Wasps are a genuine menace to enjoying the great outdoors at your log cabin. I find tackling these menaces as soon as you notice it best. Otherwise, the wasps may multiply and become even more challenging to remove from your log cabin.
Identify the Wasp
Different wasps have different levels of aggression and preferred nesting locations. Typical wasps, like yellowjackets, have narrow bodies and a shiny appearance. This appearance differs from the stout and fuzzy appearance of most bees, whom you should welcome around your log home.
I have also needed to deal with hornets and mud daubers around my log cabin. Hornets have similar coloring to yellowjackets, but their bodies are noticeably bigger. Mud daubers, on the other hand, are darker and slenderer. Mud daubers also have a unique nest structure, which resembles a pipe organ.
Take Precautions
Before dealing with wasps, you should always take precautions. I start by sending everyone else inside, even my trusty dog. Then I suit up with long pants, long sleeve shirt, hat, gloves, eye protection, and face coverings. Being stung only makes this job harder, so you want to avoid it at all costs.
Once I’m suited up, I make sure I have all the necessary tools in easy reach. You only get one chance to approach a wasp nest around your log cabin, so it’s crucial to make it count. If possible, also plan and clear your escape from the area before starting.
Spray Away
When you go to remove the wasp nest, dusk and dawn are the best times. Once you find the nest, possibly under the eaves, against your chimney, or in a nearby tree, you should have the spray ready. Wasp nest spray is commercially available, or you can use soapy water in a continuous sprayer.
I always stay as far away from the nest as possible when I spray the wasp nest entrances. Often, the wasp nest will drop immediately upon treatment, and then you have a bunch of angry wasps around your log cabin. Use your escape route within 15 to 30 seconds of spraying.
Dust the Area
Insecticide dust, especially that formulated for wasps, is an excellent way to ensure the wasp nest’s death. I do not recommend placing it until the day after spraying, however, since the wasps will remain riled up.
Insecticide dust clings to the wasps’ bodies as they move around. The wasps carry it into the nest center and out to the cells. Over the course of a day or two, the dust kills all the wasps in contact with the nest. This action prevents re-inhabitation.
Prevent the Wasps’ Return
While you have dealt with the immediate issue, I always like to head off a resurgence. You can build wasp traps or buy them. Then I like to put in 1 part sugar to 2 parts water to draw the wasps into the inescapable container. These containers make your log cabin a less desirable nesting space and may save you from future infestations.
Remember, some professionals handle wasp removal for a living. If you do not feel safe, coordinated, or fast enough to avoid an angry swarm, call in a professional.
