Wildlife and Gardens - Part 7
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- Marge_Talt
- Minnie
- Marge_Talt
- Minnie
- Marge_Talt
- Minnie
- Marge_Talt
- Minnie
- Marge_Talt
- Minnie
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» Marge_Talt - Re: About Yellowjackets
In response to message posted by Minnie:Minnie,
If they're in an open container of some kind, it wouldn't hurt for you to wear some protective clothing to deal with the nest as they could come exploding out of it. They could easily be a type of wasp, if you actually saw a nest and it's in a container. Yellow jackets are basically ground dwellers, tho' when I was a child, my cousins and I were playing in an old buckboard on my Aunt's farm and, for some reason - obscure now - lifted the seat and unearthed a nest of them. I was the only one who ran...and I was the only one who got stung - the entire nest took out after me!
Get a board or something you can cover the opening of the container with - spray, slam down the cover and skeedaddle for a bit, then go lift the cover and spray again, etc. Make sure you've gotten them all..
Best of luck there!
-- posted by Marge_Talt
» Minnie - Re: Re: About Yellowjackets
In response to message posted by Marge_Talt:Marge,
I've been reading the labels of some sprays. Ortho seems to have the best because it says that they die on contact and that any returning to the hive will also die. One even kills ants also. All look pretty toxic to animals so I'm still looking at different brands.
Several say that you can spray up to 20 feet away, but I don't want to spray too big an area because I will throw away anything with spray on it, or wash it down extra good once everything looks harmless.
A friend says that they are probably wasps. They built their nest inside a faucet insulation cover. I think I'll buy some wedding netting and wear that over my head as well as full garb of gloves and etc.
That must have been really scary for you to have the whole nest chasing after you. I can't imagine any children not running away when a swarm of anything comes flying out.
You are right! I won't take any chances and will spray them a couple consecutive days and make sure that there isn't any activity at all before dumping it in the garbage.
-- posted by Minnie
» Marge_Talt - Re: About Yellowjackets
In response to message posted by Minnie:Yup....that nest of yellow jackets encountered as a child sent me into panic mode:-) I remember being absolutely miserable for the rest of the day and night. In those days, about the only remedy was baking soda plaster...and that didn't do much to take the sting away, as I recall. I was about 8 or so at the time. I can still recall the incident clearly and that was about 50 years ago...has stayed in my memory:-)
Any of those wasp sprays are going to be pretty toxic to other insects..and goodness knows what else. I don't llike to use them and only when, like you, I end up with a nest in a spot that is actually dangerous.
If they built inside a faucet insulator cover, I am pretty certain they must be some type of wasp.
Wasps can be aggressive, too. Some are and some aren't, but in your case, I don't see how you can function in their vacinity without them getting aggressive.
One year, we had a nest of a very interesting white faced wasp or hornet in a cavity in the stone facing on the bottom part of our house. I happened to be building the bed next to that part of the house and noticed them watching me. I watched them...they watched me and I was very careful to not make any sudden movements when I had to be near their particular stone...but we left each other in peace:-)
If they are located in as small an area as I am visualizing, I should think you would only need to be able to direct the spray up (or down) into the place they are entering and leaving from..should penetrate into the nest there and you would not need to spray a wide area at all.
If the Ortho brand has some residual effect, sounds like it would be a good one for this type of situation, since you shouldn't have to spray a wide area with it.
If you wait until after dark, when they should all be in the nest, and that spray is fast acting, it is unlikely that they will fly out and try to sting you...but I think being prepared is better than being stung, so do think some kind of protective get up is a good idea and the netting is excellent - If you have a wide-brimmed hat, you can drape it over the brim and secure it under your shirt - will keep them out of your face and hair, should they start buzzing around...and the hat brim will keep the net off your face.
Although it's probably as hot and sticky where you are as where I am, a thickish sort of long sleeve jacket might be a good idea...if they are wasps or hornets, their stinger can go through a thin shirt with no problem.
Best of luck there...let me know what happens!
-- posted by Marge_Talt
» Minnie - About the wasps or hornets
In response to message posted by Marge_Talt:Hi Marge,
That would be very hard for an eight-year old! I can imagine that you have been very leary ever since.
After contemplating the toxicity of the spray, I've decided to figure out a way to hang the nest from under my deck. My dog has spent several trips to the Vet due to skin allergies and I don't want to take any chances.
