The Best Wasp Spray

Our Top Pick for 2019: Spectracide Wasp and Hornet Killer
Amazon

Wasps are among the most beneficial insects on the planet. They eat insects that humans consider pests. When wasps build their nest in nature, away from humans, they are a welcomed addition to the environment. The problem comes when they build their nest next to or even inside of your home. The reason why they are problematic is because they are extremely territorial. If you, your children, your pets, or guests get too close to a nest that they have built around your home, these flying insects will consider you to be a threat and will not hesitate to attack. For this reason, we reviewed the best wasp sprays that are available on the market. As with all of our reviews, we will divide our products into a gold, silver, and bronze category. At the end of our review, we will present you with one budget option that is an effective wasp deterrent, but is less expensive than our first three options.

Let’s Have a Quick Look of Our Top 4 Picks:

Amazon

Spectracide Wasp and Hornet Killer received our gold product rating because it is an effective tool for removing unwanted hornets and wasps from your home or your yard. Since these insects are extremely territorial, the last thing you are going to want to do is get near their nest. With the Spectracide product, you are able to spray the nest from up to 27 feet away.

Being so far away from the nest gives you a good safety barrier and will allow you the chance to retreat if some of the angry bugs attempt to come after you. It also makes it easier for you to reach a nest that is high up in a tree or that is in the awning of your home.

The active ingredient in this product is Lambda cyhalothrin. This pesticide has been in use since the 80’s. It is a synthetic pyrethroid. It can range from being colorless to having a slight beige color. It does have a slight odor, but it is not pungent. This ingredient is derived from the chrysanthemum plant, and when it comes into contact with small insects, it disrupts their nervous system.

The spray also includes a combination of mineral spirits and oils. This causes it to adhere to the body of the wasp, cover it completely, and cut off its oxygen supply. This acts quickly to paralyze the wasp.

While these products are labeled as wasp sprays, the truth is that they are designed to be sprayed at the nest. They can be effective when used on a single insect, but they are most powerful when they are used to completely cover the nest. This is because the oils that are in the spray will coat the nest. In addition to eliminating the adult insects, it will also get rid of the larva, which prevents a repopulating of the nest. Additionally, the oil coating makes the nest undesirable for re-infestation. This point is extremely important. If a nest is left empty, but it is still in perfect condition, it is likely that the wasps will return, and you will have the same problem all over again. However, with this product, the chances of that happening are zero to none.

This Spectracide aerosol spray is designed to get rid of insects on contact. It is formulated to work outdoors. It is not recommended for use inside your home. You can spray it on nests that are on or around your home. If you use the product as directed, you do not have to worry about it damaging or staining the siding or exterior paint of your home.

The reviews on Amazon.com for this product are positive, with the vast majority of reviewers giving the product a perfect 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.

Some of the reviews include an individual who said that although he is not deathly afraid of these little flying creatures, his preference is not to get stung. Since the nest was 20 feet up in the air, the only way that he could reach it was by using a spray that had a powerful jet spray like this product does. According to his review, the spray knocked out all of the wasps. A few of them chased him for a few seconds and then fell in mid flight. He was so impressed with the product that he recorded the entire session and posted it with his review.

Another reviewer said that she and her husband use this product professionally. They say that it works every single time, and they would not use any other product to help them get rid of wasps.

Review after review verified how potent and efficient this product really is. We are confident giving it are gold product rating.

Since 1956, Raid, a product produced by S.C Johnson & Sons, has found its way into the homes of millions of individuals around the world. Its ability to effectively eliminate unwanted pests is a verified fact. Thanks to its illustrious history in pest control and thanks to the effectiveness of this particular product, we are happy to give it our silver product rating.

One thing that you are going to like about this product is just how far-reaching the spray is. It can kill stinging insects on contact from up to 22 feet away. This is an important safety feature. In many areas, bees, wasps, and other insects like to build their homes underneath the eaves of a roof. The only way to get at these bugs without using a spray is to climb up a ladder and try to knock the nest down. And as you can imagine, getting that close to a group of territorial insects and trying to destroy their home is a recipe for disaster. If you have ever been stung by a mud dauber or a hornet after messing with their nest, you know that it is not something you want to repeat again.

This product has been ingeniously designed to make it easier for you to reach hard-to-reach places where wasp and other flying/stinging insects like to make their home. It allows you to effectively remove the insects from a safe enough distance. And since the jet spray from the can, is strong you do not have to worry about the insecticide blowing back on you.

Because of the composition of the spray, you will leave the nest uninhabitable. Any of the insects that escaped while you were spraying and then were brave enough to return later will also die as a result of the residue of the spray that is left on the nest.

As a word of caution, this product is not designed to be used indoors. It emits a powerful jet of liquid that can easily be overshot in a confined environment. It is the most effective when used outdoors.

Reviewers on Amazon.com enjoyed this product. The majority of reviewers gave this product 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. One reviewer who title their review, “In a Word Impressive”, stated that they were writing the review just half an hour after using the product. They said that the product worked awesome as they needed to use it to reach a nest that was about 14 feet above their garage door. The spray was easy to control, and it reached the nest in a very direct way. The can did not drip liquid on their hands. In just a few minutes, all of the offending insects were dead or had left the nest.

Another reviewer said that when he sprays the product, the wasps die. He says that the product has a nice stream, a decent distance, and any insects that the product came into contact with expired within seconds.

Our bronze product is another great option that is available to kill wasps, Yellowjackets, scorpions, and tent caterpillars on contact. It provides the additional benefit of killing wasps that return to the nest, essentially eliminating it.

