Hornets --- OH NUTS!!

[smiley]

I went up to my old garage today and this is what I found over the garage door.

These are large lamp post hold down nuts that I had painted "OH", in front of. --- Guess I'll have to be a little more careful going in now.

 

[Oldoak]

Just yesterday I discovered a Yellow Jackets' ground nest while weed whacking around our pole building.
OUCH, OUCH, OUCH!

Got stung 7 times before I could get far enough away. Not near as bad as a hornets sting though.

 

[robertm]

Be careful. My dad found a yellow jacket nest a couple weeks ago that consumed a space under a shelving unit 48" x 24" x 6". He was moving the shelf in his barn. Too late. 50-60 stings before he could get away, and they followed him to the house where the hose couldn't help fast enough. At 74, he's lucky. Tough as nails. Wanted to go back out and bite them.

 

[plowhog]

Yellow jackets are nasty. I fought a ground nest this year and paid the consequences. We were tied in the grudge match until I got out the gasoline.

 

[ruffdog]

It was hot and these boys were ready for action.

 

[Diggin It]

My understanding is that Hornets abandon their nests in the fall before the weather gets cold. A few years ago, I had a very large one in a tree down the road. They never bothered anybody walking past and sure enough, it was empty by November.

Watch it if you can and when you don't see activity wait until some colder morning to knock it down.

 

[RandyT]

Just yesterday I discovered a Yellow Jackets' ground nest while weed whacking around our pole building.
OUCH, OUCH, OUCH!

Got stung 7 times before I could get far enough away. Not near as bad as a hornets sting though.

Yesterday my nephew while mowing around the building got hit twice with yellow jackets, but couldn't find the nest. Later when removing the rear finish mower from my tractor, I found the nest was under my mower, and I had stirred them up when I put the mower on the tractor earlier. The mower is about 20 feet from where he was at when he got stung. They started swarming around when I noticed them but had to go into the mix of flying bees to get back on the tractor and get the heck out of there. Not a single one attempted to sting me, but my nephew came back through the same spot about an hour later and they got him again.

 

[oosik]

In all the 36+ years out here I've only found one nest like smiley has posted. Most are "open comb" nests about the size of your fist. I burned that big one at night and almost burned the carport down in the process. I had my share of bald faced hornets at the hummingbird feeder this year but - fortunately - never ran into one of their nests.

The really sad thing - I continue to see fewer and fewer wild honey bees every year. Thirty five years ago I quit using any type of spray in the orchard - concerned then about the wild bees. I can see that the majority of any pollination is now done by yellow jackets, bumble bees or hornets.

 

[check]

I remember Joaquin yellow jacket nest in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains when I was fishing as a kid. They swarmed out like crazy, but they never went after me. Never got stung once.

Wasps are a different story, however. I am amazed at how they post sentries, waiting to come and get you if you get close. I remember spotting one right at the tip of the gable end under the overhang at the cottage. It launched its self at me and in that same split second I reached my right hand over and smacked my other hand because I could see where it was coming. It is amazing how fast it got to me and stung me before I could squish it.

 

[yomax4]

Bald Faced Hornets are very common where I live. I have several big paper nests in my home as decorations. They are nasty but I have had much less trouble with them compared to the little ornery ground hornets.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I got stung 3 times last week from wasps while messing around in the barn. Both ankles and back of the left thigh. Finally healed up and itched like crazy. I take allergy shots twice a month, use a daily nasal spray, and take Montelukast. I guess it helps. I am so fearful of yellow jackets. Had several bad experiences with them. They are nasty and can be deadly.

 

[Ortimber]

Ground hornets are a problem where I live.

Every year since I was a kid I’d get my fair share of stings. Over the last few years, I’ve started getting major swelling when I do get stung. I talked to doc about this and he said you are developing allergies. Great!

Wife insisted on an Epi-pen and a cabbed tractor.

 

[oosik]

I've seen articles where the researchers indicate that insects such as hornets, wasps and bees can sense fear in another animal. It is felt that fear can increase your chances of being attacked and stung. That must be why I get stung quite often. And they dive bomb me all the time - I think that is more of an attempt to drive me away. Man - I be gone.........

For whatever reason I've got no ground dwelling bees, yellow jackets or hornets.

 

[Diggin It]

Most are "open comb" nests about the size of your fist. I burned that big one at night and almost burned the carport down in the process.

The really sad thing - I continue to see fewer and fewer wild honey bees every year. Thirty five years ago I quit using any type of spray in the orchard - concerned then about the wild bees. I can see that the majority of any pollination is now done by yellow jackets, bumble bees or hornets.

I hit those with wasp spray or carburetor cleaner.

I noticed the honeybees this year were going after my hummingbird feeders rather than the wild flowers and clover. Not sure why.

Ground hornets are a problem where I live.

Every year since I was a kid I’d get my fair share of stings. Over the last few years, I’ve started getting major swelling when I do get stung. I talked to doc about this and he said you are developing allergies. Great!

Wife insisted on an Epi-pen and a cabbed tractor.

I have those big rust red wasps. First few times I got hit, they didn't really bother me much. The last couple of times, I gotten a bigger reaction, swelling, itching, etc. I don't think I want to find out what might happen if one got me in the upper chest or neck.

 

[ruffdog]

Who knows....if the honey bees disappear, we may wish we had more wasps and hornets to help pollinate plants.

 

[WranglerX]

Just yesterday I discovered a Yellow Jackets' ground nest while weed whacking around our pole building.
OUCH, OUCH, OUCH!

Got stung 7 times before I could get far enough away. Not near as bad as a hornets sting though.

For YJ ground nest, go out after dark when the all in nest for the night and put a pyrex mixing bowl upside down over nest opening being sure to seal all around bowl.... 10-15 days no yellow jacket problem.... Have eradicated 4-5 nests this way... And at some point later on one of the night critters has come by and digs up the nest and enjoyed the tasty morsels...

Other issue seems to be small "paper" wasps that like to build nests under eaves of house.... Wasp Spray makes quick work of them....

Dale

 

[Thomas]

Pressure washer I found works the best...nest gone and clean area also keeps nasty hornet at bay.

 

[smiley]

My understanding is that Hornets abandon their nests in the fall before the weather gets cold. A few years ago, I had a very large one in a tree down the road. They never bothered anybody walking past and sure enough, it was empty by November.

That is true and I have a couple hanging in the garage and one as decoration in an upper corner of my living room taken down in Nov or Dec. This one is so unusual I'll try to cut it down after they move out and don't know what I'll do with it but will figure something out, I have given some to a friend that does taxidermy and uses them in mounts.

Several years ago when I was using this garage a lot, I had one about 8 ft above this one, inside the building and they were harassing and stinging us. I decided I'd go up at night , cut it loose into a paper bag, take it out and burn it. I found out the hard way, they leave guards out at night, After 3 or 4 stings I believe I set a record for going down a ladder.

 

[MitchellB]

My wife just discovered yellow jackets flying in and out of a crack in the cider block wall under our front porch. I guess they have a new nest under there somewhere that we need to deal with soon, before someone get stung coming up to the front door.

 

[Ortimber]

Never fails, got up early to limb trees and clean up my roads. Stepped in a nest, got nailed twice. Boy do I hate those little yellow suckers.