I really hate to kill anything unless absolutely essential and I figure it's worth the risk if I can just find a way to drop something down through the spaces in the deck boards that can grab the hive and then lift it up. Sort of like a hanging plant.
I thought of putting it elsewhere in the yard, but that just wouldn't be as safe for the dogs or kids.
Only one chased me to the middle of the yard and I'm hoping that I can just put netting and thick clothing on when I try to move the hive. Still haven't figured out the exact system, but will probably use a type of pulley and just raise it from my second-story deck.
The wasps only attacked when I actually moved their hive quite a lot. Even though I was walking past their hive almost every day, they didn't bother me before.
Now my only challenge is figuring how to grab the hive and move it slowly. 
Thanks for the wishes of luck. I'll try to get back here and let you know what happens.
-- posted by Minnie
» Marge_Talt - Re: About the wasps or hornets
In response to message posted by Minnie:Brave you, Minnie! What does the hive look like? Have you been able to get a good look at the wasps? Wonder if we could try to ID them and find out just what they are.
If they were that tolerant of you, then they could be a type that aren't all that agressive.
I had thought they were inside the hose bib, but it sounds like the hive is somewhere you can easily get to it. Looks like you've set yourself a challenge and I will be most interested in finding out what happens here!
-- posted by Marge_Talt
» Minnie - Re: Re: About the wasps or hornets
In response to message posted by Marge_Talt:Marge, I finally moved the hive tonight. The hive looked papery and offwhite in color. The wasps seem to look small and black. I didn't really get a good look at them.
I was fortunate that they built their hive inside a faucet insulation cover so I just lifted it up and placed it in its new temporary home which is an empty planter with drainage hole.
-- posted by Minnie
» Marge_Talt - Re: About the wasps or hornets
In response to message posted by Minnie:Good for you, Minnie! Seems you came through unscathed.
If they are black and the nest is papery, they are very likely the black paper wasp, Polistes fuscatus. Found a nice page of info. about Paper Wasps and Hornets that may be of interest to you.
It was very good of you to save and move that nest as these wasps are beneficials, preying on catepillars and other insects. From what I have found on the web, they are not aggressive except when the nest is disturbed. Hope that planter is out of the way of traffic!
-- posted by Marge_Talt
» Minnie - Re: Re: About the wasps or hornets
In response to message posted by Marge_Talt:Thanks for the links, Marge. After reading the article, I think that it looked like the bald-faced hornet pictured.
I really don't have a good place in my yard to put the nest. Right now, it's up where children or dogs can't reach it, but is very close to a pathway. I'm not sure whether I should take a chance on using the back door at this point.
I have it suspended from our deck and I really don't want to test how close I can get without disturbing it. At least it's movable if I ever figure a better place for it.
Marge, thanks for all your help. I do feel good that it didn't have to be destroyed.
-- posted by Minnie
» Marge_Talt - Re: About the wasps or hornets
In response to message posted by Minnie:Hmmm, Minnie, I'm pretty sure the baldfaced hornet is the one that was nesting in the stone wall that I mentioned in an earlier post. Those guys just watched me and I watched them..got within say 3' of them without triggering any attack. Odd sensation, being watched by a handful of wasps:-)
You might slowly open the back door and see if it gets a reaction...test it. But be careful!!
You're most welcome...glad if I could help. And, I'm also glad you didn't have to destroy the nest.
-- posted by Marge_Talt
» Minnie - Re: Re: About the wasps or hornets
In response to message posted by Marge_Talt:Marge, I watched the nest from a distance today. It swings in the wind, so I'm not sure if the hornets are edgy or not. I usually encounter quite a number of different buzzing critters in my garden and we get along fine. Of course, I haven't overturned their nests or hives.
That would seem weird being watched by some wasps. I'm glad that you saw their nest and knew what to do.
A few nights ago, I turned on the back light and a lot of yellowjackets buzzed around it. I wonder if there might be a second hive or nest closeby.
I could wear complete protection and walk out the back door without any chance of getting stung. I don't want to chance any of the wasps or hornets getting into the house since my dog seems highly allergic to a lot of things.
Maybe I could just unlock the back door and open it just a crack from the outside if I get that far. Then I could close it real quickly if they start swarming towards me.
This is certainly a learning experience. If I don't destroy the nest or hornets and wasps this year, I will need to figure a plan of action so that we can stay out of each other's way in the future.
-- posted by Minnie
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