Wasps in Lawn Chairs
Discovering that wasps have built a nest in your favorite chair can be a painful revelation. Wasps defend their nests by stinging intruders. Wasps that build nests on chairs are usually paper wasps or mud daubers and not yellow jackets or hornets. This is good news because paper wasps and mud daubers are less aggressive than yellow jackets and easier to control.
Paper Wasps
Paper wasps (Polistes spp.) are about 3/4 to 1 inch long, and black with yellow or orange markings. They are also called umbrella wasps because they build open, umbrella-shaped honeycomb nests. Nests are usually located under building overhangs, window frames or porch roofs. The European paper wasp (P. dominulus) is an exception. It builds nests in small, dark cavities such as poles or grills. If the nest is located under the bottom of the chair, it could be any type of paper wasp.
Chemical Control
Chemical control is necessary if you want to use your lawn chair before winter. Purchase a commercial insecticide specifically for wasps. These usually contain resmethrin, pyrethrins, carbamates or pyrethroids. Treatment should be done at dusk, when wasps are less active. Spray the insecticide at the entrance to the nest. Wait a day and then check the nest for activity. Once all wasps have been killed, you can get rid of the nest. Wash the area thoroughly to prevent new nests.
Nonchemical Control
If you want to reclaim your chair without using pesticides, you have only a couple of options. Getting rid of the nest without killing the wasps is pointless because the wasps will simply rebuild. You can wait until the wasps die naturally in the fall. Unlike bees, only fertilized females survive the winter and most of the workers die once the temperature drops. Another option is to wrap the chair in black plastic at night. Seal it tightly and let it sit in the sun. The heat should kill the wasps in a couple of days. Both methods increase the likelihood of being stung and should be used with caution.
Mud Daubers
Mud daubers are solitary wasps known for their tube-like nests made of mud. They are more nuisances than dangerous because they do not defend their nests and rarely sting. Nests can be removed with a putty knife. If necessary, you can kill adults with a flyswatter. These wasps are beneficial and known to kill black widow spiders along with a number of garden pests, so killing should be a last resort.
References
- University of Minnesota Extension; Wasp and Bee Control; Jeffrey Hahn, et al.; 2011
- West Virginia University Extension Service; Paper Wasps; Peggy Powell
- Ohio State University Extension; Paper Wasps and Hornets; William Lyon, et al.
- "Field Guide to Texas Insects"; B.M. Drees, et al.; 1999
- Ohio State University Extension; Mud Daubers; William F. Lyon
Writer Bio
Darcy Logan has been a full-time writer since 2004. Before writing, she worked for several years as an English and special education teacher. Logan published her first book, "The Secret of Success is Not a Secret," and several education workbooks under the name Darcy Andries. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English and Master of Arts in special education from Middle Tennessee State University.
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