Does soapy water kill yellow jackets?
Consequently, how does soapy water kill wasps?
Shoot a mixture of 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of dish soap per 1 cup (240 mL) of water. Pour hot water into a spray bottle and add your dish soap. Locate the wasps and spray them until they stop moving. If possible, use a hose-end sprayer for a more direct application.
Then, how do I get rid of yellow jackets without harming bees?
Tie a small piece of meat or fish to a short piece of string, then tie the string to a stick. Place the stick in the ground by the bowl so that the meat hangs about half an inch above the water. Yellowjackets fly very erratically; when they touch the soapy water, they will sink and drown.
The soap water is able to kill wasps almost instantly. Some experts say that the soap water clogs their breathing spores, and this results in an instant death. Therefore, it's a humane way to kill them.