Bee attack

[dmccarty]

Eddie,

Keeping a bug spray on the tractor is a good idea.

For the last couple of tractor work days I had noticed wasps hanging around the tractor when I was working. I was near our house and the wasps are having a field day hanging nests from the roof overhangs and door jambs. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

The wasps around the tractor where not aggresive but persistant. I would not swat at them since they where playing nice and I did not want them mad but they just kept hanging around This went on for a couple of weekends. It was real bothersome because they where flying and landing on and around the steering wheel and various controls. I just knew I was going to grab one when I reached to do something and that was going to ruin my day. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

At the end of the day I parked the tractor and was doing some other chores and I noticed the wasps where still hanging around. I watched them and lo and behold the little cirtters where crawling through the control openings on the dash. They must have had a next inside the dash. This was a first. I happened to have an old can of wasp spray that I last used to kill a nest build in my rotary cutter a few years ago. I sprayed them and hopefully that is the end of this problem.

I think I'll get a can of bug spray to keep on the tractor. I have been attacked by hornets and yellow jackets. Thankfully not on the tractor but I'm sure its only a matter of time. I have some serious bush cutting to do this year....

Later,
Dan

 

[boustany]

Hmmmm.....

As a beekeeper, 'bees' are usually pretty harmless, and won't 'cover you', even if swarming, though you can kind of get them to cover you if thats what turns your crank. Bees generally don't sting when swarming.

Killer bees are another story, of course, but we don't have them up in the snowy north (though they too are apparently harmless when swarming).

Wasps & hornets, however, scare the heck outa me and I work my colonies in shirtsleeves, often without smoke.

If you are worried about being stung, there are several suggestions

1) get a doctor to prescribe an 'epi-pen' which is a pre-loaded syringe you can use if you have an allergic reaction or get stung repeatedly (I have one just in case a kid decides to inspect a hive)

2) get a beekeeper veil or 'hat'. Bees are particularly exciting when they walk on your face, and sting are particulary nasty there /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

3) stay the **** away from wasp and hornets, or kill them first with long distance spray. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Dachshund]

Yup! I know they are just lookin' for a new place to roost, but don't want to take the chance........... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[DKinWA]

I don't blame you. Last time I got stung by a bee on the arm, it swelled up like a baseball.

 

[crashz]

We have yellow jackets and wasps at my fathers garage, my parents house and my house. Can't seem to get away from them. Every year we probably spent $100 in cans of spray to kill them, and every year they come back.

The all black ones are the worst. They seem to actually hunt you down rather than be defensive.