Wasps

[woodlandfarms]

So, I was channel surfing after some Inauguration festivities and saw this docu on wasps. I should have had a pen and paper, there was a bunch of stuff I didn't know. I knew that wasps could sting multiple times, I knew they called the colony when threatened. I did not know they worked on pheromones. That each time they sting it leaves a tracking mark on the "victim" so other wasps will join in. I did not know that the pheromone can be left on metal and glass, thus the reason whole tractors are swarmed. I did not know they have effective range of about a 1/4 mile... Its the girls that only sting (figures) Its the Histamines that mess people up. Killing a nest should happen in June (like I am going to wait). Certain fire extinguishers can chill a wasp attack as they don't like the cold (CO'2 extinguisher I think is what it said).

I am sure others have more scientific stuff to add.

 

[srjones]

Wasps (vespidae) are very similar to honeybees (apis) in most of the things you mentioned. (pheremones, attacks patterns, only females do the attacking). The most notable exception is that a honeybee's stinger is barbed, and she can only sting once. She'll eventually die, but not right away.

A worker honeybee, being the fuzzy yet graceful creature she is, will typically fly slower than the yellowjacket. Speaking from personal experience if honeybee is mad at you there's a good chance you'll know it before you get stung. A yellowjacket will sting you two or three times before you even see her.

When not threatened, both honeybees and yellowjackets are relatively harmless. (Unless you step on them with bare feet or they get stuck between your clothes and skin). I remember as a kid seeing the old men of the neighborhood sitting around in the summer time drinking beer. A trick they would do is let the yellowjackets would fly up to them and drink the beer from their lips.

Don't try that one at home, and if you do try it don't blame me if it doesn't turn out quite right.

 

[Philscbx]

I have the perfect cure if they (real Wasps) are bothering you or other members of the family.
I was forced to study these guys relentlessly.
They had me locked out of the key spaces I needed to enter.
I was stung pretty bad one day that left a mark for 2 years.

Honey bees can bother me all they want, and have never been too much a threat.

Wasps on the other hand are ruthless gangsters, and There is only one fool proof way to deal with them,
and it's instant within seconds.

If it's been cool in the evenings/ like August gets.
They'll appear usually as the sun warms large surfaces, like dark roofing, and then move more actively to other areas.
It's now too late, and with stern warning, don't even try.

If you open a shed door and see any action, better take cover.
The guards will fly out from the pack unnoticed (but I noticed) and scope out the issue, and when they return, it will be H***.
I'm sure Discovery Channel missed this little detail.

It was in the middle of the afternoon surprise attack, but I was prepared, But I still warn not to.

Working on something one night I noticed the entire cluster of hives, (the exposed surface paper type honey comb design famous for Hornets) are dead asleep piled on top of each other.

Geared up quickly for action, it was all over in 15 seconds or less per nest.
No movement or recovery possible. Sounding like gravel falling to the floor.
No more Blackflag type chemicals of a joke was ever used again. You can't run fast enough using those worthless products.

I should of made a video for the results using what I use.

I dought they are a threat right now, but will follow up a little later after network guy has me powered back up.

 

[Kfbeal]

So what was it you used? Soap and water (which never works for me).

I have a huge nest in one of our barns that's preventing us from entering because they are aggressive, I guess they've been cross-breeding with the africanized honey bee.

 

[actionaj]

Wasps (vespidae) are very similar to honeybees (apis) in most of the things you mentioned. (pheremones, attacks patterns, only females do the attacking). The most notable exception is that a honeybee's stinger is barbed, and she can only sting once. She'll eventually die, but not right away.

A worker honeybee, being the fuzzy yet graceful creature she is, will typically fly slower than the yellowjacket. Speaking from personal experience if honeybee is mad at you there's a good chance you'll know it before you get stung. A yellowjacket will sting you two or three times before you even see her.

When not threatened, both honeybees and yellowjackets are relatively harmless. (Unless you step on them with bare feet or they get stuck between your clothes and skin). I remember as a kid seeing the old men of the neighborhood sitting around in the summer time drinking beer. A trick they would do is let the yellowjackets would fly up to them and drink the beer from their lips.

Don't try that one at home, and if you do try it don't blame me if it doesn't turn out quite right.

SO did the Yellow Jackets get drunk?

 

[Soundguy]

So what was it you used? Soap and water (which never works for me).

I have a huge nest in one of our barns that's preventing us from entering because they are aggressive, I guess they've been cross-breeding with the africanized honey bee.

In a pinch I've used all of the following and had as good ( usually better! ) results.. then comercial spray can pesticides.


wd-40 worked... but only -as good- as bug spray

pb blaster, foamy engine cleaner both killed instantly and droped them from the air instantly

carb / brake cleaner and start fluid, killed instantly, and dropepd from the air instantly.

soundguy

 

[tallyho8]

I have gotten rid of some nests swiftly with my propane powered weed torch. But please, only metal buildings and outdoors.

 

[actionaj]

I agree carb and brake cleaner work really well. I have found that the really cheap spray from Wal-Mart works good to. I use it on Carpenter Bees. For large nest I think the foam stuff keeps them from flying all over.

 

[rdbrumfield]

I love the brake cleaner. I had a huge yellow jacket nest, hit it with a spray and knocked off the guards, then the hole, they hit the ground as fast as they could get out. the nest hummed a bit then all dead from fumes.
It melts the wings as it hits them, and they die squirming.

 

[JB4310]

My buddy works for a crotchety old timer that has a contractors yard full of old equipment, which equates to wasp condominiums.
Buddy always complains to me that when ever they go to pull something out of the weeds he gets attacked by wasps! says the old guy is to cheap to buy bee spray and tells him to burn an old rag.
It does repel them, just a little to slow.

Bees don't bother me much, and I do encounter them often working on old buildings, I do always keep a can of spray on the truck though.
Could get a little hairy when we're up in a boom lift basket and stir up a nest, those things don't move very fast when your extended 90 feet out.

IMO the worst are those little ground bees!!! they are the only ones that will go after you just for sport. Have had to flame them out more than once!

JB.