grayfingers
Cave Dweller 
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575 
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Post by grayfingers on Aug 14, 2012 11:11:48 GMT -5
I had to remove a yellowjacket nest yesterday, as it was too near the house. It was in a nest box that was stored upside down, and the wasps were going in and out under the edge. I didn't have the good wasp killer that hoots a big stream for 25 feet, just a bottle of dairy farm grade pyrethrum spray. It will kill wasps, but not real fast. Also, as the nest was hidden, the box had to be moved to spray the nest area. I knew I might be in for trouble, but I took a broom stick and levered over the box. Then as the hoard poured out and at me I stood there spraying pretty much point blank range until I felt I had coated them, and some had made it through the fog. I dashed across the back yard, one went for my neck and just started to sting when I flicked him off. He got me just under my jawbone, swelled a little overnight, but is fine. I would not recommend this method to anyone who does not know if they are allergic to stings, or are not a fast runner... If this were a larger nest I would have been in trouble. Anyway, the nest was one of the coolest I have seen. A marvel of design. I feel bad about having to 86 them, they are natives. (as opposed to European paper wasps which I gladly kill) They are beneficial, in that they eat a lot of bugs. Bill Western Yellowjacket  Nest is 6 1/2" x 6 " I might preserve it.    |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 11:38:29 GMT -5
Very nice nest! We have them, too (sometimes they build underground in the forest), and they do a great job keeping other bugs in check and cleaning up messes. Sometimes they get too many for comfort, particularly if in a kids' play area, though.
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
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Post by rockingthenorth on Aug 14, 2012 12:01:41 GMT -5
cool nest, but you wouldnt catch me doing that for one I am allergic and two I can not run fast or run at all.
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Post by manofglass on Aug 14, 2012 12:16:13 GMT -5
I took a nest out a lot bigger then that one with a water hose I taped the spay thing to a 3'tall stick turned the water on and went in the house it worked.walt
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Post by gingerkid on Aug 14, 2012 13:20:08 GMT -5
  Yikes! Hope the swelling has gone done.  One cool nest!! I would keep it. We have yellow jackets burrow holes in our yard each year. Have heard that the best time to take action against them is at night when it's cooler and they are dormant. Watched hubby run like lightning when he poured gas in one of their holes in our front yard at night time. Fastest he's ever ran, LOL! I think they sense fear/adrenalin if you disturb them and run from them. Heard they will "hunt" you down. (live in the South, lol) We have hornets that build nests similar to the yellow jacket nest you pictured in our area.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on Aug 14, 2012 18:30:40 GMT -5
When I was a very young buck(Five),I stepped into a nest of "Yellow Jackets"!!!! They said I ran so fast nobody could catch me!!!
I remember running and being at the hospital! I had about 300 stings on my body,had to sleep in a recliner chair for a couple weeks(hurting)...!!!
Now I swell up when I get stung.....I just fire up the trk and head to the doctors......LOL
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Post by texaswoodie on Aug 14, 2012 18:40:36 GMT -5
Great pic of the little critter! Always wipe out a nest early in the morning. They are all at the nest and if it's anywhere near cool, they don't move as fast.
Curt
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shermlock
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2011
Posts: 612
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Post by shermlock on Aug 14, 2012 18:49:09 GMT -5
50% dish soap and 50% water mixture kills wasps, hornets, etc. almost instantly. Knocks them right out of the air.
Scott
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fwfranklen (Mike)
spending too much on rocks
Rock-ON--Have you kissed your rock today?
Member since August 2012
Posts: 379
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Post by fwfranklen (Mike) on Aug 14, 2012 19:19:25 GMT -5
Scott that is an old tried and true...use to use it before everything went to detergent instead of soap...should work the same though. Thanks for jogging my memory. I was attacked getting into my house, seems the little critters have a new home under my porch.
Mike
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shermlock
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2011
Posts: 612
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Post by shermlock on Aug 14, 2012 19:22:33 GMT -5
We use it all the time when the yellow jackets get to close to the kids outdoor areas. Works unbelievably well.
Scott
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Post by cpdad on Aug 15, 2012 11:27:57 GMT -5
we dig yellow jacket larvae out of the ground around here for fish bait.
we find the largest entrance hole into the ground we can...we light a railroad flare...stick it into the hole for a few minutes....they go to sleep....we then dig up the nest with shovels...while 1 of us is spraying a can of raid all around to get the ones away that might not have gone to sleep...or the ones wakening up before we are done.
take the nest break it up into pieces...put in paper bag...put it in a cooler of ice.....home we go and then into the freezer they go....untill we go fishing....they will not hatch while cold.
had some here at the shop 1 time in the freezer....breaker tripped fridge went out......1 of the guys opened the freezer monday morning....jackets everywhere....they will hatch out if warmed up...kev.
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Post by gingerkid on Aug 15, 2012 11:56:18 GMT -5
...had some here at the shop 1 time in the freezer....breaker tripped fridge went out......1 of the guys opened the freezer monday morning....jackets everywhere....they will hatch out if warmed up...kev. omg!! Do y'all throw the railroad flare in the hole during the daytime?? |
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Post by cpdad on Aug 15, 2012 12:10:54 GMT -5
have done it during the day but dont like to...like to dig them right after dark...that way all of the critters are back in the hole....during the day they are in and out.....thats not to good them being in and out while your digging up their house and stealing their babies for fish bait;D....kev.
nice darn nest you got there gray..
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Yikes! Hope the swelling has gone done. 
