Stinging yellow-jackets? Take this advice

PineRidge · Jul 27, 2005

Just yesterday Sandy, one of the gals that works with us called me out to the garage area. She pointed to a junction where the PVC from the downspout met the concrete apron in front of our garage doors.

When my eyes focused on the spot she was pointing to I could immediately see yellow-jackets, lots of them coming and going from a underground nest and all the time right before us without notice.

Now I have heard some of you guys say to use gasoline but this nest was right up against the house and I really didn't want to burn the house down in the process of eliminating the yellow-jackets.

So, I waited for the cover of darkness, when they would all be back in the hive. Grabbed me a small 5 ounce squeeze bottle of a dry chemical that I keep handy by the name of Apicide. Gave the bottle a couple of good shakes to agitate and pump the dry chemical up with air, pulled off the cap, inverted the bottle and squeezed 1/2 the contents directly into the entrance hole. Then ran like the wind, just in case.....

I was told that this stuff floats through the nest and destroys the colony right down to the queen.

This morning when I checked there was absolutely no activity so the colony must have been completely destroyed below ground, there wasn't even a dead worker above ground laying on the concrete.

Guys if you have a problem with stinging yellow-jackets try this easy and inexpensive solution. Very seldom do I find a product that lives up to the expectations but when one actually works as intended then I don't hesitate to recommend it to my friends (that's you).

Disclaimer: I have absolutely no connection with Apicide or the manufacturer whatsoever. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Looks like this

billbill1 · Jul 27, 2005

Mike, I have a question? Do they like yellow jackets in California, Utah, Montana, and North and South Dakota? Seems they don't want you killing them there!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

PineRidge · Jul 27, 2005

Bill I have no idea why anyone would protect yellow-jackets, what good could they possibly do? They don't pollinate plants to the best of my knowledge like bees do.

Maybe someone else with more knowledge on the subject will jump in here.

Jimbrown · Jul 27, 2005

They kill spiders. If you live where I do and there are lots of Black Widows and Brown Recluse you don't kill things that eat those nasties. I will take a yellow jacket sting over a spider bite any day.

shoppintractors · Jul 27, 2005

Grabbed me a small 5 ounce squeeze bottle of a dry chemical that I keep handy by the name of Apicide.

The website says Apicide is 5% Carbaryl. It's my understanding the trade name 'Sevin' is also Carbaryl.

Don

ejtaylor822 · Jul 27, 2005

Mike,
I have no idea why God put Yellowjackets, poison ivy nor tics on this earth. But, who am I to argue?

I didn't realize yellowjackets ate spiders - that's good. I thought their main purpose was just to interrupt an otherwise pleasant day of mowing the yard - the only time my wife and neighbors get to see me dance.

I'll have to remember the apicide if I'm like you and have them by the house. But, I still prefer the old fashioned method - pouring gas down the hole - which I know that alone will kill them. But, there's nothing like seeing that fireball when they're sent to the great beyond! Especially if the organic method of yellowjacket discovery has been used (walking over the hive in shorts).

_RaT_ · Jul 27, 2005

Some pesticides are not allowed in certain states. I can eradicate Yellowjackets easily with my own method. Just for your information, what earthly beast can you think of that destroys yellowjackets "without the aid of man made chemicals?"

I know what it is, I have seen it in action. It is one tough, nasty son of a gun. Can you tell me what gutsy beast will go into a yellow jacket nest and destroy it? The winner gets a new tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

ducati996 · Jul 27, 2005

( Some pesticides are not allowed in certain states. I can eradicate Yellowjackets easily with my own method. Just for your information, what earthly beast can you think of that destroys yellowjackets?

I know what it is, I have seen it in action. It is one tough, nasty son of a gun. Can you tell me what gutsy beast will go into a yellow jacket nest and destroy it? The winner gets a new tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

mans best friend? I know my black lab goes after the scaryiest wasps I have ever seen - and yes I ran away from
But my doggie ate it /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Duc

ejtaylor822 · Jul 27, 2005

"...what earthly beast can you think of that destroys yellowjackets?"


Me with a gas can and a book of matches? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Do you cover shipping on that new tractor or do I have to arrange for pickup? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

_RaT_ · Jul 27, 2005

OK Eddie, as we discussed in our PM, what I type and what I mean are often 2 different things. I edited my post and mentioned without the aid of man made chemicals. I'll send you the PTO shaft cover off my 1972 International 454D. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tdog · Jul 27, 2005

Skunks. Please don't send the tractor COD.

