It Bee That Time of Year Again

[JazzDad]

<edited> I had written: I do not like Yellow Jackets. With that said, I also do not go about randomly killing them. If they are not near the paths I frequent, such as high up in a tree, they are left to do their thing. And what is their thing? They kill webworms that could defoliate our huge live oak trees. I may not understand it, but everything has a purpose. I know, someone will ask, "so, what good are mosquitoes?" Bird food? Hey, I don't have ALL the answers. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[EddieWalker]

I was driving down the Nimitz Freeway in Fremont California in another life, doing around 70 mph, but keeping with traffic. It's five lanes in either direction and always crowded.

From the corner of my eye, I saw something fly in through my window, but didn't know what it was. Then I felt it land on the inside of my thigh. I was wearing shorts, and almost at the same time I felt it sting me.

It took everything I had to keep driving straight down the middle of the lane I was in until I could pull over and get it out from inside my shorts.

It wasn't until I stoped that I even knew what it was. Just your normal, average bee, but boy did it get me in a tender spot!!!

Eddie

 

[slowrev]

Yellow jackets are attracted to Red when made angry. Seem to go for yellow and orange as well, drab colors seem safest. Don't ask me how I know /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Ran into a tree with the FEL with a hornets nest in it last year. Boy were they attcaking my mostly yellow tractor, but not a one after me on the seat in my gray T shirt and jeans /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif A rapid reverse and abandonment of tractor till things quieted down.

Ben

 

[tdw230]

Just when I had forgotten about the stings from the hornets two weeks ago while doing bush hog work you all bring up the memories again!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I was stung in the back of the head 6 times and 2 times on the forehead by the @#$%hornets. I went back this week to try and finish the job but could not locate the nest to settle the score. Any ideas on if these things are in the ground or nesting in the brush near the ground? I would like to avoid getting the business end of those pests again. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

TD

 

[Jstpssng]

That's one tough woman. Just goes to show, don't mess around with little old ladies.

Yellow jackets are bad enough, but the worst are the white-tailed hornets. (Not to be confused with what I fruitlessly chase each fall.) Those little buggers will follow you around, stinging you whereever you go. In a dry year you might be running from one nest and kick up another nearby.

Aside from allergic reactions .the worst story I'd heard (until now) of was from a coworker who got stung in the eye. They rushed him to the hospital, but fortunately no permanent damage was done. He said it hurt like the dickens, though.

 

[alan40]

I was moving some wood and ran into a nest of yellow jackets. 3 got me before I vacated the area. Glad I had told my boys to go find my shovel. So what's the best way to get rid of a nest? It's right by my sugarhouse and I need to stack wood there.
Thanks,

 

[Jstpssng]

Best way I've found is a can of "Wasp and Hornet Raid". Early morning, preferably on a cool or damp day get as close as you can and start spraying. I just keep hitting them as they come out of the nest, also soak them down good.

The quickest way to ge tmultiple stings is to kill one hornet. I've been told the others smell it, and go into a frenzy.

 

[Farwell]

I find quite a few yellow jackets living in holes in the ground. When I find them I wait until they stop flying around, usually around dusk, and I pour a pint of kerosene down the hole. It has never failed. When I find a above ground nest of stinging critters the hornet and wasp spray works but sometimes it takes a couple of tries before I get them all. Honey bees I leave alone, for some reason they leave me alone. All other stinging critters are fair game if they are a potential hazard. I have heard that wasps, hornets and other stinging critters do a great job of killing other harmful insects. The area of California where I once lived was infested with white flies and the flies were doing a lot of crop damage so they imported a bunch of tiny wasps and the wasps pretty much got rid of the white fly infestation. So they do have their good points.
Farwell

 

[Farwell]

Eddie,
I was never able to go over 25 miles an hour on the Nimitz, of course the only time I drove on it was during rush hour.
Never had a bee get me while driving but when I smoked I had a few cigarette ashes get me pretty good.
Farwell

 

[beenthere]

I found my first yellow jacket nest this afternoon, and poured gas down the hole (didn't light it as I usually do /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) after dark to see how well it works. Will check tomorrow.