OT Yellow Jackets

[Bruce (VA)]

This time it was the wife's turn to get hit by a swarm of yellow jackets as she dragged the water hose by the side of the planter. The entrance hole to the hive was horizontally between the landscaping timbers, so getting to it was going to be a problem. I went out night before last well after dark & pulled the timber out (& ran like h3ll!) The plan was to go back tonight w/ a gas can & shovel full of dirt, but it looks like something beat me to it. The only thing I've ever heard of getting into a yellow jacket hive is a skunk. Whatever it was just managed to get one comb on the ground & leave the top of the nest exposed in a somewhat wider hole. As it stands now, I don't plan on going w/in 30 feet of it!

 

[D Squared]

I have found several dug up over the years on my property. Never have seen what was doing it.

 

[Jock (OR)]

Bruce, I have had good luck with the yellow jacket traps that use a scent to attract the varmits. You put them out in the spring when the weather just starts to warm up when the queens (only the queens survive the winter) become active. The scent attracts the queen, and the trap will keep working until they settle down to nest a month or so later.

We put up several of these last year, and caught about 40 queens. You can tell the queens because they are noticably larger that the workers. Our best location was a Snowball bush. We caught 25 there, and the second best was a Rotodendron bush with almost 10.

This year we only caught about 10 total. Again the Snowball was the clear winner. We think we caught fewer this year because we reduced the local population so much last year.

We used to have a problem with yellow jackets showing up at our barbeques, but now it is rare to see one. I am very happy with the effectiveness of the traps.

It is too late this year to use the traps. If you catch one now, it would only be a worker, which is a "drop in the ocean" as far as control.

In attacking ground nests, I throw an old towel or rag over the hole before I douse it with gasolene or poison. It both holds the liquid over the hole (they draw air in by beating their wing, which pulls the fumes into the hole), and helps trap them in there until I can get away.

 

[johndiercks]

Of what use are Yellow Jackets? Are they just pests, or do they serve a purpose (ie. pollination, etc.)?

 

[clayton in AL]

Hi Jack,
Can you describe the traps or possibly post a pic? I built a number of carpenter bee traps from the pics on this forum and they really work. I would like to build the yellow jacket traps.
Thanks,
Clayton

 

[Gaspump]

All I have to do is start chopping palmettos with my bush hog and often I find them. When I do I hit high gear and get the heck out. After an hour or two you can walk back up on them and keeping 20' or so away you can see where they are busily swarming around the entrance. Here in FL the entrance looks very much as your photo does. Once the entrance is located I mark it with a long stick pointing at it as next time I look for it it will be at least 2 hrs after sunset. At night they are almost inactive and you can pour a couple gallons of bug mix (or some say dish soaped water works too) and they will be done in. Even at night there a few sentinels out so long sleeves, hat and gloves are in order.

 

[TennesseeMan]

My question is why are they alway's in such a ugly mood? You look at them and they'll attack you.

 

[Devious]

As a child of around 7-8 I went into a out house ie privy in KY and was attacked by them and they got in my hair and stung me over a dozen times I was told. I was very close to being in shock but somehow made it thru and good too as we lived many many miles from medical help. Swelled up head for a few days and sick in bed but must have been a tough little kid cause as soon as I could see well enough I was out and playing again. Man I would hate to go thru that now. I use those high pressure wasp bombs and spray them froma distance these days. Devious

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Excellent idea! I'll get a few as we speak while they are in stock & save them for the spring. Tnx!

 

[Bruce (VA)]

They are about $3 or $4 each at the big box stores, but as Jack said, they are worthless now; you need to get the queens early.

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 13:46:28 07/12/10) Excellent idea! I'll get a few as we speak while they are in stock & save them for the spring. Tnx!

ruce, you just aren't much of a politician! :lol:
Any half wit bureaucrat would have either claimed "I mis-spoke" or that the recipient "mis-heard". :lol:

 

[rlpintx]

Can we see some pics...brand name ...etc...
I would like to know more.....little Ba$$tards sent me to the er a couple of weeks ago. The traps I've bought have cought a thing.

 

[jon]

Bruce, didn't know about skunks digging them out but around here a bear or a fox will.
Seems like I've found more wasp nest this year than usual.
I'm definitely trying the Yellow Jacket traps next year.

 

[FiremanKyle]

Is that when you want one of those torches like they at at Harbor freight (like for possibly clearing ice, or starting outdoor fire). Good luck!