How to remove hornets' nest inside the house?

I just discovered that we have a hornets' nest about the size of a basketball. It's about 13-17 feet from our drop-ceiling to the edge of the wall. So, how do I remove the nest when it's pretty far from where I can actually reach it?

 

Wow, that's pretty big! Are you sure that it's an active nest?

 

Yes, because it's in the basement flying when and I shine a flashlight to it, it's swarming around the nest. Okay, so when I spray a hornets and wasp spray at its nest, I assumed it will fly towards me. What are some options to protect myself?

 

It sounds like you need one of those suits that the bomb squad wears. There isn't much on the net except one tip to spray dish soap.

 

Probably better to call an exterminator.

If you want to DIY, better to go with a basement bug zapper and sugar water.

 

I had a nest inside our bathroom exhaust vent and initially gave them a dusting of Sevin but that didn't do much since I could not get a lot onto the hive.

I opted to fog them with the room stray bombs and that got 99% of them.

If it's in an enclosed area that would be an option.

 

I sucked up a nasty nest a skunk had torn apart, they were really aggressive. I slid a length of pvc pipe up close that was taped to my shop vac. I was 15" away and they didn't get mad, but when I switched the vac on they attacked the business end, good by yellow jackets. Well at least confined. I chose to just plug the end of the hose and let them die inside the vac. A week later I checked and all dead.

Long story but it worked and no poison sprays, it was near my puppy yard.

Bud

 

Following up on other ideas -
When I was doing tree pruning work, we had one or two hornet's nests.
Solution was to bring a metal trash can and a pole clipper,
pour a bit of kerosene into the trash can, place the trash can under the nest,
clip the nest off so it fell into the trash can, slam the lid on,
run like hell and come back in an hour.

Not sure I'd try that in an enclosed space like a basement, but that might work.

For smaller wasps nests, I've waited for a coll night when they're home and slow,
bring a wide mouthed glass pickle jar, a metal cookie sheet with a flat edge.
Jar goes over the nest, metal sheet slides between the jar and the roof,
cuts the nest loose, and covers the mouth of the jar so nobody gets out.
You've now got a bunch of angry bugs in a glass jar, covered by a metal sheet.

For your situation, I'd call an exterminator.

If not, wait until dark, get a clean 5 gallon metal paint bucket with a smooth rim.
Find a metal cookie sheet that is big enough to cover the opening of the paint bucket.

Act quickly.
Throw a scoop of granular pool chlorine into the bucket, or a cup of liquid bleach
Bucket goes around nest, either hold it there for 10-15 minutes, or slide the cookie sheet
between bucket and ceiling to cut nest free and seal it off and then carefully lower it without
letting the sheet move and let out the insects.

 

I thought of a shop vac but since the nest is the size of a basketball, I didn't mention it. I guess that it could work.

 

Chalie2 I’m having a hard time visualizing why you can’t get any closer since you have drop ceiling so I’m not coming up with anything treatment wise for the interior. Not doubting you, I just can’t visualize it.

Here’s a potential way to treat, although it isn’t removal.. The hornets are exiting/entering their nest on a regular basis, to the exterior as they must forage and such. In my experience the nest is close to the exterior wall. During the daytime, especially when sunny, go to the exterior or your house but closest to the nest and look for hornet activity going in and out. Even though it may look like swarming, there will be one defined hole/opening where they will enter/exit, pretty much one at a time. That will be where you want to treat. Make sure that you can find that opening under low light conditions. Wearing thin gloves for dexterity and long sleeves/pants I would use a wasp/bee aerosol that shoots a jet spray by holding the nozzle right against/into the entry point and let it rip. Also wear eye protection for potential splash back.

It is imperative that the spray go into the opening otherwise it won’t work. That is why spraying at the nest from inside the drop ceiling won’t work as you are spraying the paper and not getting it into the nest. Also thats a long distance to spray especially if there is a ceiling overhead.

When the hornets are dead, which could take several days and maybe a re-treat, then you can think about nest removal if desired. As large as it is I suspect there are larvae in there that will decompose. You might smell it or it might vent to the exterior and dry up. No matter what, whether you try the treatment or not, do not block the entry/exit until you know there is no activity, otherwise your basement will look like a bad horror movie with upset hornets everywhere.

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