The bottle is 17.5 ounces. It has a 27 foot jet spray, which means that you will not have to get close to the insects in order to spray them. This is also great for eliminating nests, since you are usually not able to get in direct contact with them without putting yourself in danger.

The formula that is used in this product is water-based. It will not leave behind any oily residue, and it will not stain anything that it is sprayed on. This is very important when you find nest under the roof eaves or on your deck. You are able to eliminate the insects as well as the nest without damaging your home in any way. The product is produced in the United States.

More than 80 individuals have left reviews about Hot Shot on Amazon. The product has an overall 4.2 out of five star rating. Many individuals like the product and say great things about it. They commented on things like how it killed with direct contact in many cases, but it had the added benefit of getting rid of the nest when some of it was carried backed by survivors. Lots of people commented on the fact that they got an accurate shot.

One individual said that this product is great for wasps, but they struggled a little bit with heavily armed foes. They say that they usually are not interested in killing bees, wasps or Hornets. However, after getting stung 11 times in just one week, they decided they had to do something about the nearby wasp’s nest. They felt the product was great for the wasps, but they gave the advice that for hardier and more angry Hornets or bugs, you need to keep your running shoes on.

One individual did not have much success using this product. They did not realize that you had to shake the can really well in order to get the product to spray far. They ended up just getting a little bit of foam out of the can. A couple of other individuals also commented on the fact that only a small amount of foam came out. They like the price of the product and thought that it did a decent job, but they did not like the fact that they had to shake the can for almost 30 seconds in order to get a decent amount of spray to come out.

For our budget product, we decided to go with an Ortho product. This company has been in business for many years and has built a reputation on providing high-quality products that do their job well. This 16 ounce bottle contains a foam that entraps wasps instantly. Any insects that escape and return to the nest will deliver the power chemicals to others, getting rid of the nest.

This product has proven to work on wasps, Hornets, mud daubers, and Yellowjackets. It is a product that can be sprayed directly at an insect, trapping it in the foam. The spray action can reach up to 20 feet above ground. This means that you can easily direct it at nests and insects that are in doorways, window frames, roof eaves, and around your carport. This will protect you and your family from angry insects.

The bottle has instructions that tell you how to use the product. It recommends spraying the product on a nest at dusk or sunrise when insects are least active. This timing will keep you safer based on the insect’s activity.

Individuals who have used this product have good things to say about it. It has a 4.5 out of star five star rating on Amazon. Over 100 individuals have reviewed the product and feel that it is effective for killing both Hornets and wasps.

One Amazon reviewer said that the product has crazy foam action. They said that it looks just like a white mutant blob and completely engulfed the wasps and nest they were targeting. Others commented on the fact that they had success with killing the insects instantly.

A couple of people had trouble with the aerosol can. When they received the product, the button that you push in order to emit the aerosol was not there. So they were not even able to use the product. They couldn’t return the product, and so they felt like their money was completely wasted.

When it comes to getting rid of dangerous wasps and hornets, our budget pick is a great option for those who do not want to spend an arm and a leg in order to protect themselves and their families. It is a quality product that gets the job done.

Pre-purchase considerations

Distance It Will Spray

The absolute last thing you want to do is attempt to destroy a wasp or hornet nest up close. If you do, you will find yourself the recipient of multiple stings. In the worst-case scenario, you may find yourself visiting the local hospital. The best product you can purchase is one that has a far-reaching spray. You want it to shoot out as a solid jetstream of liquid. The product you purchase should have a spray that is easy to control and easy to direct. The jet should be so powerful that you do not have to worry about a light breeze blowing it back in your face, and you should not have to worry about it dripping on your hands from the can.

Formulated to Render the Nest Uninhabitable

The best spray you can purchase is one that has been formulated to render the nest uninhabitable. A good spray will have a mixture of the active ingredient that actually kills the insects, along with oils that bind the active ingredient to the insects and the nest. A good spray will kill any larva that are in the nest and will poison the nest to the point that if any insects to return to it, they will die shortly after entering it.

Quick Acting

Wasps are very territorial, and they do not think twice about stinging someone who they perceive to be a threat. For this reason, you want to find a spray that has an active ingredient that immediately attacks the nervous system of the bugs. Some sprays have been formulated to completely coat the body of the insect, cutting off its oxygen supply, while attacking its nervous system and inhibiting its ability to fly.

Eco-friendly

Some wasp sprays are environmentally friendly and are not made with insecticides or pesticides. These are made with a mixture of alcohol, peanut oil, and peppermint oil. Many view the environmentally friendly options as a humane way to kill these insects because it basically gets them drunk and then they expire. The downside with environmentally friendly options is that they are not fast acting, and there is a chance that a few of the insects will be able to attack you while you spray.

Will Not Conduct Electricity

Some types have been formulated to not conduct electricity. This is especially important when you have an infestation you need to deal with that is around power lines.

Understand the Precautions

Insect sprays use pesticides and insecticides that if misused can negatively affect humans. Before purchasing any product, understand precautions you need to take when using the product, as well as any gear you may need to keep yourself and your family safe.

Conclusion (Wrapping it up)

As we stated at the outset, stinging insects play an important role in the environment. When they build their homes away from humans, they are a welcome addition to the landscape. However, when they build their homes too close to humans they pose a danger because of their territorial nature. The sprays that we have reviewed will allow you to effectively eliminate an infestation of these stinging insects. It will also render the area that you spray uninhabitable to the bugs, so there is no chance that they will come back and recolonize. We hope that our brief review has given you some food for thought and will help you make the best decision when choosing a wasp spray that will work well for you.