This response was provided by Darryl Coates, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, District Wildlife Biologist.
How to get rid of hornets: An aerial nest as you described usually belongs to the Bald-faced hornet. Bald-faced Hornets, for the most part, do not create problems for humans. Bald-faced Hornets prefer meat (live prey - mainly other insects) as compared to their sweet tooth cousins the Yellow Jacket Wasp - soda pop can bugs. However, hornet will become aggressive if any animal, like you or I, mess with their hive (home). There are several commercial products on the market for wasp and hornet control. These are water traps (non toxic pest control) that attract the hornet to the bait and drown them in water. How to make one: Take an empty one or two liter plastic bottle. Add one cup of sweet water (½ cup of sugar dissolved in one cup of water), add one cup apple cider vinegar, add a drop or two of mild dishwashing soap into that solution. Suspend a small amount of raw meat over the top of the solution about 2 inches above the solution level. Place the container outside in a open location near the hive and wait. Commercial Kits may be purchase at a farm supply store like Big R, Tractor Supply Company, Home and Ranch, etc.
There are a couple of companies that manufacture "Wasp and Hornet" sprays. One company even makes a foaming formulation.
How To Use The Spray:
You will need:
1. spray (pesticide), 2. personal protective equipment (hat, safety goggles, long sleeve shirt/jacket, gloves, long pants and running shoes), and 3. a flash light.
Go out at night... Note: all residents will be back in the hive.
Shine the flashlight on the hive. (Note: Be sure not to shine the light directly into or at the bottom of hive. The bottom of the hive is the end nearest to the ground. This area is the hive entrance. Shining the light into the entrance may aggravate the occupants.)
Aim and shoot spray, following the pesticide manufacture recommendations, at the bottom of the hive. (Note: Do not stand directly below the hive. Pesticides will kill wasp and hornets on contact. However, they will begin to fall out of the hive and onto the ground below. They may not be completely dead yet and may still be able to sting.)
Move away from the hive in a safe, unobstructed direction at a quickened pace. Hence the requirement of high quality running shoes. If stung, place ice on sting site and monitor for additional allergic reactions. If hypersensitive to wasp, hornet, or bee sting - I recommend you hire a professional and do not attempt to do this on your own.
BEE Safe and Good Luck
