Get Rid of a Wasp or Hornet

annr

annr

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While I was in my office working on the computer I got annoyed with the buzzing overhead , figured it was a fly. When I stood up to go after the fly I saw that it is a wasp, (or hornet or yellow jacket) buzzing around in my unenclosed overhead light fixture.

I left the room, shut the door and now am trying to figure out what to do. I'd like to go back in there and start working again but I don't know the best way to go about getting rid of the thing. I can't whack it on the overhead light or my computer.

Any suggestions?
 
Rolled up news paper or magazine. You could probably knock it right out of the air. Then kill it when it's on the floor. Just try not to miss. Good luck.
 
Spray it with some windex works every time ten when it hits the ground stomp it good luck
 
If you can trap it against a wall or window with a glass, slide a cardboard over the top and trap it. Then take out outdoors and let it go (or into another office). Wasps and hornets are useful critters as they feed on lots of unhelpful bugs, parasites, etc.
 
Blow it little kisses and puffs of air until it sticks to your lips. Then run outside screaming " get it off....get it off!" thats what normally do.
 
Alberta Ed said:
If you can trap it against a wall or window with a glass, slide a cardboard over the top and trap it. Then take out outdoors and let it go (or into another office). Wasps and hornets are useful critters as they feed on lots of unhelpful bugs, parasites, etc.
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Thanks, another good idea. I'm slowly clearing some areas where I might have a prayer of capturing or killing the thing. This room is loaded to the gills with edged tools, what a surprise, machines......

He seems to like the small space behind the window latch, between the latch and the glass about 5 feet off the ground, a spot that I just can't target with anything.
 
Just get a bunch of paper towels and when it's still, on something have them inside your hand padding it and quickly crush it. I've done it a few times and if you are quick and sure it won't have a chance.
 
Lay a packet of sugar soaked in soda or fruit juice on a cleared surface. I'm not even lying. Insects will be attracted to the packet so fast you won't believe it. As soon as it's on the packet give it a whack or cut it in half.
 
Drudge said:
Aerosol hairspray and a lighter :D
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No need for the lighter. The hairspray will stick to their wings and make it nearly -- if not completely -- impossible for them to fly.

Any sort of aerosol or spray mist product, air freshner, window cleaner, deodorant, whatever, will gum up their wings and give you the chance to smack 'em.

As with any firearm, don't become so fixated upon your target that you forget about your backstop. Don't spray hairspray on your original Monet or anything like that.
 
Wasps and hornets are very inactive at night.:yawn: (My first use of the yawn smiley yay!) Climb a ladder and knock it into a plastic shopping bag, or knock down the nest with a long pole 2 to 3 hrs. after sundown, step on it and throw it on the trash. Please do not put a hole in the ozone layer trying to kill wasps and hornets.;):) Okay, PWT.... posting while tired.... Sorry Ann, did not see it was office hours, which blows a big hole in my advice.... Anyways, it is still good advice, I will leave it up.
 
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cj65 said:
Climb a ladder...
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From now on I'm checking the undersides of the rungs of any ladder that I set foot on. I just spent the better part of 3 days replacing some rotten fascia board and, on the final day, 8 or 10 seriously annoyed wasps decided it was time to swarm out from under the 3rd highest step. Wouldn't you know, they waited until I had a tray full of paint and no ability to throw the ladder far far away.


As for the OP's question, except for when I've disturbed a nest I've never been stung by any wasp, hornet, etc. while standing still. Even when they've crawled on me I've found that it's mostly a matter of surpressing the primal urge to swing my arms and slap the critter while hopping around like I've got fresh hot welding slag in my boot. If you stand calmly with a fly swatter, rolled up newspaper, etc. it will eventually land somewhere that you can make it go splat. Just get it the first time. :)
 
You can buy the super-instant-killer stuff they issue to linemen and other workers. It contains a refrigerant as well as an insecticide, so it knocks the hymenoptera down and kills 'em in short order.
 
I sure am glad I asked this question, so many things I didn't know, including:


You can buy the super-instant-killer stuff they issue to linemen and other workers. It contains a refrigerant as well as an insecticide, so it knocks the hymenoptera down and kills 'em in short order.
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mwerner- I assume that this is suitable for indoor use in a confined residential setting?

Wasps and hornets are very inactive at night.
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cj- don't feel bad, you were nearly 100% correct. This wasp was so inactive by nightfall that it gave up the ghost by 8pm. When I was ready for the standoff I nearly stepped on it--dead right there on the floor.

As far as the ladder :eek::):confused:. You'll see me covered in wasp sting before you find me on a ladder reaching the second story window.:D

No one suggested a knife? :confused:
 
Tony8179 did.

Tony8179 said:
Lay a packet of sugar soaked in soda or fruit juice on a cleared surface. I'm not even lying. Insects will be attracted to the packet so fast you won't believe it. As soon as it's on the packet give it a whack or cut it in half.
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I had a very similar situation at home sitting at my computer involving a wasp,last week.Flying around the room and my head, constantly buzzing.When I think of it now,I'm sure it was trying to get outside and I should of caputured it instead of killing it. What I did was the next time it buzzing in front of my face,I took my tennis racket electric bug zapper powered by 2AA that was purchased at the local grocery store for a few bucks (that I use to kill moquitos,flies and moths) and whacked.It immediately falls to the ground stunned by the electric current but no for long.Where I continue to zap it until I could smell it burning and the wasp is laying on the ground like it's scratching itself.But I continued to apply the metal wires to the wasp until it doesn't move where I then squashed it while hearing a cracking sound of victory.

Anyone else have one of these handheld bug zappers?
www.bestofasseenontv.com/bugzapper/bugzapper.html
 
I have one and I love it for those tiny bugs that come right through your window screens and won't light anywhere to be swatted. It's good for flies too. It's not powerful enough for wasps.
 
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