How do you get rid of sand hornets?

Answer 1

I have had sand hornets for four years. When they first appeared we were afraid of them and didn't know their behavior - what a mistake. I am still battling these aggravating creatures. They are not aggressive and only the large female can sting. She generally digs her nest at night and hunts during the day. The males which are much smaller appear around the first of July here in southeast Virginia. Last year I was still killing hornets the latter part of September. I have spoken to exterminators in the area and they say they can't get rid of them. The only way hornet spray works is if you can catch them on the ground. Even then you have to be right on top of them or they will just fly away. You need an immediate kill. Putting powdered insecticide in the hole doesn't work fast enough. They can lay eggs for the next year before they die. Since I don't work outside the home, I am able to scout for nest in early morning. If it is where my water hose will reach, I fill the hole with water. It can take a lot of water. Many times the female is still in the nest and will emerge. I then zap her with hornet spray. I also use a two gallon watering pitcher and have used the whole 2 gallons. Destroy the nest, but always check back. I have seen other females reuse the nest. I have read where you can use a Badminton racket and catch them in the net holes. They are really fast and I am sure this takes practice. I found out last year I could use my husband's long handle minnow net and bring them down inside the net, even if they are a foot or so above the ground. I then step on them. Males are easier to squash than females. I mostly kill males in this method. Last year I killed over 80 hornets. They are not swarming this year as they have done before. They got so bad I couldn't even walk outside and our house sits on 3/4 acres. I have killed over 60 this year. The important thing is to kill the female before she has a chance to lay eggs. I found the best information at http://ww2lafayette.edu/~hollidac/cicadaintro.html. This is the address on the information I printed. This gentlemen started studying the sand hornet in 1989. Hopefully by next year mine will be about gone. This takes a lot of patience. GOOD LUCK! I heard that my uncle poured gas in their holes and they never came back.