Hornets generally only cause problems towards the end of the summer and into autumn as their dietary requirements change, however,...
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If you think that you have an infestation of hornets in your property, the first thing you need to do is to make sure they are infact hornets, as control methods differ for bees, wasps or hornets.
Hornets are about a ½ inch to ¾ inches long and have black and yellow bands on their thoraxes and abdomens. They usually build ground nests in areas such as old rodent burrows, beneath landscape timbers and heavy mulch, or in rock walls. They may also be found in the wall voids of houses.
Each year, the hornet nest starts with one fertilized queen. In early spring, the queen emerges from her overwintering site and locates a suitable cavity to start a nest in. After she constructs the nest, she deposits her first batch of eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the queen forages for food to feed the larvae. The larval diet consists of a wide variety of insects as hornets are excellent predators of potential pest insects.
The larvae become pupae and then sterile female adults. These adult females take over the job of foraging for food for the next batch of larvae. They also continue building the nest as the queen continues to lay eggs. The colony can grow to thousands of hornets by the end of summer, peaking in August or September.
At the end of summer, eggs hatch into fertile males and females that mate. The males die shortly after mating. During the autumn, recently mated females search for an overwintering site to protect them during the winter. Next spring, the cycle starts all over again.
As their natural food supply begins to decrease during late summer into autumn, hornets tend to become more of a problem to humans. To control these pests, you need to locate the nest during the day and mark it. Do your treatment at night. Hornets are similar to people in that they "go home" at night. Do not shine a flashlight directly at the nest because you may startle the hornets.
When attempting hornet control, you need to wear protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, long trousers and gloves. Use a dust formulation or at least 1 gallon of a liquid insecticide labeled for hornet control.
Gently puff the dust at the nest entrance, or thoroughly drench the nest with a liquid insecticide. Quickly covering the treated entrance with a lid or pie pan will hold the insects inside the nest.
Several traps are also available that may help you locate the source of the hornets or simply trap the few that have become a problem. These traps can be purchased at many stores. The instructions may ask you to add a protein source (a meat) during the early summer or a carbohydrate source (fruit juice) during late summer and fall since the hornets nutritional needs change through the seasons.
Also empty and clean rubbish bins regularly to eliminate food sources. When possible, use rubbish bins that have lids or are otherwise closed.
Home measures for controlling wasps and hornets can be effective, but because these insects can become a safety hazard to humans in certain areas, consider contracting the services of a professional pest control operator who can devise a control program that is right for you.
Article provided by SDA Pest Control