Yellow jackets - again

[Jess from VA]

 

So yesterday, I worked in the bottom corner of my yard (where they got me a few years ago) for close to an hour.  No problem.

Today, I go down to the same spot, to clean off the outside of my 4' wood fence and apply another coat of cedar stain/waterproofer (because it needs it).  I take all my stuff down and climb over the fence and start working, and a swarm of them come at me, and sting me on the back of both my hands (exactly where they got me before).  I'm wearing a Tshirt with bare arms, but they get me through the semi-disposable gloves I always wear to work (rubber palms, but just thin weave backs).  I guess they intuit the hands are doing the work, so go for those.  Glad I'm not anaphylactic.

I come in a scrub aggressively and apply hydro creme and topical Benadryl, but it still hurts like hell and swell up like sausages.

I know I should wait till dark, but the war is on, so I went out there with my Wasp and insect sprays murdered them with extreme prejudice.  Then saturated the area and nest hole with a couple old quarts of 30 weight.

Then I finished the fence job, wearing a thick leather pair of old bike gloves, and watching for stragglers.

Came in a took oral Benadryl, which always kicks my ass.

I HATE THOSE BASTARDS!!! 

[idaida98]

 

[DIGGER]

So yesterday, I worked in the bottom corner of my yard (where they got me a few years ago) for close to an hour.  No problem.

Today, I go down to the same spot, to clean off the outside of my 4' wood fence and apply another coat of cedar stain/waterproofer (because it needs it).  I take all my stuff down and climb over the fence and start working, and a swarm of them come at me, and sting me on the back of both my hands (exactly where they got me before).  I'm wearing a Tshirt with bare arms, but they get me through the semi-disposable gloves I always wear to work (rubber palms, but just thin weave backs).  I guess they intuit the hands are doing the work, so go for those.  Glad I'm not anaphylactic.

I come in a scrub aggressively and apply hydro creme and topical Benadryl, but it still hurts like hell and swell up like sausages.

I know I should wait till dark, but the war is on, so I went out there with my Wasp and insect sprays murdered them with extreme prejudice.  Then saturated the area and nest hole with a couple old quarts of 30 weight.

Then I finished the fence job, wearing a thick leather pair of old bike gloves, and watching for stragglers.

Came in a took oral Benadryl, which always kicks my ass.

I HATE THOSE BASTARDS!!! 

Them and fire ants....... can't work in my garden without getting stung or bitten by 3 or 4 fire ants.   Havent been stung by a yellow jacket in a long time now.

[Jess from VA]

My first (and only) experience with fire ants was at my first duty station at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery AL.

My CB750K with Vetter fairing was parked outside my Q room.  I went out and sat on the curb to fiddle with the front end in shorts (it's hot down there).  The creepy crawly was quickly followed by painful bites in my nether regions, and I commenced to dancing and swatting. 

When I told this story to a local, he advised to be careful where you sit outdoors, in shorts.   

I bought some of that stuff you pour on nests, and it worked.

[carolinarider09]

My first and only really impacting experience with fire ants occurred some time in the summer of 1967.  I was out of college and getting ready for entering the US Navy (had two options).  My father got me a job working for International Paper Company as a "worker" helping to clear hardwoods from pine forests after they were cleared of pines and doing the odd job of keeping the ditches on unpaved forest roads clear of "stuff", among other things.

I was using a "sling blade" if I remember correctly and walking along one of those roadway's ditch.   All of a sudden I felt the stings up and down my legs.  And they really really hurt.  I dropped my pants to try and remove the "critters" only to see many ants on my legs and nether regions.  Our foreman drove up about that time and took some time to laugh at my predicament before helping me up and out of the ants. 

Until that time, I had not encountered fire ants ever (at least to my knowledge).

Oh this occurred in Richmond Hill, GA.   

