Do You Think There Gone?

hunterridgefarm · Nov 3, 2005

Ok, I got behind on brush hogging one field this summer about 3-4 acers. Since I am allergic to bees (and don't have a cab /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif)I decided to wait until a couple of frost before attempting to hog it.

Over the last three weeks we have had 3 frost and several nights with temps in the mid to upper 30's and low 40's (I know I sound like a weather man /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif). Do you think if any nest of yellow jackets were still there they would be abandon by now? We always have the straggler buzzing around on warm days.

I usually wait till January to brush hog anything I have missed in the summer but it is going to be around 70 degrees Saturday and with the sun being about down by the time I get home during the week I could use some Tractor Therapy.

ronjhall · Nov 3, 2005

Yesterday I was replacing siding on one of our buildings. When I pulled the old siding down there was all kinds of Wasps where the siding had rotted enough to let them in. They were slow moving but a couple did try to attack us. Got some good old Ortho spray out and did them in. We have had several good frost in last 2 weeks that should have made them dormant. But there seem to be a few that come to life. Bees may be a little different. But I would wait until it was colder during the day before I tried it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Marlowe · Nov 3, 2005

I can have frost in the morning, and mosquitos in the afternoon. I wouldn't trust them if it's going to be near seventy.

hunterridgefarm · Nov 3, 2005

That is kinda what I'm thinking too. This grass is tall and layed over so it my be providing some insulation for the nest.

I have another 4 acers I need to plow under but I guess I should wait another month on it too.

I guess I'll go ahead and start to add to the poll barn this weekend.

Of course I could use this as an excuse to go look at cabs /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

Nasty135 · Nov 3, 2005

I can guarantee that they are still active, I have a ground nest next to my garage. I see them every day,It has to stay cool for them to not bee active /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

dmccarty · Nov 4, 2005

Be VERY careful. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I'm i the triangle area of NC.

Last December I had a a yellow check nest that was still active. The nest was under some logs that might have been 4 inches in diameter. Not much cover from the cold and by December I would have thought they would have been dead. But they still buzzed me when I tried to move those logs.

I would be careful if you are allergic.

Later,
Dan

hunterridgefarm · Nov 7, 2005

Well I took everyones advice and will wait till end of Dec or Jan to bush-hog that section.
I did get some tractor time leveling where I dug up some apple tree stumps. But since I could not bush-hog I had to:

Mow the yard and vac the leaves

Clean out the gutters

Pressure wash the house

Re-organize the storage building so the wife could put more "stuff" in it.

Replace a couple of boards on another outbuilding with treated boards and caulk all joints.

Help my son put together an entertainment center for his room(he did do most of it).

Cut a few low hanging limbs to get ready for the chipper.

I should have taken my chances with the yellow jackets /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif