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

scott_vt · Aug 17, 2006

Mornin Ford,
Wow !!! That sounded bad !!! Ive gone over some nests but never that bad, must be that NC heat that they like

Glad to hear your OK ! I like the tyvek suit suggestion with a bee keepers hat net !

Come to think of it Id like a pic of you on the tractor with that getup on

Good luck !

Nasty135 · Aug 17, 2006

Farmwithjunk said:
I bet that was painfull

LOL!!

My story isn't quite as exciting, But here goes anyhow...

I have a neighbor , for the sake of this post he will be called cityboy

He is a nice guy also an Attorney ( I know, it don't quite sound possible) But anyhow He builds this huge house on 13 acres an when it comes to mow time he's riding a craftsman 42"

I can hardly believe this the first time I heard him mow all day long... Anyhow I talk to him and ask him if he would like for me to come over and take care of the large open area in the front, He smiles and says "mowing ain't my bag" Yeah that would be great... So my first expedition into mowing , I find My nice guy neighbor has also got BEE'S in his front yard somewhere (OOOOUCHHY!!) Of course I wonder if he knew about this all along?? I will find them and they will be dispatched!! Before I knew it this thing was dancing all over my arm..Swelled up like a zuchinni that shoulda been picked 3 days ago and red as a mater... Bummer

gotkbot · Aug 17, 2006

Okay, here's something I did after getting stung by several yellowjackets while brush clearing in a wooded area. I knew the general area of the underground nest (within 20 feet or so).

I bought a glue trap, like for mice and rats, and put some honey in the middle of the trap. Then I left the trap on the ground in the area of the nest. Once one jacket was trapped, the others seemed to attack the glue board! They all ended up getting stuck.

This might not work with a huge nest. I also would keep an eye out to make sure it's not getting honey bees.

Another option, that probably catches too many bugs, it to take a plastic soda bottle and fill the bottom 1/3 with honey water. Cut a 1/4" hole about 1/3 from the top of the bottle. Hang the bottle from the side of a tree near the nest. Leave the lid on. This caught a bunch of jackets.

Obviously these two approaches are more about fun, than immediate eradication of the nest. But if you have some extra time, you can watch the jackets flying around the traps and get a better idea of the location of the nest.

Thomas · Aug 17, 2006

Good morning Ford.
Hope the swelling down and your not sore.

The size of the hive sounds something like when dozer operator last year was doing some stumping for me hit there home base...what a cloud of bees..yikes.

Not sure if this works and not willing to find out either,the dozer operator carry spray bottle full of white vinegar for protection and swore it works.

bloody_peasant · Aug 17, 2006

RayH said:
I was push mowing the yard last year and found a yellowjacket hole. They got me seven times, head, face, ankle X2, hand, calf and thigh. I had real problems with the thigh one. My whole upper leg swelled and got rock hard for three days. I couldnt even walk it hurt so bad, I couldnt bend it. The other stings didnt do this. I figure it was because I went back to push mowing after the attack which circulated the poison throughout my thigh.

RayH, I would be careful, it sounds like you may have a slight allergy to their stings. That reaction isn't normal. I've been stung many times in many different areas and kept on working, but never had any body part react like you described.

As for treating stings, I highly recommend Aloe Vera, the purer the better, the best being fresh squeezed right out of the plant. They are easy to grow as a small house plant and you can cut off a leaf and squeeze the goop right out on your sting. Cut off leafs can also be kept in the fridge or a cooler for a while.

As for not lighting the hole after pouring gas, where's the fun in that

Rake the leaves away, and the fire really isn't that big. Remember underground there is a paper nest down there, like a hornet nest you see up in the trees. A little gas soaked paper burns real fast and easy

hsvhobbit · Aug 17, 2006

Just got done taking care of a YJ nest that was under a stump I needed to pull. (They got me once before I realized they were there) A can of the Spectracide black label was awesome, couple of squirts and leave it overnight and they were done.

FWIW, carry a little bottle of ammonia with you and if you get stung, put some on the sting, it neutralizes most of the poison and takes a lot of the pain away.

I'd recommend you do like others have suggested and go back, (cautiously) towards dusk and scout them out. Once you find an entrance, go back well after dark and soak it down with the spray (with gas prices these days, it's at least as cost-effective to use the spray insecticide). Give it a couple of days and you should be good.

scott_vt · Aug 17, 2006

Nasty135 said:
LOL!!

My story isn't quite as exciting, But here goes anyhow...

I have a neighbor , for the sake of this post he will be called cityboy

He is a nice guy also an Attorney ( I know, it don't quite sound possible) But anyhow He builds this huge house on 13 acres an when it comes to mow time he's riding a craftsman 42" I can hardly believe this the first time I heard him mow all day long... Anyhow I talk to him and ask him if he would like for me to come over and take care of the large open area in the front, He smiles and says "mowing ain't my bag" Yeah that would be great... So my first expedition into mowing , I find My nice guy neighbor has also got BEE'S in his front yard somewhere (OOOOUCHHY!!) Of course I wonder if he knew about this all along?? I will find them and they will be dispatched!! Before I knew it this thing was dancing all over my arm..Swelled up like a zuchinni that shoulda been picked 3 days ago and red as a mater... Bummer

Gee Mark,
I know you like to use the tractor, and your a nice guy but mowin another 13 acres ???

RayH · Aug 17, 2006

bloody_peasant said:
RayH, I would be careful, it sounds like you may have a slight allergy to their stings. That reaction isn't normal. I've been stung many times in many different areas and kept on working, but never had any body part react like you described.

I thought the same thing. Ive never reacted like that before either. I thought it was strange that the stings on more sensitive areas(ie face, head, ankles) didnt have that reaction at all, just a little red spot and some burning that soon went away. The sting on my thigh just went crazy though. It really had me worried. I never go to the doctor for anything but I was ready to make the appointment for this one had it lasted another day. the swelling and burning went away as fast as it came. I took a nap on the third day, when I woke up, it was fine.

Nasty135 · Aug 17, 2006

scott_vt said:
Gee Mark,
I know you like to use the tractor, and your a nice guy but mowin another 13 acres ???

Hi Scotty (veteran

), I might be nice, But I ain't that nice

... Most of his property is woods and the front is only about 3 1/2 or 4 acres of which I cut only the open area , probably about 2 to 2 1/2 acres.... I didn't mention $$ but there is some compensation

(Sooo much for Mr. Nice Guy)

BTW I must be allergic to these Yellow Jackets also because I got stung 2 days ago and my arm is still swelled and reddish from the wrist to the elbow