[RP#62]

When I was a kid, we used to spend summers at grandma's house in southern Louisiana (Lafourche Parish).  Grandma had a big oil tank in the back 40 that the oil company paid her rent money to keep there.  All around it was big fire ant mounds.  One 4th of July, we thought it would be cool to put a firecracker in a mound and light it.  It spread those little devils everywhere - all over us and they were pissed when they landed.  It was a memorable experience.

-RP

[Oldfishguy]

This:

https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Dust-Multi-Control-Insecticide/dp/B002Y6B4A8/ref=asc_df_B002Y6B4A8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167116476898&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7844373410640716801&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019587&hvtargid=pla-306024694928&psc=1

[Willow]

... 
Until that time, I had not encountered fire ants ever (at least to my knowledge).
...   

There is no chance that one would encounter fire ants and it not be to his knowledge.   

[old2soon]

     When I lived in Garrison Texas had more than our fair allotment of fire ants. And Wife Daughter and 3 Sons and myself All had run ins with the little sumbitches. Little terrorists sure pack a big punch considering their size! And pick any flavor of wasp or bee most likely had em in East Texas. Also had a rather large black ant looked sorta furry with 1 or 2? red stripes and was told by native to the area had a nasty sting. And I had stomped on one of them that was on my sidewalk and took 3 or 4 stomps to put him/her down and while Not Sure mighta flipped me off before it Finally died! RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

Oldfishguy, seeing that insecticide dust reminded me, I used a half bottle of body (baby) powder on another yellow jacket nest earlier this year, and it did a pretty good job on them.  I believe any fine dust asphyxiates them as they breath through their exoskeleton.  They didn't die of cancer.  Though I added some gasoline and a match after the powder.

I swear, I'm getting paranoid about these jackets.  Ice has helped with the swelling and pain of both hands, but my knuckles have about disappeared anyway.

The writing on these bastards indicates people can get progressively worse reactions to their stings over time.   

[Oss]

chew on a plantain leaf a minute and place it on the sting site

It will remove the toxin in minutes

It is in your lawn unless you use weed killer   We do not do that

google picture of plantain leaf   now

[Jess from VA]

Oldfishguy posted a link to Delta Dust.

My research shows this and other bug dust products that contain Deltamethrin (D-fence Dust, Drione Insecticide Dust) are the very best way to kill yellow jackets.  They are waterpfoof, non clumping and last for months.

So I go on line and Lowes, Home Depot, and Walmart all have one of them listed.  I visit all three this morning and none of them have it, and no one ever heard of it/them.  So I've ordered on line.

Every time in the past, I wipe out a nest and the colony disappears, with maybe a few stragglers hanging around for a day or so.  This time, they are working at building new nests right in the areas I've repeatedly sprayed whole cans of bee foam, Sevin granules and Sevin powder.  

Sons of bitches.

My hand swelling has gone down some and I have better grip function, and the pain has stopped.  But I want them gone!!!

[Oldfishguy]

Oldfishguy posted a link to Delta Dust.

My research shows this and other bug dust products that contain Deltamethrin (D-fence Dust, Drione Insecticide Dust) are the very best way to kill yellow jackets.  They are waterpfoof, non clumping and last for months.

So I go on line and Lowes, Home Depot, and Walmart all have one of them listed.  I visit all three this morning and none of them have it, and no one ever heard of it/them.  So I've ordered on line.

Every time in the past, I wipe out a nest and the colony disappears, with maybe a few stragglers handing around for a day or so.  This time, they are working at building new nests right in the areas I've repeatedly sprayed whole cans of bee foam, Sevin granules and Sevin powder. 

Sons of bitches.

My hand swelling has gone down some and I have better grip function, and the pain has stopped.  But I want them gone!!!

