When I was inspecting one of my hives today, I noticed yellow jackets coming and going from a hole in the ground about a yard behind my hives. They weren't bothersome, since the weather is nice and warm and there is plenty of prey for them to find, but I imagine they will become trouble once fall hits. Since the nest is in my apiary, right next to my hives, I'm not really comfortable using a hard chemical insecticide on the entrance, as my bees are right there. How can I destroy the nest in a way that is safe for the bees?
Wait until dark and pour some gas in the hole. That will do it. By waiting until dark you will get almost all of them and you shouldn't get stung if you make it snappy...
Phillip
Two things you can do, place a shop vac at the entrance at night if you're worried about getting stung. Then plug it in the following morning. Or if you have a large clear salad bowl place it over the entrance.
I would just pour a bottle of alcohol down the hole and hope for the best. I had a nest build in the roof of an empty warre hive and admit to being a coward and just left them till it froze and then destroyed it. I did not really see them effect my hives in a bad way. I have lots of empty equipment as well as traps that the red (wolf wasp?) build in and they do post themselves at the hive entrances and grab at or grab bees. I am talking so many wasp that I could be raising them as aggressively as I am raising bees. I have took many of them out on days when they all gather on the front porch to sun with a spray bottle of just dish soap and water but mostly just let them be until I need a box.. I do not think this poisons them but more that the soap sticks to them and drowns them. Then it dries and causes not harm. The soap is not quite as quick as gas in taking them down but is not too bad if you get them good.
Hope this helps more then hurts.
Cheers
gww
Quote from: Ben Framed on July 08, 2022, 04:22:06 PM
Wait until dark and pour some gas in the hole. That will do it. By waiting until dark you will get almost all of them and you shouldn't get stung if you make it snappy...
Phillip
How about something cheaper than gas? :wink:
Quote from: beesnweeds on July 08, 2022, 04:31:27 PM
Two things you can do, place a shop vac at the entrance at night if you're worried about getting stung. Then plug it in the following morning. Or if you have a large clear salad bowl place it over the entrance.
I'd have to run a long extension cord, but that could work. I guess the question is, how big is the nest, and does my shop vac have a strong enough suction? The bowl is a good idea too, but I'd have to be sure the dogs didn't mess with it.
Quote from: gww on July 08, 2022, 04:33:53 PM
I would just pour a bottle of alcohol down the hole and hope for the best. I had a nest build in the roof of an empty warre hive and admit to being a coward and just left them till it froze and then destroyed it. I did not really see them effect my hives in a bad way. I have lots of empty equipment as well as traps that the red (wolf wasp?) build in and they do post themselves at the hive entrances and grab at or grab bees. I am talking so many wasp that I could be raising them as aggressively as I am raising bees. I have took many of them out on days when they all gather on the front porch to sun with a spray bottle of just dish soap and water but mostly just let them be until I need a box.. I do not think this poisons them but more that the soap sticks to them and drowns them. Then it dries and causes not harm. The soap is not quite as quick as gas in taking them down but is not too bad if you get them good.
Hope this helps more then hurts.
Cheers
gww
What kind of alcohol? Grain or isopropyl? Our soil is mostly clay, I wonder if I doused them in boiling water and/or soapy water if that would do it. The liquid would just have to not percolate down through the soil too quickly. I don't usually have too much trouble with yellow jackets, and I wouldn't mind them so much if they weren't right where I'm working. Not only am I worried about them harassing the bees in the fall, I'm worried about them harassing me. It's hard enough to inspect during robbing season with being attacked by yellow jackets too.
Quote from: Ben Framed on Today at 04:22:06 pm
Wait until dark and pour some gas in the hole. That will do it. By waiting until dark you will get almost all of them and you shouldn't get stung if you make it snappy...
