How to treat for yellowjackets

Christy Jones

Yellowjackets are a common concern for homeowners. When responding to a yellowjacket complaint, you need to first inspect and locate the troublesome nest or nests before conducting any treatments.

Yellowjacket nests can be found both above-ground and underground. The above-ground nest usually can be found in undisturbed, protected places, such as old playground equipment or outdoor storage areas. Underground nests can be a little trickier to find, and will require the scouting of workers entering and exiting the nest opening during the day when they are most active.

Once you have located the nest, treat when they are least active, such as early morning or late afternoon. This will ensure that most of the workers are controlled and will lower the risk of stings for both technicians and customers.

Even when treating at optimum times, though, it is important to wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) required or recommended on the label to add an extra layer of sting protection. This can include, but is not limited to long sleeves, safety glasses and gloves.