Yellow Jackets

Richard · Jul 19, 2004

The boogers are fast too.

I once mowed over a nest and out they came. Once I realized what was happening, I pushed in clutch (facing downhill) and rolled away faster.

I was probably being dangerous bouncing in the seat as I rolled down the hill, but with this clunker machine we have, I felt that was more safe than trying to dismount with it in gear, me being attacked and the rear blade churning.

As I too was watching behind me & swatting at them, I noticed one in particular that was maybe 5 feet or so behind me travelling at my same speed.

I grew a sigh of relief that I had gained enough rolling speed to have matched their flying speed and I knew he'd soon turn back.

I kept watching him (all of this was really over in a matter of 3 moments) and he kept floating behind me, then, omg, he was like a bolt of lightning and kicked in his afterburners. He simply ZUNG from near 5' away and in a blink of an eye zipped right up to me, nailed me above my eye and he left.

I was utterly amazed at the reserve he had and how quickly he was able to use it. I may as well been standing still for as fast/easy he was able to get me.

Yes, that night, I slowly crept back to the scene of the crime.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

28RedHorses · Jul 19, 2004

Real men hit their nests with a Weedeater! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

It happened to me two summers ago. Weedeating the side of the front hill (too steep for a tractor) and I thought I ran into a thorned bush. The problem was there were no bushes where I was weedeating. I took me allof two seconds to realize what was happening. I threw the gas powered weedeater and ran like h#ll. They got up in my coveralls. By the time I ran back to the house I was down to my BVDs and had 30 stings. The kicker was the weedeater was still running and I was afraid it would catch the grass on fire. Running down hill for a snach and grab cost me five more stings.

Sevin worked well on the nest.

Thanks for digging up painful memories! (just kidding)

28Red /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

riptides · Jul 19, 2004

Ouch...

I have had more equipment (older stuff) stuck on top of beehives than I care to remember. Thank goodness the newer technology has the "operator presence" kill switches.

Night time is your friend....

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

stuart · Jul 19, 2004

I was trimming hedges and stepped into the ground nest. They were on me before I could drop the trimmer to the ground. Then I ran into the house by the back door. One of them followed me right into the kitchen. I could see him 5 feet from my face and I swatted at him as he approached. He went right around my hands and stung me in the forhead. The ones in my legs were one thing but that one in the head hurt like (expletive deleted). Night time was PAYBACK time.

Tdog · Jul 19, 2004

Well, troups, hearing everyone else's stories ALMOST makes it OK. And, I can almost laugh about it. It's two days later, & most of the stings only itch now, if I know they are there at all. Saturday, however, they HURT - - felt like little bruises. FYI I jumped into the tub with as much baking soda as I could find - - half a box, maybe. And, I took two benedryls & I used the oinment on the stings. I think those measures helped the immediate problem. However, my back is still healing - - but it is better now than Saturday or Sunday. Cannot imagine sitting on a tractor seat just yet.
When I said 'it finally happened to me' - - - I've been lucky enough to see 3 y-j nests while mowing in the previous 11 years I've lived here. Obviously, I steered clear till I got a chance to gas them.
Thanks for all the other insecticide tips - - I'll check them out.

rlee6 · Jul 20, 2004

I am going to clear several acres of brush which is about the waist height. Is there a way to spot them before too late? Does using insect repellant minimize the risk? Are they less active in winter? Any tips would be appreciated.

herdfan · Jul 20, 2004

( I am going to clear several acres of brush which is about the waist height. Is there a way to spot them before too late? )

With that much brush, I doubt you'd have time to avoid them even if you did see them. Maybe get a tractor with an enclosed cab for the day and do the job with A/C and block out the bugs?

( Does using insect repellant minimize the risk? )

I was coated with Off spray and got nailed right above my eye by that lil booger (albeit a dead booger now, though /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

( Are they less active in winter? )

In central Florida, I'll bet they're active pretty much all year except for the occasional chilly winter morn. I know in WV I don't worry about them when there's a foot of snow on the ground.

_RaT_ · Jul 20, 2004

I should think that they are far less active to not active at all in winter, even in a relatively mild climate. We typically don't see them until mid July to August and by October their activity is almost gone. Despite still having 80 degree days. We rarely if ever freeze where I am at and yet you never see another one until July even though Spring brings 80 and even 90 degree days.

The Yellowjacket always seems to understand where your head is and that is the prime target. They can either bite or sting. Both hurt. The sting also carries poison whereas the bite removes a chunk of skin. They truly are nuisance and one I don't mind destroying.

SPIKER · Jul 20, 2004

RAT: they usually BITE TO HOLD ON WHILE STINGING YOU at least that has been my reaction to them nasty buggers. the hornets nests we cleared this past weekend, still have them flying around!? think the ones we hit were small satilite nests to keep the colony from being totally wipped out by a single attack...??? Usually the white faced hornets make big pear shpped nests, these were small and right on/in the ground with lots of larva and no honey comb structures to keep the larva in? maybe they were some other bee? sure are identical looking to the standard hornets though..

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif