Wasps/Bees under the deck - no easy access

We've found lots of bees/wasps flying around one corner of our deck. I cannot get under it without dismantling some lattices, which is a project for another time.

Any suggestions for something I can pour/spray through my deck boards and from the side to try to kill these things? I don't want to wait for winter since we enjoy being out on our deck.

 

If it's a wasp paper nest, where the wasps sit on the comb and are exposed (no surrounding paper nest), then a "yard fogger" type of aerosol should work well. Do it with little to no wind, and at night. Spray in from a couple directions of possible.

If it's a hornet/yellow jacket nest that has a paper constructed nest surrounding the comb, then I doubt if the fogger idea would work. Before I retired, I would probably have used my termite treating tools that I used for soil rodding to reach in there, if the gaps allowed. Do you think that a hose end sprayer, on your water hose, with insecticide concentrate in the hose end sprayer could get to them? You could soak the paper nest, maybe have to do it several nights. Don't just spray over the nest, try to break into it with a stream. Otherwise, a compressed air sprayer could accomplish this, too.

The kicker would be if this is a below ground yellow jacket nest. They aren't hard to treat, if you can get to them which could be difficult here. Hopefully this isn't the case.

I would go out at night with a good light and shine in there to see what kind of a nest: exposed with wasps visible, paper covered with wasps/hornets inside, or what. The more you know, the more you can strategize as to your approach. Keep us posted.

 

So I did some looking. Found 2 different things.

1. There is at least 1 nest/hive in the ground. You can kinda see it here on the bottom.: https://i.imgur.com/cIX98Ol.jpg

2. There is a nest under one of my railings: https://i.imgur.com/TatQGKl.jpg

 

Nest under railing: Odd looking nest compared to what we see here in northeast. Is it paper or mud? Resembles mud dauber nests, which are really incubation chambers. If so, these are good wasps as they are insect predators. Not aggressive. If you want it gone, spray any insecticide, aerosol or water based, into the openings at dusk or a little later. Scrape off later.

In ground: Aerosols don't work as reliably when sprayed into ground nesting, though they could help as a secondary spray. I would mix up a water based insecticide, meaning buy a concentrate insecticide, mix with water and pour into the hole(s). Gravity will take it down. Sometimes the nest takes a curve, or turn in the ground. Following up with an aerosol can help with that. If you can't pour directly into the hole, maybe a hose/tube attached to a funnel, etc would work. Gauge the results, it may be necessary to treat more times.
Examples of the active ingredient that would work: Cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, (cy)permethrin, Lambda-cyhalothrin, fipronil. Pretty much anything labeled for crawling insects, which means it has a residual, will work. Brand names vary from state to state, and store to store. Focus on "active ingredient" section of the label. Some states, such as NY, NJ, MA and others have further restrictions. Keep us posted.

 

I went with Sevin - https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sevin-1-Qua...yer/5013147375

I may try again for a second spraying tomorrow, I think I forgot to shake it enough the first time around.

 

Good active ingredient. Use enough volume. 1 to 3 gallons approximately. Can you change nozzle configuration to a stream? Is so, do that as well as fan/cone spray. You want it to go right in the entry/exit hole that they use, not just around the hole. The hive/colony could be off on a side channel and not at the bottom. Change the directions from which the application comes from, if possible. Mix some in a bucket and pour it in, if possible, to make sure that enough is getting to the bottom. Stay persistent, even the pros have to retreat.

 

I think that's possible. The nozzle has rinse and clean, so I wonder if this isn't the right top. Although I saw someone posting asking the same question, and they said they don't make a nozzle like that. Either way, I am able to get a fan/spray. I'll give it a thorough shake.

The hive and entrance is behind the lattice, so I can't really get to it. But I did cover he area nicely. I will try again today. And I'll do it again tomorrow. Luckily my dog isn't too interested in being outside on the grass right now.

Thank you for your constant replies and support. For a novice like me, it is really helpful

 

I've pretty much kicked the bottle, but there are still bees. Here's a quick pic I was able to grab

 

Are you finding any dead yellow jackets at all? It doesn't seem that the insecticide is getting into the entry/exit or the colony. Without that, the chances of success are diminished. How far inside the lattice work is the ground nest, approximately?

 

I'll look again, but it seems about 6 inches to a foot in. I'll check the grass, but it seems like the yellow jackets/bees aren't dying. if I spray them directly, it seems like they're wet but not dead

 

It can take a while for them to die, even from direct contact. If they aren't dying, then something isn't working, as the active ingredient is a good one.
I still think that we need a stream as opposed to a fan spray. Even pouring insecticide into the hole from a bucket, or a hose attached to a funnel and pushed into the hole could work. Do you have a compressed air sprayer that you could mix a strong emulsion of concentrate and water into and then spray a pin stream into the hole? If the wand is long enough, maybe you could reach in to the hole. Sometimes if you unscrew the end nozzle, you get more of a flood, but lower pressure. We need volume going down into the hole.