Ground hornets! [emoji2962]

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I cut some trees down and have a brush pile using tractor and truck. Monday I'm using the FEL bucket pushing brush when...BEES!!! So it's high gear wide open back to shed . Luckily just 3 stings. Today I'm in same area and found the nest. They were swarming all around this hole, nest was like the gray paper ones you see in trees. This evening (dusk) I was going to pour maybe a quart or two of gasoline in it (and light it???).
I assume they're hornets?
If I don't reply back...call 911...

 

[5030]

Those aren't honey bees, those are yellow jackets. Had a ground nest and started the rotary mower and parked it over the nest and let the blades whip, chop and puree the buggers. Took a full tank of gas but was worth the carnage.

 

[airbiscuit]

I was out walk behind roto-tilling when I went over a ground hornets nest. The problem is that you don't see them coming, and by the time you realize what's happening, you've been stung half a dozen times. You were lucky to get by with 3!

 

[Carl_NH]

Yep - nasty ground yellow jackets that usually fly faster than I can run - have hit many of these over the years weed trimming and mowing - you're lucky to have just 3 stings.

I wait till dark and pour a half gallon or so mix of permethrin and water in the hole then toss a half bucket of dirt on top - they are all dead in the morning.

 

[caver]

Shawn Woods he has some Hornet videos using different methods.

 

[5030]

Nasty little turds....

 

[Mendonsy]

My solution to yellow jackets isn't quite so elegant. I wait until it gets nearly dark outside so they return to their nest then put an old shop rag over the end of a stick and stuff it into the hole they dug. I then pour a cup full of diesel on the rag and light it. It's not pretty but it works.

 

[ponytug]

@Fuddyduddy1952 I'm glad that you got out in time!

I use a turkey baster filled with talcum powder or diatomaceous earth. I've never been stung doing that. It sounds bad, but I have had better luck with that compared to hornet sprays.

Open flames are a no-no here for basically all of the hornet/yellow jacket season.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I just got back. It was getting pretty dark and poured a gallon of gas down it then lit balled up paper. I let it burn about an hour then got a long stick. I couldn't believe I bet it was 2ft deep and full of nest layers with larva (white worms). When fire went out I poured 5 gallons water down it. I left stick so horses don't step in it. I'll dirt fill tomorrow.

 

[bcp]

No fire needed. About a cup of gas, covered with a shovelfull of dirt, at night.

Bruce

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I found a nest near my shop a few days ago. The next morning I mixed a tank of bifenthrin to spray my yard for ants. I was able to stick my wand down the hole and pumped about a gallon of the bifenthrin mix into the nest.
They were all gone the next day.

 

[oosik]

I don't have ground nests of anything here. However - I do have the grey, paper nests of yellow jackets and bald faced hornets. In the lower limbs of my pines or in the Buck brush.

Generally speaking - yellow jackets will only chase you a short ways. The @#$% bald faced hornets have chased me - right into the house.

 

[CalG]

I use a shop vacuum cleaner.
Just set the hose end right next to the coming and going spot/
works OK to the length of my extension cord ;-)

But, that brings out a good story/

When we first moved into this place in VT., everything was overgrown and brambles. Years of neglect by the previous owners.
The third year we were in, our son was just four, and he liked to follow me around. I had bought one of those big wheel self propelled walk behind mowers and was trying to make headway against the brambles. With the mower going, me at the handles, and my young son tailing behind, we crested one of the pitches that defines the back property. Somehow, and I'm not sure just how, I sensed over the racket of the mower blade and engine, that my son was in distress. I turned to look back at him and saw the swirling black dots , his face all in alarm, and his arms waving. I knew in an instant it was ground hornets . Yellow Jackets! Evil in physical form.

Well, I just let go of the brush mower, and it didn't have any auto stop, so just kept going. I grabbed my son into my arms and ran as fast as I could for the house, thinking if all else failed, the garden hose was there in the lawn. It was about a 40 yard run, with yellow jackets all about and in hot pursuit. The numbers diminishing with every yard.

Now I had heard two things that those nasty buggers. One was "The first one wakes 'em up, the second one gets 'em angry, and the third one gets the treatment" Mower, Me, then my son. 1, 2, 3/
The second was they will clamp on to the scent, and that was certainly the case.

Though my son suffered a half dozen stings while sheltered by my arms and body, I received NONE. They were going right around me to get to him, as I was brushing them away as soon as they would attach.

We had a spell of ground nests for a couple of years. I used gasoline and fire at first, but then switched to the vacuum set up. The canister has a side diverter just at the hose connection, These devil spawn must hit that deflector at about 200 mph! Serves 'em right.

I hear they really go for fresh meat. I know they like ripe peaches and split plums. Makes for some "spicy" picking.

Red hot sky raisins!

 

[oosik]

Those miserable bald faced hornets not only sting, multiple times - they will also bite. I've had some fairly good sized yellow jacket nests. About the size of an elongated volley ball.

I've seen and eliminated three or four bald faced hornet nests. They are all the size of a large soft ball.

 

[Thomas]

I soak rag of gas stuff into hole pile some dirt on top.