Lots of Hornets - Robbing? Killing?

Tucker1 · August 25, 2009, 01:58:03 AM

This afternoon a found about 30 hornets moving into or out of one of my hives. They had also attacked/killed some of my bees at the entrance way. I spent the next 30 minutes killing them with a flat stick. I'm sure that they will be back tomorrow.

Any suggestions ?

(I was thinking about closing off the entrance way to prevent their getting into the hive. It's still quite warm here, so I might use nylon screening to keep them out and let air flow into the hive.)

Are they going in the hive for the honey, larva, bees or all three?

Regards,
Tucker1

RayMarler · August 25, 2009, 02:57:36 AM

I've heard it said that in the summer and early fall they are after meat and protein more than sweets, for feeding the young in the nest.

I've heard it said that taking some life-line flea / tick treatment for cats and dogs and drop a couple drops in a small can of cat food or tuna fish and set it in a cage or out in a place where the domestic cats and other animals can not get to it. They will take the meat back to the nest and feed the young and it will kill off the whole nest without having to find it to manually destroy it.

I've not tried this myself but it 'sounds' like one of the best ideas to me for getting rid of them.

beecanbee · August 25, 2009, 03:24:58 AM

Quote from: Tucker1 on August 25, 2009, 01:58:03 AM
I was thinking about closing off the entrance way to prevent their getting into the hive. It's still quite warm here, so I might use nylon screening to keep them out and let air flow into the hive.

If you have a screen that allows your bees to pass thru - but not the hornets, that would be best. Closing the hive entrance a bit would not be necessary if a net keeps them away.

The suggestion to bait them with catfood or any other meat is a good one too.

Otherwise - I would be trying a trap or two - maybe in association with the bait.

RayMarler · August 25, 2009, 04:09:47 AM

You can also make up a robber screen out of 1/8" hardware cloth and some trim boards. Make it so the bees have to climb up the screen 6" or so to exit, and have to climb down that same amount to enter. I've heard on other posts that the bees will climb up and over, but the hornets/yellow jackets won't, so won't be getting into the hive. This might be the quickest way to keep them out, in conjunction with other longer term measures might be good.

Tucker1 · August 25, 2009, 07:45:10 PM

I tried the can of cat food with the flea and tick poison. Wow, the darn hornets almost knocked me down getting at the cat food. I was really surprised how quickly it attracted them. I had a good 5 hornets eating out of the can before I could even place it. If nothing else, it will certainly draw their attention away from the hive. Great Idea. Hornets sure like cat food !!!

Kathyp · August 25, 2009, 07:51:10 PM

you can take a milk carton, put your cat food in the bottom with a little water, and make a cone (like a trap out cone) in the top of the carton. the nasties will go in, but can't seem to get out. the will either die or drown in the bottom of the carton.

it's cheep, effective, and reusable :-)

i prefer the smaller plastic milk jugs.

Tucker1 · August 26, 2009, 05:28:40 PM

Well, I went back this morning to check how things were doing. The can of cat food with poison was completely empty, with hornets still near by. The situation with the hive isn't much better. Lots of hornets trying to find a way into the hive(s) The hornets are really making an effort to get into the original hive. Plus, they've expanded their invasion to another hive close by. All my hive entrances are now completely blocked with nylon screening. I've followed your suggestions and: Added three hornet traps as proposed. I've also replaced the empty can of cat food, with another full can that also has poison.

I'm going to keep the hives closed off for three days, hoping that the hornets will both lose interest and also be killed or trapped off.

Kathyp · August 26, 2009, 05:33:52 PM

make sure your traps are way away from your hive.

beecanbee · August 26, 2009, 08:59:34 PM

In the pest control section of your hardware store – do they sell sticky paper rat traps? If they do, place some cat food in the center of it – and the hornets will get stuck to the trap as they land to feed. They will get angry, and their attack pheromones will attract more – till you have a full sticky mess of hornets. Do this away from your hives and where birds will not get stuck coming after the hornets. (I place mine under large opening chicken wire.)

Cindi · August 27, 2009, 10:57:26 AM

Last year we had pretty much no wasps, paper wasps, bald faced hornets, nothing of that sort. The summer was so cool, I think it interrupted their life cycle. But this year, holy smokin' cadoodalhoppers!!! I have never seen a barage of these predators in my lifetime.

I was watching my only bee colony (yep, never built them up again after losing 8 last winter), and the were wasps entering. This is a very strong colony, but they were no match for these horrible insects. I was now on my yearly wasp kill agenda. I placed my wasp traps everywhere around the apiary, the apiary is surrounded by 8 foot livestock wire and there is lots of places to hang things. I placed within diluted beer, some banana peels. For over a week I was emptying these traps with hundreds upon hundreds of these predators dead. I would strain off the liquid and then put it back in the traps, very ripe, smiling. I now have the numbers of these critters down to what I would almost call nothing.

I thought that my colony would have been completely devastated of larvae. I did a thorough inspection, and because the colony was so strong, I presume that they managed to fend of the attackers to such a degree that there was no collapse of the colony. Thanking my lucky stars for this. I think that I must have caught the inevitable damage before it was inevitably damaged, smiling. I never in my wildest dreams would have thought there were so many of these nasties in the air, it was shocking beyond shocking could be.

The colony had masses of brood: in all stages and capped. Things are just fine in there. I have saved the dead carcasses of all the aforementioned types of insects, and there is quite a big bag of them. When all is said and done, I will bring on a picture. They are resting in the freezer until I finish the complete kill down.

I like the method that Ray speaks about. I wish that I would have read this post before, but just haven't had the time to get on our forum much this summer, that will change. School is starting in another week, the summertime will be mostly gone, and routines will be again set. I love routine, smiling. Have a most wonderful day, to love and live our great lives, with the best of health. Cindi

Tucker1 · August 28, 2009, 01:39:53 AM

Well, I check my hives this afternoon. Things are getting a little better. The number of hornets has dropped by 80%. The traps have lots of hornets in them. I wonder how long I need to keep the girls locked up. This issue with the hornets came on very quickly. Hopefully, it will end just as quickly.

Regards,
Tucker1

TwT · August 28, 2009, 08:47:24 AM

i would open them up but use a entrance reducer,

Tucker1 · August 30, 2009, 11:00:38 PM

I THINK the hornet attack is over.......at least, that's what it appears like. I opened up my hives little bit to let the girls move about and stretch their wings. I'll check again tomorrow morning. I certainly captured/killed a lot of hornets in the process. Next year I'll be a bit more prepared. I was suprised at the extent of their attack. Thanks for all the advance and guidance. It's just one of the many benefits of being a member of the forum.

Regards,
Tucker1

Kathyp · August 30, 2009, 11:13:11 PM

had the same happen today when i put syrup on the hives. not so many yellowjackets, but they got the bees riled up and i had to stay clear all day. the bees will fight them off, but for the first few days, there will be plenty of ticked off honeybees in the air.