Phillip
Quote from: The15thMember on: Today at 04:41:06 pm
How about something cheaper than gas? :wink:
I hear you loud and clear, as well as feeling the PAIN!! lol :oops: :cheesy: :wink:
But really, you will find nothing better than gas for underground yellow jackets. The jackets will fold dead on contact and any who may escape contact can not escape the fumes. When they try they walk straight into the wet area and are done, kaput, grave yard dead! :shocked: :grin:
Phillip
Quote from: Ben Framed on July 08, 2022, 04:47:11 PM
I hear you loud and clear as well as feeling the PAIN!! lol :cheesy: :wink:
But really, you will find nothing better than gas for underground yellow jackets. The jackets will fold dead on contact and any who may escape contact can not escape the fumes. When they try they walk straight into the wet area and are done, kaput, grave yard dead! :shocked: :grin:
Phillip
Oh, I see, that makes sense. Well, maybe I'll try something else first, and if it doesn't work then I'll go for the gas. I'm willing to risk a few stings to see if I can spare myself the pain of pouring a liquid that is $4.50/gal. down a hole in the ground. :wink: :cheesy:
I would think isopropyl. I also think the fumes kill. I am pretty sure I have heard randy oliver mention this method for taking out hives but then again, my memory is not perfect. I am thinking but don't know that one bottle should be way more then enough. I have not tried this though.
Cheers
gww
Quote from: The15thMember on July 08, 2022, 04:52:14 PM
Quote from: Ben Framed on July 08, 2022, 04:47:11 PM
I hear you loud and clear as well as feeling the PAIN!! lol :cheesy: :wink:
But really, you will find nothing better than gas for underground yellow jackets. The jackets will fold dead on contact and any who may escape contact can not escape the fumes. When they try they walk straight into the wet area and are done, kaput, grave yard dead! :shocked: :grin:
Phillip
Oh, I see, that makes sense. Well, maybe I'll try something else first, and if it doesn't work then I'll go for the gas. I'm willing to risk a few stings to see if I can spare myself the pain of pouring a liquid that is $4.50/gal. down a hole in the ground. :wink: :cheesy:
You will not need a gallon, no more than a pint... divide 4.50 x 8 and you will pay 51 cents.
Phillip
Quote from: Ben Framed on July 08, 2022, 04:58:22 PM
You will not need a gallon, no more than a pint... divide 4.50 x 8 and you get will pay 51 cents.
Phillip
That actually makes it cheaper than isopropyl, which is all the way up to like $3 a pint. But still not as cheap as soapy water, or the shop vac for that matter. I have my misgivings about the shop vac, it just seems like a situation that could go wildly awry. I think I'll try the soapy water first, and if that doesn't do it, then I'll go to plans B or C.
Thanks for all the help everyone. Those were some of the quickest answers I've ever gotten on a thread! :grin:
Quote from: The15thMember on July 08, 2022, 05:04:21 PM
Quote from: Ben Framed on July 08, 2022, 04:58:22 PM
You will not need a gallon, no more than a pint... divide 4.50 x 8 and you get will pay 51 cents.
Phillip
That actually makes it cheaper than isopropyl, which is all the way up to like $3 a pint. But still not as cheap as soapy water, or the shop vac for that matter. I have my misgivings about the shop vac, it just seems like a situation that could go wildly awry. I think I'll try the soapy water first, and if that doesn't do it, then I'll go to plans B or C.
Thanks for all the help everyone. Those were some of the quickest answers I've ever gotten on a thread! :grin:
Too keep you from getting stung and killing all the YJ. I will gladly mail the 51 cents to you . :shocked: :wink: lol J/K. There is a good chance the soapy water will work if you fill the hole completely.
Phillip
I would be interested in the end result.
Cheers
gww
Quote from: Ben Framed on July 08, 2022, 05:14:45 PM
Too keep you from getting stung and killing all the YJ. I will gladly mail the 51 cents to you . :shocked: :wink: lol J/K. There is a good chance the soapy water will work if you fill the hole completely.
Phillip
:cheesy: That's what I'm thinking. If it do it after dark, I should be able to get most of them, in theory anyway.
Quote from: gww on July 08, 2022, 05:15:46 PM
I would be interested in the end result.
Cheers
gww
I'll be sure to let you know how it goes.
I believe it will work out for you just fine. I have 'also' used soapy water for wasp, mixed in an empty spray bottle to hit them. It does work but not as fast as I would like, in this situation speed is not a necessity. If you have watched the documentary about killer bees featuring the famous killer bee exterminator team in Bisbee Az. You will see they use high volume soapy water for exterminating, (Africanized), killer bees..
Phillip
Pour a little chlorine bleach in the hole and then a little ammonia, if you need to get serious, then get back, for several reasons.
Quote from: paus on July 08, 2022, 05:53:37 PM
Pour a little chlorine bleach in the hole and then a little ammonia, if you need to get serious, then get back, for several reasons.
