Wasps

[EddieWalker]

I missed the party why you shouldn't kill all of them in the wall?

I've dealt with this twice. Both times, the house had paneling on the inside. It was during the summer, so I had the homeowner turn up the AC and I got there first thing in the morning. Everyone was to leave for the day, so after they had left, or were outside, I opened up the paneling and droped a bug bomb in there, then set off two more in the room.

A couple hours later, problem solved. The hive was simple enough to remove. Ther were dead bee's everywhere, but most of them just vacumed up. I was told that they were finding them all over the house for a week, but we expected that.

After the hive and insulation was all removed, I sprayed it down with bleach and put in new insulation. I caulked the exteir walls and haven't had a problem since.

Eddie

 

[srjones]

I missed the party why you shouldn't kill all of them in the wall?

Eddie

Hi Eddie,

Killing the bees is certainly an option, and it's faster and more complete. Especially in areas where AHB (Africanized Honey Bee) swarms are known.

Some people, though, would prefer to see the bees live somewhere else. It takes more time and effort, but it can be done.

What I was trying to say is that it's not a good idea to kill them in the wall and then seal 'em up and call 'er good.

 

[ccsial]

I have alway been afraid of wasps and hornets. I had an uncle who was a house painter in Cincinatti and was scraping gutters and got attacked. This was around 1950. They bit his neck a lot and he started to swell up. By the time the lady of the house he was working on got an ambulance there he was dead.

I fight them using a spray can of starting ether and a lighter. It burns their wings off in a heartbeat. Then I spray with a hornet killer. It's fun too.

 

[Airic]

Great info here. I'm going to get some books and start reading up. Very interested on trying this out but, I'm not sure I want to go into the expense of the start up especialy if it turns to failure. What are typicaly the expenses associated getting set up and what kind of time does this involve if I did start up a hive or two? I can easily see myself getting into bee keeping but, I'm also clueless in this department.

 

[srjones]

Great info here. I'm going to get some books and start reading up. Very interested on trying this out but, I'm not sure I want to go into the expense of the start up especialy if it turns to failure. What are typically the expenses associated getting set up and what kind of time does this involve if I did start up a hive or two? I can easily see myself getting into bee keeping but, I'm also clueless in this department.

The answer is: It depends on...

1. What you want to do.
2. How many hives you want.
3. How much of your own equipment can you make or improvise.

But the typical expenses you need to start are:

1. PPE (personal protective equipment) gloves, veil, hat, suit, etc.
2. Smoker. Some may argue with me, but it's IMO essential when starting.
3. Hive tool.
4. A place for the bees to live.
5. Last, but most important. Bees.

If you buy it all new, the PPE will run you up to $200 or more. However if you uses a lot of duct tape and items you probably already have, the only thing you would need to buy is the veil which would probably be less that $20.

I don't remember the prices on smokers but Dadant makes good ones. Also, you can often find them used, but just make sure the bellows work.

A hive tool should be $5-10

If you're an accomplished wood worker, you could make all the hive parts. However, they're also massed produced so it's often harder to buy the raw materials cheaper than the end product. But if you have the time and materials you can get creative.

Bees can be either, free (a swarm) or around $50 (a package) or higher for an established colony. Packages are usually available from George or California in the spring.

Feel free to send me a PM if have specific questions.

 

[sunspot]

The hive tool is very handy. I use it for lots of other things than hives. Right now I'm using it for pulling out baseboards.

 

[Philscbx]

Good ol brake or contact cleaner with spray tubes attached.
It's instant death as it absorbs straight through them.

Remember, only do this at night.

Anything else take ten times longer.

Just happen to check and I have wifi again.

 

[Philscbx]

I rear ended something, probably a bumblebee from the wallop I took, at 60 mph on a motorcycle. It got me high on the cheek, just below the eye. It was by far the most painful sting I have ever received.

Same happened to me on motorcycle, only I was going the speed limit of 40 or so. Get to the stop light and hear this darn bee next to my head.
Well, it wasn't just near my head, it found a gap in the leading edge of helmet and ended up in the ear pocket. I never felt him enter.

Now look like a mad psychopath at a stoplight trying to rip off the helmet as he is practicing self defense.

 

[Philscbx]

I learned about red legged waspes when I moved here to Texas. Eddie

Yes, I saw those as well last tour to Texas. They have a more black body than the ones up north.