When to use wasp and hornets sprays or other similar products
While this review is on the best wasp and hornet sprays, it’s important to know other similar products that are also used to get rid of these pests. This is to help you determine when it’s best for you to go for these sprays or the other product types and the best way to get rid of wasps, hornets or other insects.
Whether you should go for sprays or other options depends on a number of factors like.
If you’ve located their nest
In this case, you have a number of options like dusting or using sprays. Thereafter, to ensure total elimination of the entire colony, you might want to use a product that leaves residues for a reasonable length of time afterward. This is important as it will exterminate any that will hatch soon afterward or returning insects.
Expert tip
If you use a spray that doesn't leave residues, then you will have to re-treat the area every 14 days to ensure you wipe out any that hatches after.
If you can’t locate their nest
There are situations where you have wasps and hornets visiting but can’t locate their nests. In this case, your best bet is to spray the locations you’ve noticed they frequent with insecticides that leave a residue. While they might not kill them instantly, they will eventually die provided they were exposed to a lethal dose.
If they live above-ground or underground

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When you read through product reviews you notice a few people complaining that an otherwise effective spray (or related product) didn’t work for them.
One of the major reasons (unknown to these people) is that they might be using the product for the wrong treatment.
If you are dealing with species of wasps/hornets that have nests above ground then a good wasp/hornet spray will do a great job of getting rid of the pests. However, if you are dealing with species that make nests underground, sprays may NOT work as effectively. Here’s the reason. Sprays have a limited jet stream distance (let’s say about 20 feet). The spray won’t do much good beyond this distance. And unknown to many folks; wasps that make their nests underground usually have their nests much deeper than the entry point. So if you are dealing with such, you need dust insecticides that contain active ingredients such as chlorpyrifos or carbaryl.
The type and species of wasps/hornets you’re dealing with
They type or species you are dealing with might give you more than one control option. For example, if you are confronted with species that forage or scavenge. In addition to using sprays or dust, you can get rid of them by using the right bait mixture. These bait mixtures are placed at strategic locations for such scavengers and foragers. When used correctly, there is generally a drop in the population even if total extermination isn’t achieved.
Things to consider before picking wasp and hornet sprays
There are many wasps and hornet sprays out there. Even on this page, we’ve reviewed 10 great products. However, NOT all of them will serve you equally well depending on your peculiar needs and situation. So how do you know which is the best wasp spray for you (same applies if you are dealing with hornets instead)? To ensure you get the best for you, take important note of the following:
- Active ingredients: This is important for a number of reasons. First, it determines how effective a spray would be in getting rid of wasps and hornets. It also determines whether they can have adverse effects on humans or pets or the environment. Some ingredients are considered to be carcinogenic. You’ll do well to avoid such products especially if you want to use them around your dwelling place.
- Distance of jet spray or stream: How far away do you want to stay while spraying wasps or hornets’ nests? I’d say, the farther away the better. Then pay attention to a distance of jet spray or stream. The bigger it is, the farther away you can stay from the nest and still get to deal ruthlessly with those wasps or hornets.
- Dielectric breakdown: While this isn’t important for every buyer, you MUST pay close attention to this if you want to get rid of wasps that have built their nests around electricity points like circuit breaker boxes (Yes, those pesky pests like to build their nests in such places). Here’s why it’s important. In elementary physics, you were taught about conductors and insulators. Insulators don’t allow electric current to flow through them while conductors do. Air is an example of an insulator. However, at certain voltages, even air breaks down (kind of) and loses its insulating properties and becomes a conductor (Like in the case of lightning). For example, if an aerosol can show a dielectric breakdown voltage of 47,300 volts then it means it is safe to spray around electrical equipment or points that have a potential that’s lower than 47,300 volts. However, it’s best to err on the side of caution and give an error margin of up to 10,000 volts. So in the case of a 47,300 volts dielectric breakdown voltage, only spray on electric points that have a maximum potential of 37,300 volts.
So when you see a dielectric breakdown on an aerosol spray with a certain voltage on it, it’s telling you that it can be sprayed around “electricity points” provided they do NOT have a potential of up to the number shown as its dielectric breakdown voltage.
- Kid and pet safety and indoor and outdoor use: Even the best wasp spray would be counterproductive if used in the wrong setting. Therefore, you need to know if a particular spray can be used where kids or pets hang around. This is an important factor to look out for if you have kids or pets around you. Along these lines, note whether a particular spray is recommended for only outdoor, indoor or both indoor and outdoor use.
While we generally assume that most people have to deal with wasps and hornets outside, there are situations where these pests build their nest in parts of the home. In such situations, you need a spray that can be used indoors without adverse effects.
- Residue: From the previous section, you noticed that we recommended treatments that leave a residue in certain situations. If you find yourself in any of those situations (where you need your spray to leave residues to kill off these pests when they show up later), pick a spray that leaves residues that stay potent long enough.
- Eco-Friendliness: The ecosystem is being affected adversely by certain harsh pesticides. In fact, a number of beneficial species of bees are being threatened due to the effects of such pesticides. Therefore, as much as possible, check how environmentally friendly a spray is before you pick one. It would do our world much good.
While this isn’t an exhaustive list in any way, paying attention to the points and factors raised in this buying guide will make it a lot easier for you to pick the best spray for your needs. Now let’s take a look at ten great wasps and hornet sprays (note that we didn’t include any raid wasp and hornet killer).
Conclusion
There you have it; an extensive buying guide along with reviews of top ten products for anyone who’s been looking for how to get rid of wasps or has been searching for the best wasp and hornet sprays. Now that you’ve got the information you need, it’s time to take action by picking the most appropriate wasp and hornets spray from those reviewed above. Live peacefully in your space and on your own terms. Don’t let those wasps or hornets mess with you ever again.
2 Comments
Bill Bostick
I need the absolute most lethal and furthest spraying aerosol yellow jackets right on the market!
InsectCop
I would suggest you try this one since it’s both powerful and has a spray reach up to 20 feet!