Hard hat/crash helmet for tractoring? Anyone?

[bloody_peasant]

bbse,

LOL, yeah I can imagine, good thing there wasn't a water hazard near by for you to dive in >:-D

I'm not sure what those big ones are, it may be a solitary species (there are like over 1000 solitary, non-hive forming, species of wasps in the U.S.) or maybe a queen. Whatever they are, its the meanest YJ I've ever ran across. They seem to lock on and chase and chase and chase, I've never had to run as far from any kind of bee/wasp than those guys. Luckily I've only seen 2 of them in my life, both in eastern KY during the '80's.

Another insect that used to pain me greatly in KY, but not here in NC (haven't seen any yet), is what we used to call sweat bees. Little tiny looking bees that love your sweat, land in a pinch point (usually the inside of your elbow) then sting the crap out of you when you accidentally pinch them.

Bumble bees always seem like the most peaceful ones, make you real nervous, but hardly ever sting, but I've been hit at least a couple of times by 'em.

 

[jbrumberg]

bloody peasant:
You are correct about yellow jackets being wasps technbically (I am no entomologist.). You and I did utilize essentially the same non-organic pyrotechnic intervention with satisfactory results. I did some reseach following your messages and I found out that if you cover the nest opening at night with a transparent bowl set firmly in the ground the adults reportedly become confused in the morning, are unable to escape, and will ultimately starve as they will not dig an escape hole. I prefer the pyrotechnics Jay

 

[bloody_peasant]

Oh yeah, not much more satisfying after getting stung then throwing the match woooosh,

although from a pure sadist stand point I can see the bowl trick as having some value too , my only question would be how long does it take for an entire hive to starve, hmmm

 

[Captinjack]

Rather than calling in a napalm air strike, just pour a quart or so of drain oil down the hole after dark. End of problem and it is not as dangerous as the gasoline.

Kerosene/diesel fuel mixed with drain oil is just as good. Straight gas is not expecially effective. I have been at war with the flying stinging insects for the last 25 years and now pretty much have them beat back. The ground nests seem to be worse toward the end of summer. Sometimes they will nest in a hollowed out log that you want to cut up for firewood. Yikes!

This thread reminded me of hitting nests mowing on my small riding mowers which is enough of a problem. I don't know what I'm gonna do with the slow moving tractor that can't be shut off without pulling back a knob for longer than I want to stay on the seat. For sure, I'm going to mount a can of spray and make it handy.

 

[slaveToHorses]

The good Captinjack says "For sure, I'm going to mount a can of spray and make it handy."

Now there's a darn good idea, that I should have thought of a long time ago!!
A fire extinguisher and a can of wasp spray. Too bad they have dumbed down the sprays so much lately...

 

[3RRL]

The good Captinjack says "For sure, I'm going to mount a can of spray and make it handy."

Now there's a darn good idea, that I should have thought of a long time ago!!
A fire extinguisher and a can of wasp spray. Too bad they have dumbed down the sprays so much lately...

I have already mounted the fire extiguishers (2) but the advice from CaptainJack about adding a can of spray is a great idea. Man, why didn't I think of that before?... I think I can use one of my cupholders for quick and easy access.

 

[1bush2hog]

bbse,

LOL, yeah I can imagine, good thing there wasn't a water hazard near by for you to dive in >:-D

I'm not sure what those big ones are, it may be a solitary species (there are like over 1000 solitary, non-hive forming, species of wasps in the U.S.) or maybe a queen. Whatever they are, its the meanest YJ I've ever ran across. They seem to lock on and chase and chase and chase, I've never had to run as far from any kind of bee/wasp than those guys. Luckily I've only seen 2 of them in my life, both in eastern KY during the '80's.

Another insect that used to pain me greatly in KY, but not here in NC (haven't seen any yet), is what we used to call sweat bees. Little tiny looking bees that love your sweat, land in a pinch point (usually the inside of your elbow) then sting the crap out of you when you accidentally pinch them.

Bumble bees always seem like the most peaceful ones, make you real nervous, but hardly ever sting, but I've been hit at least a couple of times by 'em.

Maybe European Hornets? - they are bad boys! Check out the link below

www.uark.edu/depts/entomolo/museum/crabro.html

 

[williekioti]

Bald faced hornets, also referred commonly up here as white faced hornets will build both aerial paper nests and ground based colonies. I'm not sure if this is just a north country habit, but I have run into many a ground colony and they just love it when you run power equipment over their lair whether it be a tractor, weedeater, chainsaw, etc..... Many a time have I run away, flailing like an idiot upon discovery. IMHO they are by far the NASTIEST of the stinging, biting flying foes out there! I have also discovered their habit of targeting the face and particularly around the eyes. They also like to sting and bite at the same time, double your pleasure for the same money...

Once while pruning/thinning a nice front yard Norway Maple for a customer I had the unfortunate circumstance to discover BFH nest the size of a basketball a foot from my head while 20 feet in the tree. The sound/vibration of my chainsaw, it was already running by the time I spotted the nest, immediately mobilized the entire colony and I zipped to the ground as fast as my repel device would allow. I hit the ground, unclipped from my line, dropped the saw and ran like the wind to my truck flailing and slapping and howlin' like a mad man. Got inside the truck and noticed one persistant s.o.b. still on my hand stinging me from one end and biting the crap out of me from the other end at the same time. As fast as I thought I was I still got nailed about 20 times, five in the face. Within an hour I looked like Rocky after getting pummeled by Apollo, my eyes reduced to 1/8" slits. Needless to say I hold no quarter for the SOBs, if I locate a nest anywhere with a quarter mile of my worksite I'll take 'em out. I too prefer the pyrotechnic route , the paper nests go up nice with the Bic lighter and aerosol spray can technique. The ground nests I'll wait till darkness and fill the liar with a foam based wasp/bee spray, the foam spray seems to work better than the long range spray. Must expand in the hole like that expandable foam insulation stuff, usually one dose gets 'em all. Have tried the "fire in the hole" technique too.

 

[frank_f15]

2 years ago JULY 4th i got stung, have been stung many times before NO PROBLEM but this time it affected me greatly to the point the wife had to call 911 and ambulace had to take me to hospital for the day, beleive it or not i almost bit the big one, then last august 25th to be exact i was working with the tractor clearing some brush and diturbed an under ground nest, one stung me and in the house i went, stuck my self with my eppe pen and got my self to the emergency room, where the gave me another shot and let me go in 2 hours. I AM very careful when messing with any type bee, hornet , wasp etc. Just a warning that because you never had a reaction before DOES NOT mean you will not have some day. ACTUALLY very dangerous to some folks.

 

[bloody_peasant]

Maybe European Hornets? - they are bad boys! Check out the link below

Yep that looks a lot like it. I seem to recall the red markings on it, but its been quite a while. Interesting, they didn't spread across KY until the 70's and 80's and only recently moved into TN. That would explain why bbse only started seeing them recently.

I've found Aloe Vera to be an awesome medication for bee stings. I've found the raw plant sap to be much better than anything at the store in a tube. They are really easy to grow as a house plant. When you get stung just clip off a leaf and squeeze some of the sappy goop on your sting. It takes away the pain real quick and makes the swelling go away a lot quicker.