house.
For some reason, I missed that the nest is indoors. Dang.
Hmmm … I’d either don the motorcycle helmet + leather jacket + gloves and do a self-extermination, or I’d call in an exterminator.
There are outdoorsy risk-taking types who love to tangle with stinging insects, and love to brag about their stings and how much those stings didn’t hurt (yeah, right). If the OP has a buddy like that, maybe they can come to the OP’s aid.
…
Seriously, thick smoke is money against these things … if there was just some safe way to deliver said smoke into the attic, and then to get it vented out later on.
Wait, why is the OP “skittering about the yard like a maniac” if the wasps are indoors? There are wasps both indoors and outdoors, and the attic vent is their hangout?
Thanks Arnold, now in addition to worrying about being stung to death while I sleep, I have to worry about a maniacal axe wielding Jack Nicholson bursting through my bathroom door…if I see those creepy twin girls up in there, I am torching the place!!
bordelond, I suppose I could host a party in the attic-think cigarette smoke would do the trick? I guess it would have to be a formal-type party, to ensure that all attendees would be wearing long sleeves and long pants though… all kidding aside, I’ve been looking for an excuse to fire up my old charcoal grill-steaks in a wasp free environment, anyone?