# Wasp spray as a pre-emptive strike **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 4, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-spray-as-a-pre-emptive-strike/495295 "2009-05-04T16:08:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-spray-as-a-pre-emptive-strike/495295/1 "2009-05-04T16:08:04Z")
I want to be sure the wasps and hornets don’t try to cozy up to my shutters again this year. If I spray wasp killer on the shutters, will this keep them from nesting there? It’s under the eaves so it won’t wash off with rain. Is there another method I should be using? ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-spray-as-a-pre-emptive-strike/495295/2 "2009-05-04T17:01:32Z")
That’ll work. The answer can be more complicated, but if it stays dry it will work for a long time. I made a habit of spraying gable vents every month or so after it became apparent there’d be nests there if I waited without taking preventive steps. I think re-application is key, and at least one can of spray talks about re-application (as if you treated an infested area). It has some holding power. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-spray-as-a-pre-emptive-strike/495295/3 "2009-05-04T17:20:05Z")
Don’t know if it’s applicable for your situation but since they’re potentially stinging insects you can get the wasp and hornet insecticide in a long-distance application. It shoots a concentrated stream much further, probably 20 feet or so, than the typical aerosol type. Kinda handy if what you’re trying to pre-emptively hit is out of the way, like if it’s a second story or shielded by vegetation. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-spray-as-a-pre-emptive-strike/495295/4 "2009-05-04T17:39:07Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Don’t know if it’s applicable for your situation but since they’re potentially stinging insects you can get the wasp and hornet insecticide in a long-distance application. It shoots a concentrated stream much further, probably 20 feet or so, than the typical aerosol type. Kinda handy if what you’re trying to pre-emptively hit is out of the way, like if it’s a second story or shielded by vegetation. At the moment, I can reach the potential site easily. We’ll see if the little rat bastids start a room addition on the 2nd floor. I noticed that in the two days since I put my potted plants on the deck, I have a few wasps hanging around and I don’t want to give them the impression I think they’re welcomed guests or anything. Rat bastids. ---
**Author:** ![slitterst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@slitterst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slitterst)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-spray-as-a-pre-emptive-strike/495295/5 "2009-05-04T18:28:14Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > I noticed that in the two days since I put my potted plants on the deck, I have a few wasps hanging around and. Actually, there is beginning to be research that wasps are as responsible for pollination as honey bees are, if not more so. Apparently honey bee saliva can neutralize the pollen. Doesn’t mean I want to cuddle up with them at night, but it does make me feel less antagonistic towards them. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-spray-as-a-pre-emptive-strike/495295/6 "2009-05-04T18:34:55Z")
> [@slitterst](#): > > Actually, there is beginning to be research that wasps are as responsible for pollination as honey bees are, if not more so. Apparently honey bee saliva can neutralize the pollen. > > Doesn’t mean I want to cuddle up with them at night, but it does make me feel less antagonistic towards them. I know…it’s a quandry. I can see that the wasps are zipping to and fro…it would be hard to imagine they weren’t doing some good work. On the other hand, they hate me and I hate them. If I can just repel them rather than actually kill them, they can go about their business out in the yard where my other flowers are. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-spray-as-a-pre-emptive-strike/495295/7 "2009-05-05T02:56:38Z")
> [@slitterst](#): > > Actually, there is beginning to be research that wasps are as responsible for pollination as honey bees are, if not more so. Apparently honey bee saliva can neutralize the pollen. > > Doesn’t mean I want to cuddle up with them at night, but it does make me feel less antagonistic towards them. Me I like the wasps. They are not very agressive. Trimming my roses I have manage to bat a few around and they have never gotten mad. They are fun to watch aroung the fish pond as they gather water. Even funnyer to turn the sprinklers and watch them grab drops of water mid air. But the important thing if you have wasps you do not have yellow jackets. Before the city released them we could not eat meat outside until after sundown. Now it is not a problem. I keep the mud nest down near doors, and limit the number under the eves. ---
**Author:** ![Myrrajh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/87869e/32.png) [@Myrrajh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrrajh)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-spray-as-a-pre-emptive-strike/495295/8 "2009-05-05T05:44:55Z")
I’ve heard many success stories with this. Take a small paper bag (like a lunch bag), open it up, maybe tie or tape the top (open) end shut, and then hang it tied end down from your eaves or a nearby branch. The theory is that the territorial wasps and hornets will see it as an existing nest and will just keep moving along. I googled for an authoritative perspective on this, but all I found was some blogs and people talking about “I think it worked. Fewer wasps this year.” Some suggested stuffing the bag with newspaper to give it more of a solid appearance. Well, the price is right and it might be worth a shot! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-spray-as-a-pre-emptive-strike/495295/9 "2009-05-05T12:53:10Z")
> [@Myrrajh](#): > > I’ve heard many success stories with this. Take a small paper bag (like a lunch bag), open it up, maybe tie or tape the top (open) end shut, and then hang it tied end down from your eaves or a nearby branch. The theory is that the territorial wasps and hornets will see it as an existing nest and will just keep moving along. > > I googled for an authoritative perspective on this, but all I found was some blogs and people talking about “I think it worked. Fewer wasps this year.” Some suggested stuffing the bag with newspaper to give it more of a solid appearance. > > Well, the price is right and it might be worth a shot! That is a very interesting idea! I’m going to give it a try. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-spray-as-a-pre-emptive-strike/495295/10 "2009-05-05T12:58:35Z")
> [@Myrrajh](#): > > I’ve heard many success stories with this. Take a small paper bag (like a lunch bag), open it up, maybe tie or tape the top (open) end shut, and then hang it tied end down from your eaves or a nearby branch. The theory is that the territorial wasps and hornets will see it as an existing nest and will just keep moving along. > > I googled for an authoritative perspective on this, but all I found was some blogs and people talking about “I think it worked. Fewer wasps this year.” Some suggested stuffing the bag with newspaper to give it more of a solid appearance. > > Well, the price is right and it might be worth a shot! Double post. Dang! ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-spray-as-a-pre-emptive-strike/495295/11 "2009-05-05T18:56:20Z")
If these wasps aren’t very aggressive and you can reach the spots easily, this early in the season I’ve had luck being extra-vigilant for that first mini-nest the wasp queen lays her first set of eggs in. You can knock it down with a broom handle while she’s out doing other wasp stuff. If you wait until her first batch hatches, it gets a lot tougher, as they take turns guarding. I found that in the rafters of our old porch in Austin, where wasps would ordinarily build thirty or so nests over a summer, I could keep it down to only two or three we had to spray. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-spray-as-a-pre-emptive-strike/495295/12 "2009-05-05T21:42:26Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > But the important thing if you have wasps you do not have yellow jackets. \*\*Before the city released them \*\*we could not eat meat outside until after sundown. Now it is not a problem. > > I keep the mud nest down near doors, and limit the number under the eves. What does this mean? Yellowjackets are the aggressive bane of every picnic area trash can. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-spray-as-a-pre-emptive-strike/495295/13 "2009-05-06T04:51:00Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > What does this mean? > > Yellowjackets are the aggressive bane of every picnic area trash can. The city releases wasp to attack the tree beatles. I prefeer the wasps to the yellowjackets.