Yeah, that would do it alright. :oops: I doubt it would come to trying something so risky. We'll call that like plan V. :wink:
Member,
Just use a cup of gas then cover the hole to make it air tight. This causes the fumes to fill the entire nest. Leave it there until morning. They will all bee dead.
Jim Altmiller
I do the same thing with a 12 foot wasp killer spray can. I toss a marker next to the hole, then after dark walk up, put the can 12 inches from the hole. Blast the shot spray down the hole, put the brick in my other hand over the hole, and walk away.
What's the chance the honey bees will later fly down to that one small 4 inch patch of grass? Almost nil.
Take a piece of #8 hardware cloth about 12"x12" and stake it down over the yellow jacket hole with long nails or whatever you have. Once you place the hardware cloth over the hole the yellow jackets can't get at you. Now get a 5 gallon bucket and fill with water and dawn soap (dish soap) and just sit there slowly pouring the soap water mixture into the hole. Have everything ready before you start because the yellowjackets will try to crawl out from under the hardware cloth but once you start pouring the soapy water it stops them. Good luck.
Quote from: beesnweeds on July 08, 2022, 04:31:27 PM
Two things you can do, place a shop vac at the entrance at night if you're worried about getting stung. Then plug it in the following morning. Or if you have a large clear salad bowl place it over the entrance.
I'd have to run a long extension cord, but that could work. I guess the question is, how big is the nest, and does my shop vac have a strong enough suction? The bowl is a good idea too, but I'd have to be sure the dogs didn't mess with it.
The idea is to place the end of the vacuum hose at the entrance of the nest and walk away. You can weigh down the end of the hose so it doesnt move. As the yellow jackets come out from being disturbed by the noise they get sucked up into the vac and die. It doesnt take long. Most vacs have plenty of suction to pull in insects. Leave it for a couple of hours and it will be all over. The salad bowl works great because the yellow jackets see light and dont try and dig out and die. Both nonchemical solutions. But hey, gasoline, mustard gas, explosives all will work too. You could pile highly radioactive waste next to the hole and place a lead box over it. That will probably work. :cheesy:
Quote from: beesnweeds on July 08, 2022, 04:31:27 PM
Two things you can do, place a shop vac at the entrance at night if you're worried about getting stung. Then plug it in the following morning. Or if you have a large clear salad bowl place it over the entrance.
I'd have to run a long extension cord, but that could work. I guess the question is, how big is the nest, and does my shop vac have a strong enough suction? The bowl is a good idea too, but I'd have to be sure the dogs didn't mess with it.
Posted by: beesnweeds<<on: Today at 11:16:30 am >> "The idea is to place the end of the vacuum hose at the entrance of the nest and walk away. You can weigh down the end of the hose so it doesnt move. As the yellow jackets come out from being disturbed by the noise they get sucked up into the vac and die. It doesnt take long. Most vacs have plenty of suction to pull in insects. Leave it for a couple of hours and it will be all over. The salad bowl works great because the yellow jackets see light and dont try and dig out and die. Both nonchemical solutions. But hey, gasoline, mustard gas, explosives all will work too. You could pile highly radioactive waste next to the hole and place a lead box over it. That will probably work." :cheesy:
Ah ha ha ha! Love it! :grin: :grin: :wink:
Philip
Quote from: Beepotato on July 10, 2022, 08:43:13 AM
Take a piece of #8 hardware cloth about 12"x12" and stake it down over the yellow jacket hole with long nails or whatever you have. Once you place the hardware cloth over the hole the yellow jackets can't get at you. Now get a 5 gallon bucket and fill with water and dawn soap (dish soap) and just sit there slowly pouring the soap water mixture into the hole. Have everything ready before you start because the yellowjackets will try to crawl out from under the hardware cloth but once you start pouring the soapy water it stops them. Good luck.
That's a great idea! I think we have some of those landscaping pins laying around, they'd probably work great for this application.
Quote from: beesnweeds on July 10, 2022, 11:16:30 AM
But hey, gasoline, mustard gas, explosives all will work too. You could pile highly radioactive waste next to the hole and place a lead box over it. That will probably work. :cheesy:
More great ideas! I'll see if I have any more radioactive waste drums in the closet! I used a couple up for a mutation experiment a couple of weeks ago, but I might have some left over. :wink: :cheesy:
>Wait until dark and pour some gas in the hole.
