Wasps are getting aggressive. Their populations are soaring, and they are coming for our food.

Wasps are already creating havoc in apple orchards. They are feasting on the apples that were punctured by thirsty birds this summer.

Apples that dropped to the ground this summer are being eaten, too.

This is only the beginning, and wasp attacks will worsen. 

Many wasp nests currently have hundreds, if not thousands of wasps.

Their food sources in nature (mostly insects and plant sugars) are becoming scarce, leading them to us.  

It’s time for us to take action.

The first step is to remove possible food sources. Make sure your garbage cans are tightly sealed.  

Any fallen fruits in your yard or garden should be raked up.

Be careful when eating outdoors. Wasps love picnics. Keep foods covered until you are ready to eat. Promptly clean any food messes.

Be especially cautious before drinking out of a container. If you accidentally drink a wasp, its sting can cause swelling and be life threatening.

Most wasp nests can be ignored, but if there are many wasps flying around, try to find the nest and determine if it is in a hazardous location. A wasp nest is most easily detected on a sunny day, when hundreds of wasps will be flying in and out of the nest.

If you feel the nest is in a hazardous location, such as along a sidewalk or near a door, you may want to kill the colony.

Identify the hole of the nest and prepare for a nighttime assault. Wasps are less active at night, and they will all be at the nest.

Select a cold night. Wasps are much less active when temps are in the 50s or colder.

Wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, trousers and a hat. Pull your socks over your pant cuffs. 

Approach your foe with respect and courage. Be merciless.

Do not shine a flashlight directly at the nest. We want to surprise them.

If the nest is aboveground, spray a wasp-killing, knockdown spray into the hole. These sprays can be applied from 20 feet away.

If the nest is underground or hidden in a crevice, sprinkle carbaryl (Sevin) dust into the entrance.

Leave immediately. Over the next couple days, see how your assault worked. If you continue to see wasp activity in the nest, attack again. 

Don’t bother using wasp traps. Traps kill a small percentage of wasps.

Fortunately, wasp colonies will die after a hard frost.

Written by Tom Kalb, Extension Horticulturist, North Dakota State University. Photo courtesy of Nathan Feir.