Yellowjackets!

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Growing up in Maine the "yellow jackets" we had built paper nests - fondly remember pops sending my brother and I to knock one off the rental camp at the age of 8.
They looked just like the ones down here that are ground nesters.

The guinea wasps around here are by far the most aggressive just got whacked 3 times last week climbing a 50' fuel oil tank let the platform guard slam at the 25' mezzanine and they came out the bottom of the handrails - no where to run...temple(ouch),shoulder, back of hand.
Gingerly made my way back down after sounding the tank and brought reinforcements(20' spray) @0530 the next morning - it was raining wasps for about 15mins, the handrails are now filled with great stuff;)
 
This thread is timely, I've had the paper nest yellow jackets build nests in my BBQ grill, shot that in the evening and ran like mad. Watched from inside with a Mag light and saw them all over the place stinging each other and everything else, that nest was about the size of a candlepin bowling ball.

Now I've got a nest in a second story soffit. It's in the gable rake on the corner with no access to it from the attic or the ground. There is a 22.5" x 22.5" x3.5" square that is completely boxed in other than the aluminum soffit vent where they found a way in. Any ideas on how to get rid of them, I was thinking of duct-taping it up at night, or hanging the bug zapper up there................. Any ideas? I really have no place to soak them with Raid effectively, I'll take a pic if that helps.

TS
 
Growing up in Maine the "yellow jackets" we had built paper nests - fondly remember pops sending my brother and I to knock one off the rental camp at the age of 8.
They looked just like the ones down here that are ground nesters.

The guinea wasps around here are by far the most aggressive just got whacked 3 times last week climbing a 50' fuel oil tank let the platform guard slam at the 25' mezzanine and they came out the bottom of the handrails - no where to run...temple(ouch),shoulder, back of hand.
Gingerly made my way back down after sounding the tank and brought reinforcements(20' spray) @0530 the next morning - it was raining wasps for about 15mins, the handrails are now filled with great stuff;)

We have the aerial nesting paper wasps here. I grew up calling them yellowjackets


The only place we encountered the ground nesting "meat bees" was camping in the mountains. I have since learned that the rest of the country calls the ground/hole nesting demons "yellowjackets" and the aerial nesting paper wasps "hornets". I used to dislike the paper wasps immensely until I encountered the real yellowjackets. I'll take those mild mannered yellow paper wasps any day, I don't even bother their nests anymore.
 
This thread is timely, I've had the paper nest yellow jackets build nests in my BBQ grill, shot that in the evening and ran like mad. Watched from inside with a Mag light and saw them all over the place stinging each other and everything else, that nest was about the size of a candlepin bowling ball.

Now I've got a nest in a second story soffit. It's in the gable rake on the corner with no access to it from the attic or the ground. There is a 22.5" x 22.5" x3.5" square that is completely boxed in other than the aluminum soffit vent where they found a way in. Any ideas on how to get rid of them, I was thinking of duct-taping it up at night, or hanging the bug zapper up there................. Any ideas? I really have no place to soak them with Raid effectively, I'll take a pic if that helps.

TS


Take a picture so we can get an idea what you are facing. I am thinking you might be able to dust it with Sevin.....long piece of 1/2" pipe, pour some Sevin in then blow it with the air compressor if you have one.
 
This thread is timely, I've had the paper nest yellow jackets build nests in my BBQ grill, shot that in the evening and ran like mad. Watched from inside with a Mag light and saw them all over the place stinging each other and everything else, that nest was about the size of a candlepin bowling ball.

Now I've got a nest in a second story soffit. It's in the gable rake on the corner with no access to it from the attic or the ground. There is a 22.5" x 22.5" x3.5" square that is completely boxed in other than the aluminum soffit vent where they found a way in. Any ideas on how to get rid of them, I was thinking of duct-taping it up at night, or hanging the bug zapper up there................. Any ideas? I really have no place to soak them with Raid effectively, I'll take a pic if that helps.

TS

A friend recently dealt with this same situation. He sealed up the access openings (at night of course) except one, which he covered with the cap from an insect fumigation bomb which had a hole thru the top (allowing the wasps to pass normally). The next night he set-off the bomb, then inserted it into its cap. Problem solved.
 
you can use bait traps. Like the traps used to catch carpenter bees. The inverted soda bottle thing. My beekeeper told me what to use as bait but I forgot. This is the time of year when they become aggressive at protecting their hive. Something to do with their reproductive cycle. August and Sept.
 
I was out cutting in my woods last week, go off my 4 wheeler to go look at a tree that was down, blow over , for firewood, LOL I walked right over the ground nest.. Had my cutting chaps on and muck boots, think that saved my legs but they got me twice in my right hand through the back of my grip gloves... Man they hurt! Next two days my hand was twice as big as my other hand, couldn't even see my knuckles , even my forearm started to swell.. My hand itched something awful for a day or so... Honey bees I have got me one evening trying to weed whack around the hives, same thing, hand swelled up.. Never did before , wonder if I'm getting slightly allergic? More stings help as far as less of a reaction down the road.. I can imagine a neck sting I might be in trouble.. Takes overnight for the swelling to start... I don't think I got all of the stinger out either...
 
I was out cutting in my woods last week, go off my 4 wheeler to go look at a tree that was down, blow over , for firewood, LOL I walked right over the ground nest.. Had my cutting chaps on and muck boots, think that saved my legs but they got me twice in my right hand through the back of my grip gloves... Man they hurt! Next two days my hand was twice as big as my other hand, couldn't even see my knuckles , even my forearm started to swell.. My hand itched something awful for a day or so... Honey bees I have got me one evening trying to weed whack around the hives, same thing, hand swelled up.. Never did before , wonder if I'm getting slightly allergic? More stings help as far as less of a reaction down the road.. I can imagine a neck sting I might be in trouble.. Takes overnight for the swelling to start... I don't think I got all of the stinger out either...
Yes, sounds like you're developing an allergy. It's nothing to fool with. Get an EpiPen and put it in your tool kit.
 
Take a picture so we can get an idea what you are facing. I am thinking you might be able to dust it with Sevin.....long piece of 1/2" pipe, pour some Sevin in then blow it with the air compressor if you have one.

This is from outside the bedroom window, it's about 18' from the ground.


The second pic is from the ground, you can see that I have not put the aluminum trim coil opver the rake yet, this is why they can get in at the end of the soffit vent. This is about the last thing I need to do outside, but when I was going to I saw the stream of paper wasps in and out the gap.....Was not excited to be on a ladder with those things buzzing around nad me driving nails.

TS
 

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This is from outside the bedroom window, it's about 18' from the ground.


The second pic is from the ground, you can see that I have not put the aluminum trim coil opver the rake yet, this is why they can get in at the end of the soffit vent. This is about the last thing I need to do outside, but when I was going to I saw the stream of paper wasps in and out the gap.....Was not excited to be on a ladder with those things buzzing around nad me driving nails.

TS

Can you get out the window with a piece of plastic pipe or set a ladder out a good distance then pour some Sevin dust in the pipe hold your thumb over the end or a piece of masking tape. Reach the pipe over to the openings and blow the Sevin in with an air hose. Sevin will not kill them instantly like spray but they carry it in on their body to the nest.
 
Taylor being close to winter you might just wait a few more weeks and get after them when they are dormant.
I've had a nest of red wasps in my garage soffit or over my shop ceiling and plan on neutralizing them sometime after I stop seeing the daily activity this winter
 
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