What Happens When a Man Sticks a Firecracker in a Wasp Nest Next to His House?

People sometimes get creative when trying to rid their homes of unwanted pests. Although wasps are beneficial pollinators, they can be defensive of their nests, and there are times when it’s safest to remove them when they are living near where people come and go. Rather than call professionals, homeowners sometimes prefer to go the DIY route for wasp nest removal. A viral YouTube video uploaded by J Carlson shows what happens when some homeowners choose to get aggressive against the wasps, with powerful fireworks.

Was this a wise idea? As you can imagine, ridding your home of a wasp nest using an M-80 is not a safe method. Let’s take a look at why burning a nest (or using fireworks) may damage your home, cause you to harm yourself, and may not even get rid of your wasp problem.

Where Do Wasps Build Nests?

Wasps, like bees, construct nests to protect their queen and larvae. There are over 30,000 different species of wasps in the world, and as you can imagine, their nests may differ. Some common types of wasp nests you may find near your home include bald-faced hornet nests, mud dauber wasp nests, paper wasp nests, and yellowjacket nests.

The eaves of your house can be a prime location for wasps looking for protection from the elements. However, this can be a problem for both you and the wasps if it happens to be on your porch, where people come and go. Other spots where you may find a wasp nest around your home include trees, attics, sheds, and roofs.

Why Burning and Other Extreme Measures Are Bad Ideas When Removing a Wasp’s Nest

There may be reasons you can let the wasp’s nest remain until winter, when it’s abandoned and can be safely removed. We’ll talk about that later. But what should you do if you find a wasp nest near your home in an unsafe location for you? First, let’s talk about what you shouldn’t do.

Although it makes for a compelling video, shoving an M-80 into a wasp’s nest to remove it is a really bad idea for several reasons. For one thing, M-80s are strong enough to cause serious injury. But there are some other issues at hand.

• You may burn your house down. Setting off fireworks along the eaves of your home can easily trigger a fire. Paper wasp nests are especially flammable and, combined with the wood of your home, might set your house ablaze.
• You could blow a hole in your house. In the video, the description states the firework used was an M-80. The homeowner taped it to a long pole and placed it inside the wasp nest. However, M-80s are banned federally in the U.S. unless you have a federal explosive license. These fireworks contain so many explosives that they can easily cause a lot of damage. It’s not something you would want near your home. The homeowner in the video was lucky, stating, “There was no damage to the building, a garden hose cleaned up the paint.”
• You may not get rid of the wasps. Many worker wasps will be out of the nest during the day. Destroying it during this time means they will all return, looking for their home. You may be left with angry wasps swarming around the area for at least several days. They may even try to rebuild nearby.

Do You Need to Remove the Wasp’s Nest?

The wasps in the video are bald-faced hornets, which are native to North America and commonly found around the country. They may have a scary reputation as aggressive stingers, but they do provide benefits to their ecosystem. These hornets feast on pests such as flies, Japanese beetles, and aphids. They are also important pollinators of fruit trees and other plants.

You may not need to remove a wasp’s nest if you find one on your property. Wasps provide pest control and help pollinate. Also, wasp nests typically only last one season. If you can wait it out, you can remove the empty nest during winter to prevent wasps from returning to the area. However, if the nest is in a location where the wasps are routinely disturbed, or if someone in your household is allergic to wasp stings, you will need to safely remove the nest.

How to Safely Remove a Wasp Nest

If you find an abandoned nest in winter or early spring, you can safely knock it down. Be sure to thoroughly clean the area because wasps will return to places they have been through their scent.

The safest way to remove an active wasp nest is to call in the professionals. However, if you find a small, young nest in the spring, you may be able to knock it down yourself. The Illinois Extension has some tips if you do it yourself. They advise observing the nest for a time to see the entrance hole and to be sure the nest is currently in use. If you plan to use pesticides, be sure to do it at night while the wasps are in their home. And don’t forget your protective clothing.

If you prefer a more natural solution, you can try searching for eco-friendly pest removers in your area. Treehugger suggests some other natural methods, including spraying with natural insecticide or soapy water, or drowning the nest.

Note that none of the experts we found suggested sticking an M-80 into the hole of a wasp nest.