Yes, the homemade methods will work sometimes but the Delta Dust works every time. I discovered it a few years back. I was walking through a thick unused old trail on my property and was hit with a half dozen stings in short order. I do my research and a few days later came back with the Dust in a makeshift hazmat outfit. As gently as I could I approached the area. When one is hit like that you really do not know exactly where they came from. But, they are alerted by ground vibration. So tread lightly. I found a silver dollar sized hole in the ground they were fling in and out so I sprayed a 1/4 cup of the Dust down it and backed away gently. Two days later I go back and take a better look with flyers still around and realize there are 4-5 more holes in a six foot span. Yup, a big underground nest. More Dust down each hole and done.

[Jess from VA]

Hunting insects/bugs is just like hunting game.

You need to patiently walk around and study them, where from, where to, where they live.  I did this yesterday, and found two nests (new/small).

Clear ant trails are found at night (flashlight).  I discovered they were all coming out a giant oak near my kitchen (and in my kitchen for years).  Poured a whole bag of ant granules around the base of that oak, and not one ant in my kitchen this entire year.

I've killed the yellow jacket nest holes, but this time they are persisting in coming back and starting over.  I wonder if they think their queen is still down in the dirt (she'd dead if down there), and they are trying to find her again.  I might do better to leave them alone and let them get an established nest again, then go out at night and wipe them out, but I am reluctant to let that happen in my back yard. 

I even put down 4 mouse glue traps, and while they seem pretty good at avoiding them, I have about 40 in the glue anyway, so far.

When I know where they are, I'm good at avoiding stings (and stirring them up).  It's when I'm fat dumb and happy and start working right over them they get me.  I am out there nearly every day (weather permitting) doing something or other; it's my hobby/occupational therapy/exercise.  I don't appreciate the invasion.     

[Preacher]

I wait until dusk when they are back in their hole and pour gasoline down it.  Works everytime!

[Jess from VA]

I wait until dusk when they are back in their hole and pour gasoline down it.  Works everytime!

I wait until slap dark and pour gas, light it, cover with flat rock.  Done every time too.

But this time I had a mature tree/shrub right next to the nest, and didn't want to kill the plant. So I poured oil.  I believe the nest is killed, but the jackets are still coming and trying to rebuild.  This never happened before. 

[3fan4life]

I wait until dusk when they are back in their hole and pour gasoline down it.  Works everytime!

I wait until slap dark and pour gas, light it, cover with flat rock.  Done every time too.

But this time I had a mature tree/shrub right next to the nest, and didn't want to kill the plant. So I poured oil.  I believe the nest is killed, but the jackets are still coming and trying to rebuild.  This never happened before. 

Growing pouring gas down the hole or holes and then lighting it was always Dad's solution.

It worked but you had to wait until after dark when all of the bees had returned to the nest.

I used diesel fuel once and that worked pretty well.

I don't think that I tried to light it off, I think that I just poured it down the hole.

Diesel doesn't evaporate like gasoline and leaves a much thicker residue.

[Jess from VA]

It worked but you had to wait until after dark when all of the bees had returned to the nest.

Not only does nighttime work make it much safer for you, but you get nearly all of them at home to kill.

If you do it in daylight, most are out and about, and they'll be back, and maybe just start a new nest nearby. 

I saw videos of a guy (in a suit) sucking hornets right out of the nest hole with a big wet/dry vac.  What they didn't explain is where and when they opened the vacuum canister.  Most would still be alive and pissed off in there.  I suppose you could shoot a can of raid or dust up the vacuum hose before opening.

I've also read about guys using a can of hairspray as a flamethrower, but visions of the can exploding in your hand prevent me from trying that. 

This wet and high heat has more yellow jackets around here than I've ever seen before.  And the hotter it is, the more active (and quicker to attack) they are.

[Jess from VA]

Well, I'm cautiously optimistic I have defeated the jacket infestation.

The area is a toxic waste dump of multiple cans of foam, quarts of oil, bug granules, bug dust, and 4 mouse glue traps with hundreds of them piled up in them.  The glue traps were slow to work at first, but as they began working, I think the returning-to-continue-the-nest jackets landed in them to socialize with their brothers.

