So, I ran over a bee's nest.. what now..

[thatguy]

We bought the lot beside ours and yesterday I was out rough cutting it because it has several HUGE blackberry bushes on it.. As im coming around on my second pass I looked around and saw all these black things swarming around up the hill..

I undoubtedly had mowed over a good size bees nest that was in/on the ground.. From what I can tell, I didnt get that close, it looks like one of the papermache types and I tore it open..

I was very lucky and think the cutter hit the nest, so I did not get stung..

I really would like to finish mowing this area (its not that big of an area), but I dont know how/when it would be safe to go back in..

Suggestions? Thoughts?

Brian

 

[RoyJackson]

Walk back there first and see if they've abandoned the nest. If they have, go mow, but wear long pants (heavy and thick) with the leg openings tied down (so they can't craw up your legs...I think bike riders use something like this), a long sleeve shirt or jacket, gloves. Even a beekeeper's helmet, if you don't mind buying one.
Just have as little exposed skin as possible (including your eyes!!).

It'll be hot, but that's as much protection as you're going to get.

 

[MarkV]

Wait until dark when the bees, though to me it sounds like wasps, go in for the night and pour gas on the nest. The fumes will kill them.

MarkV

 

[bullbreaker]

I undoubtedly had mowed over a good size bees nest that was in/on the ground.. From what I can tell, I didnt get that close, it looks like one of the papermache types and I tore it open..


Suggestions? Thoughts?

Brian

Brian
Bee carefull.Also you might want to check your tires for flats from bee stings!:laughing::laughing:



(just kidding!) Wish ya well,play safe.
Boone

 

[SPYDERLK]

Wait until dark when the bees, though to me it sounds like wasps, go in for the night and pour gas on the nest. The fumes will kill them.

MarkV

Or, if you have compassion for them just mow the area at nite. They arent actve then.
larry

 

[polo1665]

Wait until dark when the bees, though to me it sounds like wasps, go in for the night and pour gas on the nest. The fumes will kill them.

MarkV

+1
Wait til after sundown when the bees/wasps are docile/inactive, then kill them with your preferred method.
I don't think I would have too much compassion for them. You don't want anyone in the area stumbling onto a wasp nest. People can be allergic to these things.
If you determine that they are honey bees you can have the hive moved.

Mark

 

[2720wes]

I hate the thought that its bee season in Va already.

If its the football shaped hornets nest you hit they may rebuild close by in the unmowed brush. Look from a distance with binoculars if you have them and watch for any activity. If you see anything spray/gas them at night.

When you mow again I would make a fast pass and stop and observe then do the same thing again.

Hopefully they decided to move to a high tree.

Be carefull around those things.

 

[Transit]

I do all my heavy mowing in the late fall to early spring when the temperatures are cold to cool, too cold for them to be out.

 

[beenthere]

When I've had them (usually one each year somewhere on the 22 acres) and destroyed them, they disperse within a day. Don't find them rebuilding nearby either. May be the variety, but they are the wasps (not bees) that build the football size nest. :confused3:

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Get close enough in the daylight to find their hole in the day. Then get a couple of cans of long distance bee killer. Go back there when it's dark. You may want to put on long pants and a long sleeve shirt. I like to wear safety glasses. Walk up softly and spray into the hole. I have seen where there are guards at the entrance even at night. Unless you have a big light on them they have a tough time finding you. Make sure you know which way you are going to run once you have sprayed them.
I'm not that big of a fan of pouring gas down the hole just to keep it out of the groundwater myself.