Need advice regarding yellow jackets inside the house (rental, inspection)

[paudubon]

We've noticed a very odd situation this summer in our house. It started out by seeing a yellow jacket in the kitchen about once every other day or so. We couldn't figure out how they were getting in the house. It was odd because they were slow and didn't try to attack. They almost seemed sick and half dead. Sometimes we'd just find one lying on the kitchen stove or dead on the floor. We looked outside for hives/nests and saw hornets' nests, but didn't any yellow jackets. Sometimes I'd hear a high pitched sound and would think it's a mosquito, but I turn around and it's a yellow jacket right behind me -- needless to say, it has caused some paranoia, especially with young kids in the house.

Has anyone dealt with a similar problem? Where are they coming from - the heating or a/c duct? It's very odd b/c we just found one in the upstairs master bath tonight for the first time, on my toothbrush! It was alive, but didn't even move when I picked up the toothbrush. Very strange...

It would be great if we knew where they were coming from and how to solve the problem. Please advise.

[Flowerchild08]

Spray the joker - hairspray will work....it will make him drop so you can either usher him outside or squash him....Must be coming in a door or a window....hopefully they are not residing in your home.

[raleighkc]

I would call a professional. If it was outside and a nest you could see, use the spray that kills them (buy at lowes, home depot, walmart, target). But if you can't find the nest, you should hire someone who can.

[bronwen.wallace]

We had the same problem in our rental last year! Awful. We were always afraid something was going to happen to the dogs when we left them alone in the house.

At first, we assumed the wasps were coming in through the exhaust fan in the bathroom, which is not unusual, apparently. But we discovered they were coming in through gaps in the old window hardware in one of our bathrooms (in between the top and bottom pane, also up the tracks in the bottom pane that allow you to open the window). We finally narrowed it down by "pre-treating" suspect areas with Raid and then watching for results, so maybe that's something you could try.

Just spray wherever you suspect they're getting in - like any crevices in your window, for example - and if you find dead yellow jackets near your window, then you know you've found the culprit. Of course, use your judgment with kids and pets when treating with Raid.

Once you've found the entry point, hopefully it's something you can easily address. If you can't find the entry point, an experienced professional should be able to help by doing an inspection.

Best of luck! The paranoia is killer, I know.