We have a very common species of wasp where I live: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ropalidia_revolutionalis As the article says, they are mankind's friend. Mostly. I've only seen them attack when protecting their nest. But they swarm when doing so, they can sting multiple times, and they so common building a nest near your front door is a regular occurrence. So despite them being a good insect to have around being asked to dispose of a nest is regular fatherhood experience.

Most use insect strays. Lighting an A4 sheet under the nest also works. Both are gruesome ends for the nest.

Over time I noticed their attacks are driven by motion. When their nests are disturbed they buzz around, home in on the nearest moving thing and sting it. That usually provokes more movement, with more stings sure to follow. Running involves lots of movement, and you have to cover a lot of ground before they give up.

They hurt like buggery, but they've never done me serious damage and this behaviour suggested a different approach might work. Sadly it was when the kids were near adulthood when I worked up to the gumption to try it out. You approach the nest with no weapons, and no defences. You move slowly. Very slowly. With your bare fingers, you twist the nest around and around, until it breaks and falls to the ground. (I hope they fly off to live another day, but who knows.) The wasps do get angry and buzz around for a while, but don't know what to attack. You have to back away very with the same grace you used in your approach.

I've made it work for small nests. I've had fail for large nests, but even then not reacting when you are stung does seem to limit the damage to a couple of stings. I'm not to proud too claim it's a fine demonstration of some manly qualities.

I haven't done it in a while. Time has moved on, kids have moved out, I've moved houses into a bushland setting, or maybe I've just got older and finally earned the gift of wisdom [0]. Nonetheless the story continues to be useful - it's great for keeping sons and son-in-laws in their place.

[0] I suspect it's the move to bushland. I've never seen these wasps when bush walking. Yes, mankind has inflicted a lot of suffering on these wasps. But I suspect the suburbs we built are a utopia for them.