European Hornets in Garage

[scaredbee]

I'm no Beekeeper, but I have been becoming one.  I am having to deal more and more with Bees and Hornets as the summers seem  to get hotter and hotter.  Every time i try and do some work outside it seems European Hornets seem to ruin it for me.  I have had to postpone work on my Garage because Hornets, European about 2 inches long, no there not cicada killers, seem to like attacking me. Last attack was a nip on my neck, I ran like hell couldn't have it.  My neighbors were watching and laughing.  My neighbors like watching me and getting a laugh. Not sure if there in a tree though, I can't find a nest.  I believe there is a nest in my garage.  In the walls or in the garage itself.  Not sure how to find the nest. I've looked around the trees in my yard but I can't find a nest, I know they make there nests inside of trees usually.  I sealed off the entrances, I think where they may be entering and sprayed drion powder inside the cracks and crevices of my garage.  So, now it is wait and see, I guess.  I don't think i have been stung by a large Hornet before, but I don't want to find out.  My neighbors must think I am crazy and I know they get a laugh, because I bought a Bee suit.  Yea, a Bee suit.  He! He!  I only use it to spray the insecticides, because I know they don't like it, and they get pretty darn mad when I use it.  I had European Hornets in my house structure once, and I guess they didn't like the noise I was making inside the house, every time i walked outside one Hornet would always attack me, and I mean it would fly up and down my back and it gave me the Willys, so I went on a Hornet offensive and found where it was hanging around at.  I had to go inside my Attic  and spray wasp killer through the inside of my attic where I could get access to the eaves.  A bunch of wasps started buzzing around.  I sprayed for several days; the Hornet made one last heroic flight to try and sting me but I ran like a bunny rabbit with Elmer Fudd on my ass.  I never saw it after that.  I did find a bunch of Wasp nests in the eave, never could find the Hornet nest.  I was glad i wasn't bothered with the Hornet again.  Well, I joined this forum to learn more about bees and hornets so I can more easily deal with them.  I heard Hornets leave in September or die off, if this is the case with the warmer weather will they still be around it is like 90 degrees here in the mid west and it is September. It cools down at night but the days have been around 90 degrees.  I've been kind of waiting for a cold snap, but it hasn't happened yet. It should be 60 degrees at least.

[AllenF]

Have you tried to set any traps yet?

[scaredbee]

I put out a couple of traps.  One was homemade, gallon water bottle with sugar water, didn't catch anything but flies and ants, the other was a store bought one, with vinegar, I added some sugar water, caught some moths.  I think there is a nest inside the walls of my garage, or the eaves.  I sealed all the places where I think they could get access.  There could be a nest inside my garage, but I don't think so.  I haven't seen any hornets inside the garage, they only fly around the outside of the garage.  that is where I work at, and I guess they don't like the noise or the sprays. I haven't been working on the garage since they last took swipes at me, but I have sealed the places where I think they may have gotten in.  I also sprayed drion dust inside the cracks and crevices.  So I'll find out again this week if there still out there waiting for me.  I have never seen Hornets in this area before until around 5 years ago when they started becoming a nuisance.

[Culley]

Sorry to hear of your problem. I remember fitting a ventilation pipe on a roof once we disturbed a nest of wasps in a mango tree. It felt like electric shocks and my heart rate went up quickly. I had to sit down after getting out of range.

I suggest to look up the life cycles of the Hornets you have in your area, where they nest etc. Maybe ask old timers about how to deal with it.
Find the nest. Good luck.

[Scadsobees]

Keep in mind that this is a forum of beekeepers - keeping honeybees alive, not killing wasps!  So extermination advice, while available from some members, is very much ancillary to the keeping of honeybees.  So while you may learn a little about wasp, you are more likely to learn a WHOLE LOT about honeybees!

It is to the point for me where I don't consider wasps and family vespa to be bees.  They're wasps, not bees!! :-D

As to your wasp problem, sounds like you've done most of what can be done.  The only thing that I can think of is that stinging insects don't usually attack, if they are attacking it is because they are defending their home, which will be nearby.  I've never been bothered by a wasp where I didn't bother them first.  Maybe you aren't looking close enough to where you are being attacked. 
Also, the fall is the worst because the populations are at their highest, as well as brood rearing shut down, so now these wasps, yellowjackets don't have anything to do besides look for a few sips of sweetness before they die. 

I find if I ignore them they don't bother me, but if I get all worried about them and try to swat or kill them, then they are a lot worse.  I've had an awful lot of yellowjackets buzzing me lately, and I just try to gently shoosh them away from my face and then they leave.

Rick

[scaredbee]

I kind of figured I would get that response since this is a beekeepers forum.  I'm finding out more and more that I am in fact becoming a beekeeper.  I don't have bee hives around in little boxes, but I do have them.  Hornets, Bees and other types.  I don't like killing any type of bee or Hornet or wasp.  But I do find them interesting and they can be a nuisance around the house.  I think the weather patterns are doing something to the bees and hornets or wasp population.  I think something weird is going on, but by limiting yourself to only bees, I think you are missing something.  After all Bees are only part of out eco system.  So maybe you could learn a little yourself.

[AliciaH]

One of the reasons beekeepers hate hornets/yellow jackets is they can be bad for our hives.  While providing a small amount of hygenic housecleaning by dismembering and removing any dead bees from the front of a hive (which I personally find useful), the flip side is they can take over a weak hive (not useful).  Maybe "take over" is a strong word, but I've seen live honey bees pulled from their hive, taken apart, and carried away in pieces.  Ditto for larvae.

They are meat eaters, which is why you find them at your picnics.  You might try baiting your traps with a piece of meat and placing the trap away from your house (or downwind, at least).  I've done that with some success in areas around my apiary when the yellow jackets start getting too aggressive.  Yes, I've trapped other things, too, but I did get yellow jackets, as well.

