My hives are next to a small outbuilding/barn style. There are paper wasp (at least that's what I think they are called) inside up on the roof. There are a few, small in size, none bigger than my fist. My daughter and I were down there and one buzzed in her hair and she swatted at it and either got stung or bit. For that reason and I read that they might try to rob my bees, I want to kill them.
If I spray them with the wasp spray, will that harm and/or set the honey bees off. I know the stuff has a strong odor and being so close, I worry. They are too high to reach. I have also read that bees have a better scense of smell than a dog.
rookie, just shooting in the dark here, I would think that it wouldn't bother the bees unless the spray drifted either on the bees or what the bees forage. As far as the wasp getting excited I don't think the bees would join in. Being a wasp I don't know that they could communicate danger to the bees, if so, I'm about sure the bees wouldn't rush over to their aid.
Just spray the wasp nest with a good strong direct stream from a water hose. As they fall to the ground dispose as you see fit. A nice #12 Boot works great :-D
Spray away, and that wasp/hornet spray shoots a nice long concentrated stream. I don't think you have anything to worry about concerning your bees.
Alrighty, thanks all for the replies.
Rookie,
I agree, spray the wasps as long as you do not get any spray on the hives. They do not communicate across species.
What type of wasp are they. If. They are paper wasps, they will have a gray comb hanging from a thread, spray away.
If they make either tunnels, that look like a weld joint, or a large blob of mud, they are mud daubers. These are usually very gentle and tolerant wasps. I do not bother them. They are hard to provoke to the point that they would sting you.
My guess is you have paper wasps. They tend to bee very aggressive.
Jim
Jim,
The best way I can describe the sting of a dirt dauber is; They have a stinger but no venom. I don't know if that's accurate or not. I do know that they will seal up ever little hole on any air line, tool, ect, that they can.
Quote from: GSF on September 01, 2014, 08:55:42 PM
Jim,
The best way I can describe the sting of a dirt dauber is; They have a stinger but no venom. I don't know if that's accurate or not. I do know that they will seal up ever little hole on any air line, tool, ect, that they can.
Yea, I messed with one once, took her nest down and she just kept out of range of me and when I moved back a bit, she brought in some mud and just started building again.
At my farm, I always keep the 2 ends of my air hoses plugged together.
Even with the garage door closed most of the time, they still build a lot of nests on my garage roof.
Jim
Jim, paper wasp then. They hang on a thin thread and it is like comb with the holes facing down. I will spray them.
Quote from: rookie2531 on September 01, 2014, 09:12:18 PM
Jim, paper wasp then. They hang on a thin thread and it is like comb with the holes facing down. I will spray them.
I had to spray 12 paper wasps in my new barn 2 weeks ago in order to start closing in a workshop.
Jim
The larger the nest the longer one must spray.
I spray until the last one drops as they hide on top and in back.
even small nests hold more than I could believe they could.
if one stops too early it will get messy
Jay,
I only give each hive a quick shot. As long as it hits the nest they are dead.
Jim
I generally wait till night too. That way I get them all.
I don't know about yalls areas, but Lowes in Prattville (North of Montgomery, Al) has a wasp and hornet spray sale. 5 for $5. I use a military discount and it's after taxes it's about 2 to 3 percent less. Yall may want to check out the Lowes in your area. This stuff has the same claim to fame as Raid, but it doesn't do as good as Raid. However raid around here goes for close to $4 a can. The $1 cans will shoot about 7 feet (says 20). It don't kill every one of them but the ones that flies off are tripping and ain't considering you.
Mix some soap and water in a spray bottle. Spray the wasps... stomp on the ones that fall on the ground...
Ya a quick spray. I have counted over 100 wasps on the hive I Am thinking about.
the black ones or dark red ones
I don't stop till they stop fallen down.
Jay,
None of the wasp nests in my barn were bigger than my fist. I have been keeping an eye out for a fully enclosed large paper wasp nest for decoration. I have never seen one here in FL.
Don't worry, I won't make the mistake that a guy up north did. He found one while hunting during the winter, cut it down and hung it up in his living room. A few weeks later they started hatching out in his house. The wife was not happy. :fishhit:
Jim
I keep a couple of cans around all year.Lots of barns around here means lots of wasps. If I see a nest I spray them asap!!!!! They will rob your Bee's or worse kill your queens if giving the chance.. As long as you don't spray your hive directly your ok.
Quote from: sawdstmakr on June 13, 1970, 03:43:54 AMHe found one while hunting during the winter, cut it down and hung it up in his living room. A few weeks later they started hatching out in his house. The wife was not happy. :fishhit: Jim
This reminds me of one Christmas. Bought a tree and took it home. Grabbed a 5gal bucket of water that sits outside catching rainwater and just stuck the tree in that. Worked out well till about 3 days later the house was plumb full of skeeters everywhere!!! Biting us, chewin on us, suckin us dry!! Took us the longest time to figure out that the larva were in the bucket I'd brought in from outside!!
Quote from: sawdstmakr on September 02, 2014, 12:00:51 PM
Jay,
I only give each hive a quick shot. As long as it hits the nest they are dead.
Jim
Ok the next time you find one with 100 or so just give it a quick shot, things will necessarily digress quickly.
Quote from: sawdstmakr on September 02, 2014, 12:00:51 PM
Jay,
I only give each hive a quick shot. As long as it hits the nest they are dead.
Jim
ok for the small nest that works.
I have seen nests about 8 inches across with 2 3 hundred wasps. could get messy
Quote from: jayj200 on September 28, 2014, 11:43:01 PM
Quote from: sawdstmakr on September 02, 2014, 12:00:51 PM
Jay,
I only give each hive a quick shot. As long as it hits the nest they are dead.
Jim
OK for the small nest that works.
I have seen nests about 8 inches across with 2 3 hundred wasps. could get messy
Jay,
I have yet to see a wasp nest down here much bigger than my hand. Up north, they were common. On Saturday, I sprayed a fist size wasp nest in my new barn with a quick shot of PB Blaster. There were about 20 wasps that dropped from that hive.
Jim
This reminds me of one Christmas. Bought a tree and took it home. Grabbed a 5gal bucket of water that sits outside catching rainwater and just stuck the tree in that. Worked out well till about 3 days later the house was plumb full of skeeters everywhere!!! Biting us, chewin on us, suckin us dry!! Took us the longest time to figure out that the larva were in the bucket I'd brought in from outside!!
Vinegar will help take the itch away. does not work much for bee stings
no barns down here. on the gables of homes, easily one foot across.
in Texas saw one at least 3 feet across.