underground yellow jackets don't want to die
- Thread starter stoveliker
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil. -
Super Cedar firestarters 30% discount Use code Hearth2024 Click here
brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
I found where it looks like bumble bees were going in/out of a hole in the yard the other night...didn't know that they'd live in the ground...or is it those wood boring bees? (they look the same to me) Thought about parking the mower on top the nest for a while...see if I could make "bee chopped salad"...
Bumble bees do live underground (at least some). I believe the wood boring ones do not.
Bumble bees are much less agressive than wasps, and even than honey bees.
They can sting, but very, very rarely do so. I'd leave them be. Even in the baseball area of my kids. (In fact, they are there - presumably courtesy of not using chemicals when most of my neighbors do... - , and we've never had issues with them.)
Bumble bees are much less agressive than wasps, and even than honey bees.
They can sting, but very, very rarely do so. I'd leave them be. Even in the baseball area of my kids. (In fact, they are there - presumably courtesy of not using chemicals when most of my neighbors do... - , and we've never had issues with them.)
Bumble bees are almost always ground dwellers. I’ve seen some confused ones in soffits though. I nearly fell off a ladder in shock. The wood boring bees, carpenter bees, like to be out of the ground, in wood.
They look the same pretty much. Carpenter bees have bald bee-hinds where bumble bee have hairy bee-hinds.
They look the same pretty much. Carpenter bees have bald bee-hinds where bumble bee have hairy bee-hinds.
I have done the following to a few ground nests.
1. Use the foam wasp spray on the hole.
2. Get a can of brake cleaner with the red long tube. Stick that past the foam and let it rip for 5 or so seconds.
3. About 2 hours later, small amount of gas, and light a rolled up newspaper.
I unexpectedly found that brake cleaner kills wasps instantly. Its a great dual purpose product. I would recommend taking a shovel to it after 24 hours have passed. I usually still find stunned or almost dead wasps that can't fly and step on the eggs.
1. Use the foam wasp spray on the hole.
2. Get a can of brake cleaner with the red long tube. Stick that past the foam and let it rip for 5 or so seconds.
3. About 2 hours later, small amount of gas, and light a rolled up newspaper.
I unexpectedly found that brake cleaner kills wasps instantly. Its a great dual purpose product. I would recommend taking a shovel to it after 24 hours have passed. I usually still find stunned or almost dead wasps that can't fly and step on the eggs.
Last edited:
I prefer not to put oily fluids in my yard.
I understand it may look odd as the targeted poison is not great either...
I got help from an animal who partially dug up the nest overnight. I sprayed the exposed nest yesterday night as there was still quite a lot of flying. This morning it was dug up more and it looked quiet - but I may have been too early as it's cloudy, cooler. We'll see.
I understand it may look odd as the targeted poison is not great either...
I got help from an animal who partially dug up the nest overnight. I sprayed the exposed nest yesterday night as there was still quite a lot of flying. This morning it was dug up more and it looked quiet - but I may have been too early as it's cloudy, cooler. We'll see.
I googled, and skunks are known for doing that. Point is that skunks are (luckily) rare here.
Raccoons maybe.
But mowing the lawn this morning I saw a shrew running away from nearby. I wonder whether that funny little animal helped me out.
Raccoons maybe.
But mowing the lawn this morning I saw a shrew running away from nearby. I wonder whether that funny little animal helped me out.
They say there are a few skunks here, but I strongly doubt it. I've never smelled them here, I've never seen or smelled them flattened on the road.
Back inTN you couldn't drive around without smelling them. No nights with the windows open because at some point (always 2.30 am or so...) the smell would wait in and the air in the whole house would be chewable....
Nothing of the sort.
I think raccoon, fox, or shrew in this case.
Funny story about brake cleaner killing wasps. I watched it stun one for a good 10 minutes.
A buddy called me while I was headed to his place and asked me to grab beer. He was doing a brake job.
After I got there a large paper wasp started buzzing him so he nailed it with cleaner. Even gave it a bath when it hit the ground.
About 10 minutes later, he's still working btw, I noticed the guy starting to stir. After a couple minutes he got his feet under him and turned and started starring at me friend. I thought I should watch closely LOL, although I didn't say anything.
When this guy got his wings working he went straight to work on my buddy like an evil sewing machine. LIT HIM UP.
Ever since then I have never figured BC killed the evil little bastards but just made em easy to step on.
There also seems to bee an intelligence there in that tiny head and it's vindictive.
I have a mistrust of those critters.
So... This guy was an interesting dude, even before he ate the larva. I might have to check out his other videos.
I knocked down a circada wasp with brake cleaner as well. It dropped immediately. Stuck it in a bag after an hour or so and it never came to. I wanted to show some friends because I had never seen a wasp so big. It thought it was an asian murder hornet. I am wondering if th enclosed air space of an under ground nest traps the poison in longer. I believe it drys their bodies out and that is why they die.
Regarding your comment about them being vindictive, nothing puts a smile on my face more than watching a hornet hole burn. I am a nice guy, love animals, even gave up hunting because it does not interest me anymore. Call me soft, but when it comes to murdering wasps, I am all in.
Well, the animal was back last night. Dug up more.
The hole is now 2 ft wide and I can see comb shelves that are that wide. About a foot deep. The ditch they dug is about 6" wide.
Many comb pieces on the grass too.
Some stragglers flying around, no clear traffic pattern.
If.they regroup on the remaining buried comb, I'll have to take the mulch and iris leaves and spray again.
It's a big one. Evidently not shrew. Raccoon or fox...
The hole is now 2 ft wide and I can see comb shelves that are that wide. About a foot deep. The ditch they dug is about 6" wide.
Many comb pieces on the grass too.
Some stragglers flying around, no clear traffic pattern.
If.they regroup on the remaining buried comb, I'll have to take the mulch and iris leaves and spray again.
It's a big one. Evidently not shrew. Raccoon or fox...
Most likely skunk. Nailed 2 of them last summer/fall. Didn't want them to get cozy around the house .
I have a 18' x 12 ft deck on the back of the house, 3 ft off ground, didn't want them making a home under there. Bad enough dealing with those 7 strip gophers and the ground hogs. I know there are couple Fox around , although I have only seen one twice, but this year the rabbits disappeared. Hawks /Eagles and Owls also.Haven't heard or seen any trash pandas this year either. Nice size doe on the south side of house Sunday morning. First one I have seen this year on the property, although the sign is there that the deer are around. Freezer is empty so time to set up some attractants , bow season opens in a couple weeks. Depending on Docs I might be to layed up to take part though. Find out Tue.
I have a 18' x 12 ft deck on the back of the house, 3 ft off ground, didn't want them making a home under there. Bad enough dealing with those 7 strip gophers and the ground hogs. I know there are couple Fox around , although I have only seen one twice, but this year the rabbits disappeared. Hawks /Eagles and Owls also.Haven't heard or seen any trash pandas this year either. Nice size doe on the south side of house Sunday morning. First one I have seen this year on the property, although the sign is there that the deer are around. Freezer is empty so time to set up some attractants , bow season opens in a couple weeks. Depending on Docs I might be to layed up to take part though. Find out Tue.
This one was far too big and spread out to have the water reach that. One 1.5" wide hole but a 2 ft wide nest. In sandy soil so the water doesn't fill it up even with the hose on full (I did the dish soap thing with the hose).