Only killed one yesterday, and none today so far.

I'm leaving the toxic waste dump as is, until I see none for days.

The expensive jacket dust is yet to be delivered.  I'm buying more glue traps.

All yellow jackets must die.   

PS: man, it's hot out there.   Walking at 6 am, still sweating.  Cleaned and stained 70 feet of fence, all before 9am (2 days).  Time for indoor work. 

[Willow]

... I think the returning-to-continue-the-nest jackets landed in them to socialize with their brothers.
...

Sisters.  The workers are all female.  The only purpose the males provide is to contribute to more fertilized eggs.

[Jess from VA]

... I think the returning-to-continue-the-nest jackets landed in them to socialize with their brothers.
...

Sisters.  The workers are all female.  The only purpose the males provide is to contribute to more fertilized eggs.

I stand corrected. 

It figures.   

[Jess from VA]

The original nest and stragglers are done.

So I go back down there to clean up the yard corner (20 feet away), and hit two more times; right wrist and inside elbow.  New nest.

Ouch.

My new super dust has arrived, so they got some. 



War of attrition, and I'm not sure who's winning.   



 

[klb]

I've had three Yellow Jacket nests in my yard over the years. On the first nest I mowed over it on my riding mower on the first lap and by the second lap I felt something in my hair and quickly found out what it was. Got stung around 30 times. I tried the foam spray which didn't work. Then I put 3.5 gallons of gas in by launching it from a distance with a plastic 44 ounce cup. Lit it up and still didn't get rid of them but one Hell of a show it was. A friend told me to wait until midnight and put Blue Dawn dish washing liquid in the hole and cover it with fine screen wire then fill it up with the water hose. That did the deed and also on the other two nests after that. I have Carpenter Bees and when I get bored I put a little Blue Dawn in a one gallon sprayer then top it off with water and shake it up. I spray the Carpenter Bees in mid air and they fall to the ground and die. I have very funny Bee memories when I was a kid my Grandfather had a huge red wasp nest under the eave of his old building. He took his derby off (He meant business if the derby came off) Grabbed a Community Cash paper grocery bag rolled it up and dipped the end in kerosene. I knew better than to get too close because I had been stung several times from throwing things at the nest so I watched Granddad light the bag then let it get flaming good before applying the flame to the nest. At first I thought he had been successful but there were too many for the fire to get them all. Hindsight being 20/20 he should have left his derby on because they ate his Azz up. He was running around looking and sounding like Herman Munster. His head took the brunt of the stings because it looked like he had head measles plus he had several sting on his arms. It didn't help that I was laughing like a Hyena. I couldn't help it I was just a kid. Like Larry the Cable Guy said That 's funny right there I don't care who you are....Even my Dear old Granddad.

[Jess from VA]

Great story.   

Yesterday, I puffed the Drione Dust on all nesting areas.

Later, a hell of a Big storm came through.  High winds, trees rocking, dead wood falling, raining an inch every 15 minutes (I could not see the houses across the street, dark but still daylight), biggest rocking thunder and lightning I've seen here in 30 years (right overhead), miraculous no power loss. 

This morning a huge mess (but beautifully cool 70s for a change); started cleaning at 8A, finished at 3P.  Mowed my and my neighbor's lawns. 

Checked all known nesting areas multiple times in back yard, and not one jacket to be seen.  Couple small holes in front yard got more Drione Dust.

Good news: no stings today.

I am whipped.  I was hoping for a ride in cooler weather, maybe later.  Time to eat something.

     

[Jess from VA]

Back to the top.

I got stung once visiting my Mom up in MI.  Not too bad.

Been home a couple days, and watering this morning, and son of a B, there's a nest under an old Juniper shrub right next to my front door.  Problem is, there's a ton of Boston Ivy mounded up under the old shrub, and no way to (safely) find any nest hole(s). 