A tablespoon or so is plenty.
So I did the deed last night, and I'm not sure if it worked. There were still some foragers coming in and out last evening, so I know I didn't get all of them. It was pretty simple, just poured the soapy water down the hole. I tried the hardware cloth idea, but I couldn't get it nailed down well because there is leaf litter all around the entrance hole, so I just scrapped that part of the plan, and it ended up not being necessary. The incoming foragers seemed confused by the soap at the entrance, but this morning they are going in and out just the same. Now obviously the hope for this strategy is to flood the brood nest, so it's possible that it's just a matter of time until the forager base decreases. I'm going to keep an eye on them for several days, maybe hit them again tonight with another gallon of soapy water, and we'll see what happens.
Evil buggers.
Their underground nests can be quite large. You really need to soak the whole thing if you are doing the soapy water bit. It never worked for me, but we get gigantic nests here.
You might try running a hose on it on low and drizzle some dish soap in every few min. After that, cover the entrance and hope that it is the only one or that you didn't leave enough of them behind that they make a new one.
Or nuke them. :grin:
Quote from: Kathyp on July 24, 2022, 05:46:24 PM
Evil buggers.
Their underground nests can be quite large. You really need to soak the whole thing if you are doing the soapy water bit. It never worked for me, but we get gigantic nests here.
You might try running a hose on it on low and drizzle some dish soap in every few min. After that, cover the entrance and hope that it is the only one or that you didn't leave enough of them behind that they make a new one.
Based on the entrance traffic, I don't think the nest is extremely large. It's like maybe one jacket every 3 seconds. The hose is a good idea, but I'm not sure I can get the hose all the way up there. Maybe I should just do a COUPLE gallons of water. We tote gallons of water around all the time for our animals, so that might be more convenient than trying to wrangle the hose.
Quote from: Kathyp on July 24, 2022, 05:46:24 PM
Or nuke them. :grin:
Or that. :cheesy:
a clear glass or plastic jar over the entrance does the trick for me. a few days and they are starved out. cost....nothing
Well, this situation has come to a surprise conclusion. After supper, as soon as it was dusk, I went up to the yellow jacket nest armed with two more gallons of soapy water, and to my utter shock, the nest was dug up and all the yellow jackets gone or dead! :shocked: I just stood there, dumbfounded, with the gallons in my hands, speechless, my mouth agape, I couldn't understand or believe it. They were there yesterday! Based on the damage, I'm guessing it was a raccoon, which according to Justin Schmidt (of the Schmidt pain index fame, I happen to be reading his book right now) are the most common predators of yellow jackets in North America. The nest wasn't very large, somewhere between a softball and a volleyball in size. I'll inspect it in more detail tomorrow when it's light. So, I guess that's it. My advice to anyone else with this problem is to pour 1 gal. of soapy water down the hole and wait for the predators to do the rest! :wink: :cheesy:
Quote from: The15thMember on July 08, 2022, 04:02:16 PM
When I was inspecting one of my hives today, I noticed yellow jackets coming and going from a hole in the ground about a yard behind my hives. They weren't bothersome, since the weather is nice and warm and there is plenty of prey for them to find, but I imagine they will become trouble once fall hits. Since the nest is in my apiary, right next to my hives, I'm not really comfortable using a hard chemical insecticide on the entrance, as my bees are right there. How can I destroy the nest in a way that is safe for the bees?
Yet another way to avoid chemicals around bees is to use a vac as beesnweeds pointed out in an earlier post. Clear the ground hole of the yellow jackets as shown in the following video and then simple dig up the nest with no chemicals involved.
( I do not know if this guy is using a bee vac or shop vac. You can probably use a regular shop vac for this.)Phillip
https://youtube.com/shorts/yy9mIhbEHXY?feature=share
You have that can of old gas that you don't dare put in your gas tank.... it has to go somewhere.
Gas is my preferred method as well Michael, as pointed out in reply 1. I try to be aware, not letting gas get too old even in a can. But it happens.
This reminds me of some fun I had even though I did not get to see it. I had a nest of bumble bees near some hives and I had been baiting hog about 150 feet away so I left a trail of corn to the bumble nest then poured about a half gallon of corn on the entrance then I left at high speed on a golf cart. The next morning there was a hole where the nest was. Hogs have never bothered my hives.
Now that was a smart move!