yellow jackets...

filmmlif · November 21, 2005, 11:46:42 AM

hey folks, i have yellow jackets problem in my beeyard...any suggestions?

leominsterbeeman · November 21, 2005, 01:21:57 PM

Well, if you don't like Yellow Jackets. You can dye the jackets a different color. Some people just don't look good in yellow. Try red.

No, seriously. Some peoplewitl talk about hte benefits of yellow jackets, I would not be one of them, having been stung a number of timesthis summer by them around my house. To get rid of them, wait until sundown and then spray them with a wasp/hornet killer.

Michael Bush · November 21, 2005, 11:43:17 PM

Traps. Take a 2 litre bottle and put some vinegar, sugar and banana peel in it and let it ferment. cut a small opening in the side and put it near where you think the yellow jackets hang out.

qa33010 · November 23, 2005, 05:23:45 AM

All in even proportions (1 cup each) except for the banana peel (1 whole banana peel). I just replaced my third set and they work great. I had some black bees get in the second set then they stopped.

Yellow Jackets, moths, beetles, blue and green tail flies all entered and died a fitting death!

David

imabkpr · November 23, 2005, 05:33:07 AM

Quote from: Michael BushTraps. Take a 2 litre bottle and put some vinegar, sugar and banana peel in it and let it ferment. cut a small opening in the side and put it near where you think the yellow jackets hang out.

Thats apple cider vinegar, not white vinegar. cef

Michael Bush · November 23, 2005, 08:28:17 AM

As long as you put the sugar and banana in any vinegar will do, but I buy apple cider on a matter of principle and it will probably work slightly better too. :)

KingBeeApiary · November 23, 2005, 11:02:39 PM

This sounds great but don't you lose some honey bees as well?

qa33010 · November 24, 2005, 04:53:15 AM

Like I posted above...I had some bees, not mine, that went in only one bottle of the three I had out. They did stop coming in the traps and they are still around since I see them around the yard. Just can't find their home.

I have the traps clustered together because where they are is like a flying insect crossroads in my back yard. The other reason is I have no other 'secure' place to hang them. I started with one as an experiment and had to add two more the next day.

Anyway the bees that entered the one trap were black bees. Everyone else in the area has bees that are black AND yellow. I tried to help them out...but as soon as they got out they went right back in...wierd. The point is that all the bottles were the same, Sprite, and I made a triple batch as usual and my daughter and I ate three bananas between the two of us. I also use white vinegar, but will use apple cider vinegar when available.

Michael Bush · November 24, 2005, 12:51:55 PM

>This sounds great but don't you lose some honey bees as well?

That's the reason for the banana and vinegar. The bees show no interest.

Apis629 · November 24, 2005, 02:29:22 PM

I've also heard of using a beer bottle and filling it to about 1 inch from the neck with sugar and water. Only 1 or 2 tablespoons of sugar should be used and supposedly, teh sugar concentration is too low for honeybees to show any interest but wasps and hornets will try to feed from it and drown.