So I had an epiphany.  The front hose bib is right next to the door, and the main water to house and to that bib shutoffs are in a knockout panel in my basement corner with a window looking right out at the problem spot.  So first I shut off that water bib, then went out and carefully took of the spray nozzle off the hose and laid it out under the shrub, then came in and turned the the bib on (from the safety of my basement), and am flooding the whole area.  The jackets are not happy, but I am.  I'll keep giving them the flood treatment until the activity dies down or goes away.

I'd rather use the miracle dust, but it's expensive, and no way I'm crawling around in that ivy to find the nest hole(s).

Did I mention I'm getting a bit paranoid about yellow jackets?  They seen to be following me wherever I go.   

[cookiedough]

I think we all have been stung by bees, especially while mowing the yard.  I do not have to mow my mom's yard anymore, but nearly every year the ground bees came at me push mowing.  Used up several cans of wasp/hornet spray luckily my wife works for spectracide company and can get the cans for a buck or two at the company store.

as far as fire ants,  I think, not sure, that must be a southern thing.  Never heard of them or encountered them in WI.  and no I do not want to find out either.

[Hook#3287]

Nest of white face hornets. Very mean critters

Can of 25' wasp spray at midnight.

Spray in the entrance hole, but look for another first.

The spray foams up and the baztards can't get out.

Clean up in the a.m.

[Jess from VA]

You are very lucky to have a nice nest with opening, and not ground holes in unfindable spots.

A week in, and I believe I have finally cleared the yellow jacket nest(s) by my front door.

The flooding didn't stop them, barely slowed them down.  After it dried, I used the miracle dust all over the area.  Several times.  It really slows them down, but 1s, 2s and 3s are still around from time to time.  And I can't figure if it's surviving nesters, or returning adventurers (who are also getting poisoned).  I poured three small cans of gas over the nest area a few days ago, then more dust the next day.  Water, spray cans, gas and all liquids compromise the dust, so you just have to take your time for them to get wiped out.

In a week or two, when I'm certain they are all gone, I'm gonna get down in there and hack the ivy way back severely, so I don't have to go through this again.   

[Hook#3287]

You are very lucky to have a nice nest with opening, and not ground holes in unfindable spots.
 

Yeah, you're right Jess, ground dwelling flying critters are more of a challenge, but I wouldn't call it lucky.

My experience has been there is usually 1 entrance, but the tactics are similar.  Id entrance location(s), wait till well after dark, spray bomb the heck out of it, and cover with an old window screen weighted down, if possible.

Every situation is different and sounds like you got yours under control.

[Jess from VA]

Out the last two mornings (before heat stroke), and not one jacket anywhere (for now).   

[klb]

Them Bees. I have an old car for sale online and A guy wanted some more interior pics so my Son went out to take them for me. He came back in and said no pictures because of a bunch of Bees. The Wasp will usually make a few nests in the door jams because it doesn't get driven in the summer. I waited a couple hours then thought surely it couldn't be any more than usual so I grabbed my phone and went out to take the pics. Opened the door and it was like a Bee Bomb went off. At first I thought it was a Yellow Jacket nest but it was several pretty big Wasp nests. Hard to tell swinging my arms and running like a Madman. I think i'll take his word next time..

[Jess from VA]

Funny story.     

Make sure you get pictures of the wasps. 

Citrus fruits like lemons and oranges can help deter wasps around your yard. Peppermint oil - Peppermint oil is one of the most effective essential oils for keeping wasps away. Citronella - Citronella oil is also effective, as it has a strong citrus smell that wasps do not like.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=peppermint+oil+spray&hvadid=616863247803&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9007657&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16938312625338621400&hvtargid=kwd-11721514774&hydadcr=24634_13611738&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_9cypon3xzf_e

[Jersey mike]

You are very lucky to have a nice nest with opening, and not ground holes in unfindable spots.

A week in, and I believe I have finally cleared the yellow jacket nest(s) by my front door.