Jack

_RaT_ · Jul 27, 2005

Whats your favorite color Jack. You nailed it. I was walking down my driveway one early morning, about 3AM and startled a skunk, or maybe a skunk startled me. Nonetheless, this skunk was in the hive, dirt flying left and right ripping it apart eating the larvae. Now I don't know how else to put this without some censorship, but that sucker had some guts.

DHennet · Jul 27, 2005

I just took care of a yellow jacket nest in the garden using Cynoff. It's main ingredient is Cypermethrin. Per the Bugspray.net webiste, I pumped it in until the tunnel was full. It took just about three gallons. Worked like a champ. I staged my attack in the early morning. There was just a few workers out at that time... they didn't see it coming!

PineRidge · Jul 27, 2005

Some pesticides are not allowed in certain states. I can eradicate Yellowjackets easily with my own method. Just for your information, what earthly beast can you think of that destroys yellowjackets "without the aid of man made chemicals?" 

Rat I had heard that if you pour honey down the entrance hole that the skunks are more prone to dig up the nest in search of more honey. Personally I think that skunk would wear his nails down to the nub trying to dig that hive out from beneath the concrete apron where this one was located.

_RaT_ · Jul 27, 2005

Mike, you bring up a very good point. Rather then outlaw the product you mention, we should outlaw concrete. No, wait, I use alot of concrete, lets outlaw skunks, wait, how about we outlaw yellow jackets. How's that for thinking like a politician... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

dmccarty · Jul 28, 2005

Pineridge,

Very timely post.

Last weekend I was mowing. Now I knew there was a nest in the area from last year but I had not seen the bees this year. I had backed up the rotary cutter into a tight spot and I saw bugs a flying and one stung my hand. He died. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Still hurt though. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I put the tractor in forward and started to move out but it was a tight spot so it took some time. Once I got clear I drove to the back of the house, hopped off and ran inside to safety! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have some squeeter proof hunting clothes. The clothes has webing with "squares" 3-4 inches that allow in air for ventalation. Then there is a tignt screen like material. The webing keeps the material from touching your skin thus the bugs can bite....

So armored I go back out to the 4700. I'm clad in camy with a hood on my head with my worksavers on my ears looking like some sort of nut case. The wife wanted pictures. I gave HER the look. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

ONE bee was still attacking the tractor. It died. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Armored with netting head to toe and with thick work gloves I climbed up on my Green Steed and roared off to do battle...

Went right back to where I hit the nest.

No bugs.

Mowed the area real good and slow.

No Bugs.

Went to where I saw them last year and mowed real good and slow.

No Bugs.

They only thing I can think of is that the mower got the bugs when they first attacked. I think they flew up into the cutter and it worked it magic on the little &^%(&#$(#.

I'm glad the neighbors did not see me.....

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan

Boondox · Jul 28, 2005

I was clearing saplings near my pond when I disturbed a nest of yellow jackets. Got stung once, but kept cutting because 3/4 of the way thru my backcut was not a good place to stop. Got stung again. Finished the cut. Got stung a third time...and to my wife's neverending amusement I got ticked off and began chasing the critters with a running chainsaw! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Went back at night and nuked them with brake cleaner. pb

GeneD14 · Jul 28, 2005

( I got ticked off and began chasing the critters with a running chainsaw!
)
Now I would pay to have seen that. That was hilarious!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

kensfarm · Jul 28, 2005

"Can you tell me what gutsy beast will go into a yellow jacket nest and destroy it? "

Bears and badgers will dig up the nest and eat them! I've come across one ground nest in Maryland that was dug up.

What color is the tractor I'm getting?

Edit: Dang.. I'm too late.. everyone wants a new tractor!

seapea · Jul 29, 2005

Last year I stumbled across a nest in my back field while mowing. I wanted to pour some sort of chemical down, but there was too much activity around the nest for me to get close enough. My solution was to use one of those small portable vacuums to suck up the little b*stards as they returned to or left the nest. I needed about 150' of extension cord to plug it in. I was able to position the opening of the hose while staying about 8' away, so I wasn't too concerned about being stun. Not one bee got in or out of the nest. They all ended up in the vacuum bag. After about an hour, there were no more bees returning to the nest. At first I wasn't sure what to use to kill the nest. Then I remember all those leftover useless gopher smoke bombs I had. Worked like a charm, and I also sucked some of the smoke into the vacuum to kill the bees in there too.