Yellow Jackets not being friendly

[devongarver]

I have an in ground nest I need to exterminate... problem is it's in very close proximity to a stream feeding a pond with fish in it. Really reluctant to dump gas in the hole.

I have a powder I ordered online called Mother Earth D, that is completely harmless to the environment. I am not 100% if it would work for the bees, but it's process works by dehydrating any insect that touches the powder, so I would assume it would work. Here is where i bought mine from. I just bough the small bottles.

 

[keyman1808]

I had a nest under an air conditioner that needed to be taken out. Paper type nest about the size of a small beach ball. I did have an old fire extiguisher from a closed civil defense building. I shot it and froze the suckers to death. Worls great but I was too cheap to refill the extiguisher. So, Yes that does work but not cost effective.

 

[_RaT_]

I've not had a nest quite that big but when I have a nest that's of decent size I arm myself with two cans of spray foam, one in each hand and blast away. They never know what even hit them. I do worry about the ones that were out on a hunt coming back, seeing me and retaliating after what I did to their family. :shocked:

I had a nest under an air conditioner that needed to be taken out. Paper type nest about the size of a small beach ball. I did have an old fire extiguisher from a closed civil defense building. I shot it and froze the suckers to death. Worls great but I was too cheap to refill the extiguisher. So, Yes that does work but not cost effective.

 

[helvit]

The good guys painting my house last summer reported a very active nest with a 2" opening next to the stump of a large ash tree at the end of an old stone wall 15 feet from the corner of the house. Many yellow jackets moving in and out all day.

I reacted big time to a single sting years ago and was tested and found to be allergic to them , but not any other "bees". Went through a series of desensitization shots which probably worked, but each one still looks like a little bullet to me.

So I waited til dark, covered up, dumped a quart of gasoline down there, set a board across the hole and skedaddled back inside. Didn't work. Called the exterminator. I didn't see him at his work, but there was a decent spread of powder around there for my hundred dollar bill. Worked.

 

[jesnic]

When it comes to yellow jackets, I do nothing in moderation. I pour five gallons of diesel in the entrance hole and then go back the second day and dig it up. Then, I burn the dirt with more diesel. Then spread the dirt back and spread grass seed and straw. I was hit this summer while bush hogging a vacant lot. There were three different nests in the ground. It cost me a bunch in fuel, but I passed on the bill to the home owners. I actually saved them money as the exterminators would charge about $150 per nest.

 

[Z RENCH]

When you discover a tree nest about head high or so, find yourself a simpleton you really don't like, give him a stick, blindfold him and tell him it's a pinata!

 

[E/S]

When you discover a tree nest about head high or so, find yourself a simpleton you really don't like, give him a stick, blindfold him and tell him it's a pinata!

COLD !

E/S

 

[devongarver]

I found another nest in my siding last night. Yellow jackets again. I put some of the Mother Earth D powder around the opening and was watching them fly through it to go in and out. I will let you know if they start dying.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I had an infestation of large brown wasps under the roof of my shed. I think there was 4 on one side and 2 on the other. The only thing I had available was diesel. I put about a gallon in my pump up garden sprayer and hit them with that. It wasnt an instant kill like gasoline, but also not as flammable. It did the trick. What I didnt realize is that someone had knocked down a nest which landed right by my front tractor tire which was flat with thorn puncture and needed to be fixed. I started loosing the lug bolts and had them all loose, then decided that I needed to use the FEL to raise the tire up off the ground. When is stepped across the nest to get on the tractor, nothing happened. When I jumped off the tractor, I stepped right on a portion of the next and they came for me. I got away from all but one. It wasnt a big next, maybe 50 wasp. I gave them a moment to settle back on the nest, then found a lid from my trash can. Got back over there, tossed the lid over the nest and did a Mexican hat dance on it. There must have been a bunch of wasp off hunting because for the next week, everyday, I had to crank up my diesel sprayer and spray spots on the ceiling where a dozen or so would congregate. They especially liked my outdoor spotlight. I never saw so many of those wasps. HUGE SOB at least 2" long and they just kept coming. I hope I got most of them since I had to leave home and come back to work and leave THEM to their work

 

[slaveToHorses]

I have an in ground nest I need to exterminate... problem is it's in very close proximity to a stream feeding a pond with fish in it. Really reluctant to dump gas in the hole.

You can try Volk Oil. I spray it on the lilies in my ornamental pond to kill aphids.
It does not hurt the fish. For the nest, use a heavy mixture in water with some dish soap for a surfactant. Just pour it down the hole.

I also use Ciper WD powder, mixed with water. Also Delta dust or Pyganic Dust is usually what the exterminators use.

I have not had good luck with the retail spray cans lately. I got a 3pack of Spectracide wasp spray at Home Depot and sprayed all three cans on this big hornet nest on our barn. No luck. It did a lot of damage but the hive is alive and well. I will have to mix up one of the above nasties and find a pump sprayer that will get up high enough to nab them.