.2507291102201.png)
As the summer rolls on, we get many calls from customers looking to have wasps, yellow jacket or hornets nests removed from their home. Here are several important reasons not to remove a nest immediately after treating it:
🐝 1. Lingering Activity: Even after treatment, some bees or wasps may still be alive inside or around the nest. Disturbing it too soon can agitate surviving insects and increase the risk of being stung.
⏳ 2. Time Needed for Full Effect: Most pesticides or dust treatments need 24–72 hours (sometimes longer) to fully eliminate the colony. Removing the nest prematurely can disrupt the effectiveness of the treatment.
🚫 3. Attracting Survivors: If the nest is removed too quickly, returning foragers (workers that were out collecting food) might become confused and aggressive, increasing the risk of attacks near your home.
🧪 4. Prevent Reinfestation: Leaving the treated nest in place for a while helps ensure that any returning insects are also exposed to the pesticide, which helps wipe out the entire colony.
👀 5. Observation Period: Keeping the nest in place temporarily allows homeowners to monitor activity and confirm that the treatment was fully successful before removal.
⚠️ 6. Safety First: Removing a nest—especially one that’s not completely inactive—can be dangerous. Waiting ensures it’s safer for you to remove it without risk.
If you’ve had a nest treated, it’s usually recommended to wait at least 3–7 days before considering removal—always follow the advice of your pest control provider.
These guidelines are for yellow jackets, wasps & hornets; if you have a honey bee nest, it is always best to contact a bee keeper and have them remove the hive with the queen.