The flooding didn't stop them, barely slowed them down.  After it dried, I used the miracle dust all over the area.  Several times.  It really slows them down, but 1s, 2s and 3s are still around from time to time.  And I can't figure if it's surviving nesters, or returning adventurers (who are also getting poisoned).  I poured three small cans of gas over the nest area a few days ago, then more dust the next day.  Water, spray cans, gas and all liquids compromise the dust, so you just have to take your time for them to get wiped out.

In a week or two, when I'm certain they are all gone, I'm gonna get down in there and hack the ivy way back severely, so I don't have to go through this again.   

If you’re going to wait a couple weeks to clear back some ivy, give the area a good dousing of Roundup first. It will get into the roots and turn everything yellow/brown and begins to dry it all up. As the leaves dry up it should reveal the ground underneath so you can see what’s underfoot. When I do ivy I use 6-7 oz in a 2 gal sprayer instead of the regular 5oz (2.5oz p/gal) and saturate the area(s).

[Jess from VA]

Thanks Jersey, but the ivy is under a 30yo juniper I don't want to harm, so no weed killer.

I use Spectracide, not Roundup (works better and faster in all applications).  

I've got spots of that ivy at a half dozen spots around the yard, and am happy hacking at it live and green (I will leave about half of it under there).   But I will be sure of no jackets first (none for three days now).

Today I hacked away a 30yo red tip photinia, partly with a chain saw (and axe, shovel, pruners).  Digging out the large trunk and roots in this heat was nasty.  And I had yellow jackets in the rotting roots of it last year.  Perfect timing, the garbage man took it all way just as I finished.  

It used to look like this, but was drying and dying out and had to go.


I may get ambitious and put down something like this along my fence-line where the photinia was.  But not until it cools off a lot.

 

[Jersey mike]

Thanks Jersey, but the ivy is under a 30yo juniper I don't want to harm, so no weed killer.

I use Spectracide, not Roundup (works better and faster in all applications).  

I've got spots of that ivy at a half dozen spots around the yard, and am happy hacking at it live and green (I will leave about half of it under there).   But I will be sure of no jackets first (none for three days now).

Today I hacked away a 30yo red tip photinia, partly with a chain saw (and axe, shovel, pruners).  Digging out the large trunk and roots in this heat was nasty.  And I had yellow jackets in the rotting roots of it last year.  Perfect timing, the garbage man took it all way just as I finished.  

It used to look like this, but was drying and dying out and had to go.


I may get ambitious and put down something like this along my fence-line where the photinia was.  But not until it cools off a lot.

 

Pretty tree, too bad it died out on you. Sounds like you have it well planned out and definitely wait for a little cooler weather. 

Never tried Spectracide, does it work the same as Roundup, in through the leaves and down to the roots?

[Jess from VA]

Never tried Spectracide, does it work the same as Roundup, in through the leaves and down to the roots?

Yes.  Better, and faster kill.  (though I use it to get in cracks and crevices and between things, I use the weed whacker on larger areas)  

And both work better when you leave the weeds/grass tall(er) before spraying, to suck up more killer to roots. Not before rain.

Neither kill yellow jackets, but both piss them off a lot.  

I did get motivated, and went to the stone place and got fifteen 24 X 18"  stone pavers ($315) and laid them (spaced) out in two rows down my fence line and leveled them all and back filled the front with weedblock and crushed marble, this morning.  The help at the stone place disappeared, so I had to load it myself.  I was able to park my truck right next to the work though.  

That's 3 days all morning but quitting at 1PM before I have a stroke. (After my early 2mile walk)

[ridingron]

...  The help at the stone place disappeared, ...

Funny how often that seems to happen.  

[Ramie]

My Brother in-law opened the shed door at our hunting shack last weekend, which we hadn't visited since May and ran in to a wasp nest, this is the result.



I told him he looked like a cabbage patch doll.  He now has an epee pen.