It Bee That Time of Year Again
- Thread starter BoneheadNW
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A reminder to all -
Watch your open beverage cans - yellow jackets love to crawl inside of an open can /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I was lucky not to swallow the sucker that got in mine, but it did get between my top lip and gum. Not a good feeling at all.
I ended up smashing him in this position using my finger and pressing on the outside of my upper lip.
I looked like pumpkinhead for a day or two, but will NEVER make this mistake again.
Watch your open beverage cans - yellow jackets love to crawl inside of an open can /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I was lucky not to swallow the sucker that got in mine, but it did get between my top lip and gum. Not a good feeling at all.
I ended up smashing him in this position using my finger and pressing on the outside of my upper lip.
I looked like pumpkinhead for a day or two, but will NEVER make this mistake again.
beenthere
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No sign of them this morning. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I got stung while pushing a lawn mower in my back yard. I had no idea that nest was underground. I ran the mower right over the nest and then stepped on it after that. I started feeling stings all over my legs (I was wearing shorts) and at first I didn't realize what was happening, but as the pain increased, I knew I being stung because the pain was moving up higher. I took off running for the shower. They were stinging me all the way. I looked down in the tub and there were about 9-10 bees in the drain. There were a few bees in my socks. When I tried to remove one, it stung me too. Ornery li'l buggers. A day or two later, I took out the nest with a can of wasp killer and a half gallon of gas for good measure. I skipped the match 'cause I didn't want to blow the place up.
I have a weed-eater with a metal blade instead of a nylon string. The metal blade makes a high pitched whirring noise that seems to send "Attack! Attack!" to any nearby bees. I had two huge underground nests of bees that I did not know about. There I was, cutting down weeds, when a stream a bees came up out of the hole
(a very small hole by the way) and right towards me. I was stung in the chest and face, but fortunately I'm not allergic (my wife is). It was quite painful. I did learn that they all go down in their little hole at night, so you can sneak out with a flashlight and kill the nest. Just don't ask me how, I'm sure it was not EPA approved... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
(a very small hole by the way) and right towards me. I was stung in the chest and face, but fortunately I'm not allergic (my wife is). It was quite painful. I did learn that they all go down in their little hole at night, so you can sneak out with a flashlight and kill the nest. Just don't ask me how, I'm sure it was not EPA approved... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Farwell
Veteran Member
Petroleum products do a mighty fine job and do not require fire unless you are really angry with the critters, but I won't tell if you won't.
Farwell
Farwell
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I did learn that they all go down in their little hole at night, so you can sneak out with a flashlight and kill the nest. Just don't ask me how, I'm sure it was not EPA approved... )</font>
In that type of nest I've also taken a rock and covered the hole. If you worry about "Humane" though, your way is probably better; kind of like the difference between using "snap" mousetraps vs catching mice live, then taking them outside to freeze to death.
In that type of nest I've also taken a rock and covered the hole. If you worry about "Humane" though, your way is probably better; kind of like the difference between using "snap" mousetraps vs catching mice live, then taking them outside to freeze to death.
If you can clearly see the hole they come from, put a clear bowl or large bottle upside down over the hole. I do this at night, when they aren't nearly as nasty. Then put a brick on top of the bowl and pile dirt around the rim. If they can get out of their hole and see light, they will not dig another hole. After a few days, the nest will die. I've only been able to do this a few times, because the hole is usually not in the open enough to get a bowl cleanly over it. The other method I've used with great success is to pour a bucket of hot, very soapy water down the hole at night (I use Safer's insecticidal soap if I have it). The soap water breaks the surface tension of the water on their bodies, so the water seeps into their breathing holes and drowns them. It is very save and very effective.
curt1
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Skunks are your friend. They dig up and eat the Yellow Jacket nest. I once had a yard with multiple Yellow Jacket nests and every time I went to mow the yard I was stung. I tried and tried to locate all the nests and destroy them without success. When I went back to mow another time, I found holes all over the yard with Yellow Jacket paper nests all over the ground. A skunk had helped me out, and to this day...about 5 years later I have never found any nests in that yard again, but I have found a couple of holes dug up.
The Georgia Department of Ag. site has some good information on Wasps and Hornets. The large Japanese Hornets also catch Yellow Jackets and take them to their larva for food. So I guess they are our friends too.
Every year I run over a few Yellow Jacket nests and almost every year I get stung by them. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif They always get you when you are mowing on a Velke behind a walk-behind mower. The mower stirs them up, then you ride directly over the hole a second later.....ouch! Usually if you are on a ZTR, you are going fast enough to escape and hopefully you see them before your next pass. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif ...had that happen two weeks ago. I was lucky and spotted them before the next pass.....needless to say, before I left the nest was destroyed.
To destroy the nest, let them settle back down for about 30 minutes or more, walk very slowly and carefully to the hole, then pour your favorite chemical directly down the hole. Usually they will not bother you after they settle back down if you are very careful and approach very slowly. It is always a good idea to have a can of Hornet and Wasp spray with you when you destroy the hole, just in case one or two try to attack you.
After dark is also probably the best time to eliminate the nest. After dark most of the Yellow Jackets have returned to their nest. It is not wise to use a flashlight. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Would be nice if we didn't have any Yellow Jackets in the U.S.. The I wouldn't have to always be on the lookout for them. They really hurt!!
Curt
The Georgia Department of Ag. site has some good information on Wasps and Hornets. The large Japanese Hornets also catch Yellow Jackets and take them to their larva for food. So I guess they are our friends too.
Every year I run over a few Yellow Jacket nests and almost every year I get stung by them. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif They always get you when you are mowing on a Velke behind a walk-behind mower. The mower stirs them up, then you ride directly over the hole a second later.....ouch! Usually if you are on a ZTR, you are going fast enough to escape and hopefully you see them before your next pass. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif ...had that happen two weeks ago. I was lucky and spotted them before the next pass.....needless to say, before I left the nest was destroyed.
To destroy the nest, let them settle back down for about 30 minutes or more, walk very slowly and carefully to the hole, then pour your favorite chemical directly down the hole. Usually they will not bother you after they settle back down if you are very careful and approach very slowly. It is always a good idea to have a can of Hornet and Wasp spray with you when you destroy the hole, just in case one or two try to attack you.
After dark is also probably the best time to eliminate the nest. After dark most of the Yellow Jackets have returned to their nest. It is not wise to use a flashlight. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Would be nice if we didn't have any Yellow Jackets in the U.S.. The I wouldn't have to always be on the lookout for them. They really hurt!!
Curt