"&%$#" Yellow Jackets!!!!!!

[Gamemaster]

I've have hogging my new property for 2 yrs now and only hit a few small ground nests , but I got a way in time. I have been reading everybody's prevention ideas and thought of this one. It seems bees are attracted to dark clothing and scents according to the statements made. What if you made some sort of BEE-DUMMY?; like a flag whip or flexible-pole mounted to the brush hog topped with an article of dark clothing and doused with your least favorite cologne ( or her perfume that you least appreciate ). At least when the plume of bees attack, they would concentrate on the 'dummy". I'm no expert on bees, not even a novice about bee-attacks. Maybe I'm off-track, but the bees don't go : " there he is, get'um". I think they would attack the items everybody mentioned,at least to give some time to evacuate.

 

[Ford960]

Suit works as advertised, will wear it on every lot from now on as my needs are more complex than just finding a nest and killing it.

Thanks to all for the ideas but this suit is the answer and I tested it to the max when I knocked down a dead tree and crushed the nest. I parked the tractor up by the road and walked back to see the nest up close. There were hundreds of yellow jackets and I could hear and feel them as they attacked me. They only slid off the suit and I was able to play with the nest and even carried some of it out to the truck to show my old lady. I had warned her to roll up the windows before hand and she had a good laugh at me with the nest. But then she was sitting in the A/C and I was sweating even though the suit isn't overly hot. Spent about an hour and a half in the suit and could have gone longer if needed.

After being stung over 30 times since June, I no long dread bush hogging these lots. Was informed this afternoon that 8 more where coming for me to do in a couple of days.

 

[KEG]

If you don't want to use chemicals or petro procducts (I have sandy soil and am afraid of contaminating groundwater due to some of the "stuff" they put in fuel, etc.) I would recommend another enviroinentally freindly option:

If you can get close enough at night when they are not active, put a large glass jar with a wide mouth over the opening (like a large mayonaise jar). The bees can't fly out and get confused, but they don't realize how to get past the "invisible" obstruction. The result is a starved colony.

I haven't heard about a second hole or opening, but do know that this will work.

KEG

 

[daTeacha]

I was just thinking about this thread this week when I "discovered" a nest while pushing/carrying things to a burning brush pile. It was a little on the interesting side to have a fire in front of me, fence on either side, and a newly disturbed nest behind me while driving the tractor. They only got me twice, fortunately.

 

[HEC]

I have run over several nests in the past when mowing and luckily never stung,I have a front end loader with a black bucket.I live in black bear country and black is a color the bees will instantly attack.As I am watching those pests just bounce off that bucket I drive a short distance from their nest,shut off the tractor, get off the tractor and go back in about a half hour and they will have all gone.Needless to say I always keep the bucket on and up in the air over the hood of the tractor a bit so it can be well seen.I always wear light colored clothing when mowing.I have used the gasoline down the hole several times just before dark and it works very well as already stated earlier.

 

[midlf]

The campmor link for a net was interesting. I have one from Harbor Freight Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

 

[westbrooklawn]

Hate to bring this topic back to the top, but you guessed it... I was out bush hogging a small 1 acre lot today and on my first pass through I hit a ground nest of yellow jackets... BOY DO THOSE LITTLE CRITTERS HURT!

I was lucky to only get stung 5 times. I parked the tractor until early in the morning when I plan on going back. I came home and pulled this thread up. I ended up going to a local beekeeper supply store and purchased a hat and veil... total price $27. Hopefully that plus a tyvek suit (which I have several of) will do the trick. The beekeeper told me that yellow jackets have been bad this year... no explanation.

By the way, I also picked up two cans of commercial wasp and hornet killer... I WILL be prepared when I go back!

 

[slaveToHorses]

Hate to bring this topic back to the top, but you guessed it... I was out bush hogging a small 1 acre lot today and on my first pass through I hit a ground nest of yellow jackets... BOY DO THOSE LITTLE CRITTERS HURT!
By the way, I also picked up two cans of commercial wasp and hornet killer... I WILL be prepared when I go back!

If it is a ground nest you don't want to attack it with just the wasp spray. Pour something down it, like gas. You want a good amount of liquid down that hole, unless you are set up to pump dust in. I do them at night. I have a suit but they never even take flight so no worries. Pour a bit around the outside edge of the hole first to get the sentries then just pour the rest in and walk away.

 

[Ford960]

Hate to bring this topic back to the top, but you guessed it... I was out bush hogging a small 1 acre lot today and on my first pass through I hit a ground nest of yellow jackets... BOY DO THOSE LITTLE CRITTERS HURT!

I was lucky to only get stung 5 times. I parked the tractor until early in the morning when I plan on going back. I came home and pulled this thread up. I ended up going to a local beekeeper supply store and purchased a hat and veil... total price $27. Hopefully that plus a tyvek suit (which I have several of) will do the trick. The beekeeper told me that yellow jackets have been bad this year... no explanation.

By the way, I also picked up two cans of commercial wasp and hornet killer... I WILL be prepared when I go back!

Seems that the yellow jackets have moved into North Carolina. Keep in mind with the Tyvek suit that those little critters can find any gap and once they get inside they will nail you repeatedly. With the commercial bee keepers suit I don't have to worry about them getting in, that's worth the money that I paid. The hood on my suit zips to the suit and forms a tight seal, plus the gloves extend to my elbows for added protection. The sleeves and legs are sealed with velcro and I wear a pair of rubber boots. This system is pretty fool proof and I can operate the tractor without having to adjust the suit or veil. The suit also does not restrict my visibility or movement and I can easily turn to watch the bush hog or while backing up.

BTW, what part of NC are you in? I'm about 35 NE of Raleigh.

 

[slaveToHorses]

Sounds like you did a pretty good job of testing it to!!
Even in my bee suit, I don't think I would have gone in a played with the yellow jacket hive. I bow to your gumption man!