So, I ran over a bee's nest.. what now..

[thatguy]

We bought the lot beside ours and yesterday I was out rough cutting it because it has several HUGE blackberry bushes on it.. As im coming around on my second pass I looked around and saw all these black things swarming around up the hill..

I undoubtedly had mowed over a good size bees nest that was in/on the ground.. From what I can tell, I didnt get that close, it looks like one of the papermache types and I tore it open..

I was very lucky and think the cutter hit the nest, so I did not get stung..

I really would like to finish mowing this area (its not that big of an area), but I dont know how/when it would be safe to go back in..

Suggestions? Thoughts?

Brian

 

[RoyJackson]

Walk back there first and see if they've abandoned the nest. If they have, go mow, but wear long pants (heavy and thick) with the leg openings tied down (so they can't craw up your legs...I think bike riders use something like this), a long sleeve shirt or jacket, gloves. Even a beekeeper's helmet, if you don't mind buying one.
Just have as little exposed skin as possible (including your eyes!!).

It'll be hot, but that's as much protection as you're going to get.

 

[bullbreaker]

I undoubtedly had mowed over a good size bees nest that was in/on the ground.. From what I can tell, I didnt get that close, it looks like one of the papermache types and I tore it open..


Suggestions? Thoughts?

Brian

Brian
Bee carefull.Also you might want to check your tires for flats from bee stings!:laughing::laughing:



(just kidding!) Wish ya well,play safe.
Boone

 

[2720wes]

I hate the thought that its bee season in Va already.

If its the football shaped hornets nest you hit they may rebuild close by in the unmowed brush. Look from a distance with binoculars if you have them and watch for any activity. If you see anything spray/gas them at night.

When you mow again I would make a fast pass and stop and observe then do the same thing again.

Hopefully they decided to move to a high tree.

Be carefull around those things.

 

[Transit]

I do all my heavy mowing in the late fall to early spring when the temperatures are cold to cool, too cold for them to be out.

 

[beenthere]

When I've had them (usually one each year somewhere on the 22 acres) and destroyed them, they disperse within a day. Don't find them rebuilding nearby either. May be the variety, but they are the wasps (not bees) that build the football size nest. :confused3:

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Get close enough in the daylight to find their hole in the day. Then get a couple of cans of long distance bee killer. Go back there when it's dark. You may want to put on long pants and a long sleeve shirt. I like to wear safety glasses. Walk up softly and spray into the hole. I have seen where there are guards at the entrance even at night. Unless you have a big light on them they have a tough time finding you. Make sure you know which way you are going to run once you have sprayed them.
I'm not that big of a fan of pouring gas down the hole just to keep it out of the groundwater myself.

 

[Thomas]

Give it day than check on nest,if no action wait until after dark make pass w/mower..that should be the end for sure.

 

[MarkV]

Timely post for me. I was out this morning grading a new trail and hit the dreaded yellow jacket nest in the ground. They got me 3 times before I could out run them. Only took another half hour before they settled down enough that I could sneak back and turn off the tractor. I'll get it home after dark tonight. Those stings sure do hurt for a few hours.

MarkV

 

[Thomas]

MarkV.
"They got me 3 times"
Anything less than 6 strings we consider love bites up here inthe pucker brush states.

Glad your okay and be careful this evening.

If you can't sour the nest and have skunk near by,lure the skunk to nest..food..skunk will make short order of that nest.

 

[gauthier]

Bees are pretty harmless at night,,so,,go back after dark,inspect,bring some wasp/hornet spray,if you see any around spray A couple cans in their direction,if its an in ground nest like yellow jackets,find their hole and pour about a gal of gas down it.

 

[captaincrab55]

Looks like most people use the bee killer that shoots a stream 15" or so.... Most likely a nerve agent of some type if it's labeled as outdoor use only... Great product, if used proper... Just a "Heads Up".....

 

[Transit]

Timely post for me. I was out this morning grading a new trail and hit the dreaded yellow jacket nest in the ground. They got me 3 times before I could out run them. Only took another half hour before they settled down enough that I could sneak back and turn off the tractor. I'll get it home after dark tonight. Those stings sure do hurt for a few hours.

MarkV

A few drops of vinegar will stop the pain.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[kebo]

Timely post for me. I was out this morning grading a new trail and hit the dreaded yellow jacket nest in the ground. They got me 3 times before I could out run them. Only took another half hour before they settled down enough that I could sneak back and turn off the tractor. I'll get it home after dark tonight. Those stings sure do hurt for a few hours.

MarkV

I don't think the OP that started this thread was timely for you.... he posted it in 2005!!! That's one thing I don't like about the software used to run this forum with. The date's not very obvious, it's pretty easy to search and find a very old thread and reply to it thinking that it's a fairly recent thread. Worth putting up with for sure! Still, all the advice given is good, so far I've not mowed across a bee nest/hive and hope I never do.....

 

[Rob-D]

Get close enough in the daylight to find their hole in the day. Then get a couple of cans of long distance bee killer. Go back there when it's dark. You may want to put on long pants and a long sleeve shirt. I like to wear safety glasses. Walk up softly and spray into the hole. I have seen where there are guards at the entrance even at night. Unless you have a big light on them they have a tough time finding you. Make sure you know which way you are going to run once you have sprayed them.
I'm not that big of a fan of pouring gas down the hole just to keep it out of the groundwater myself.

I wouldn't use gas either. If they are honey bees I'd try to save them as they are struggling right now and we need them to survive. Yellow jackets can be mean buggers so watch your self. I've used boiling water on an open nest.
I've often wondered what would happen if I ran over a nest myself. I guess the guy who opt for cabs have already considered this! One more vote for cabs.
Rob

 

[lilranch2001]

I don't think the OP that started this thread was timely for you.... he posted it in 2005!!! That's one thing I don't like about the software used to run this forum with. The date's not very obvious, it's pretty easy to search and find a very old thread and reply to it thinking that it's a fairly recent thread. Worth putting up with for sure! Still, all the advice given is good, so far I've not mowed across a bee nest/hive and hope I never do.....

where do you see that this was a 2005 post? In the header it says yesterday