I don't think anybody on this forum will argue that hornets/yellow jackets/wasps can be beneficial to gardening.  They remove pests from the soil and the plants. It's only when they get overly aggressive about it that, like you, we have to track down where they come from.

Respectfully, however, hornets/yellow jackets/wasps, though they have a place in this world, are not the first loves of the majority here, hence the forum name, "BEEMASTER.COM" and not "flyinginsectsthatbiteandsting.com".

I hope you find where they are coming from, it's never fun to be afraid to walk around your own house.  And as for acquiring a bee suit, if it keeps you from getting stung when you face those little buggers off, then it's a good investment!  Consider the entertainment factor for the nieghbors a bonus!

Good luck!

[Tommyt]

Well
You got the suit all you need now is a smoker Hive and a Package of bees and your IN  :-D

Then you can come here and really raise Hell about the dam Wasp's
You said shop look around and find Plans and you can make your own Hive box's over the winter
Welcome too BeeMaster


Tommyt

[HomeBru]

What rick is trying to get at is it's not appropriate to lump honeybees in with all stinging insects. Doing so gets beekeepers a bit riled up!

If you want to find the nest, go out with a chair and sit a safe distance from the garage and watch, especially in the late afternoon as it starts to cool down. You will start to see the hornets/wasps moving into, out of, and around their home. Eventually, you should be able to locate the source of the action and respond accordingly. Don't forget to watch the ground, where your framing meets the foundation, and at the edge of any patio, driveway, or sidewalk!

J-

[scaredbee]

Yea, Thanks!  No I don't intend to disrupt your forum, but Hey, I have been wondering what all this Beekeeper stuff is and how it relates to other flying, stinging insects or Wasps and Hornets as I call them.  I really do hate killing anything, I do usually get Honeybees in and around my house structures.  Not only wasps and hornets, but bees also.  What I have been noticing is that there is not much information on this subject with most people.  Including me.  I am learning.  your advice so far has been very helpful.  My area does not have very many beekeepers here, there use to be a person who did it, but I think they quit.  The exterminators in this area do not deal with this problem, I have talked to them, and they don't have any answers either.  So I have had to wing it on my own.  I haven't seen any Hornets lately, I was working earlier on the garage and no Hornet attack.  I think they have pretty much died out, but it's hot here, 90 degree and I would have thought that the wasps and hornets would still be nesting, or I would thing they may be fooled into thinking that it's spring and not going on fall.  But, so far no problems, I have sealed up all entrances and did what I could, and so far no Buzzing 2 inch long European Hornets Buzzing around my head every time I cough or make a sound.  I live in Southern Illinois if anyone is interested.  The Bee Suit is O.K.  I think it's kind of cool.  It will come in handy again.  I'll think about the Beekeeping thing.  I live in town, so my neighbors may not like it.  I'll keep it in mind.  I'll be ready next year!

[Scadsobees]

No problem scaredbee, I wasn't trying to reprimand or anything, just making things clear.  You wouldn't beleive how many people hear that I'm a beekeeper and say they have beehive that I can come get, and then they go on to describe a white round thing about 6 inches across under their deck... :roll:  In the fall I usually get several calls about bees, but they are almost always yellowjackets.

I do find wasps and all other type of insects fascinating (I've got a bit of a reputation in my circle of influence!), but do really hate wasps and yellow jackets.  Most of the time they don't bother me, but they do sometime cause problems w/ith honeybees, and build nests all over the house.   Several years ago I had a hidden baldface hornet nest in the area, and they didn't bother me, but I enjoyed watching them hunt for cabbage worms in my garden.

I've read about those giant european wasps and while they sound really neat and they'd be cool in a bug collection, I'd rather not have them around and attacking me....

Only a few weeks till frost anyway :roll:

[scaredbee]

Just thought i would comment on the Yellow Jacket thing.  I mentioned earlier about honey bees and wasps.  I have noticed some Honey Bee nests around my home, but I also have yellow jackets.  Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. I see the honey bee as a bit fatter and shorter than the yellow jacket.  The yellow jacket looks a little longer and skinnier with less noticeable hair.  Is that correct, and do Yellow Jackets produce Honey, I guess not, that is why a Honey Bee is a Honey bee and a Yellow Jacket is a Yellow Jacket.  Just wondering, that way I know for sure if I am killing a Honey Bee nest or a Yellow Jacket nest. I'll try not to destroy the Honey Bee Population.  And I don't understand why there are so many Hornets of the European variety in my area, I don't live in the country, you would think European Hornets would be more isolated to the country than town.  Thanks!

[AllenF]

Yellow jackets are not bees at all.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_jacket   They are wasps.   Killers, not producers. 
Yellowjackets have sometimes been mistakenly called "bees", but they are actually in the wasp family. A typical yellowjacket worker is about 12 mm (0.5 in) long, with alternating bands on the abdomen while the queen is larger, about 19 mm (0.75 in) long (the different patterns on the abdomen help separate various species). Workers are sometimes confused with honey bees, especially when flying in and out of their nests. Yellowjackets, in contrast to honey bees, are not covered with tan-brown dense hair on their bodies and lack the flattened hairy hind legs used to carry pollen. They have a lance-like stinger with small barbs and typically sting repeatedly,[1] though occasionally the stinger becomes lodged and pulls free of the wasp's body; the venom, like most bee/wasp venoms, is primarily only dangerous to those who are allergic, unless a victim receives a large number of stings (main article: Bee sting). All species have yellow or white on the face. Mouthparts are well-developed with strong jaws called mandibles for capturing and chewing insects.