100 ground bees- how can I get rid of them keeping the area safe for chickens

[centrarchid]

Show a picture of them. It would be nice to correctly identify for future reference.

 

[rwbrown65]

Have had similar problem. Am wondering if mine are really ground digger wasps - Read about using ammonia at following website:
http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Ground-Digger-Wasps-(Cicada-Killers)-from-Your-Lawn
And I am going to try that.

 

[RedDrgn]

Have had similar problem. Am wondering if mine are really ground digger wasps - Read about using ammonia at following website:
http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Ground-Digger-Wasps-(Cicada-Killers)-from-Your-Lawn
And I am going to try that.

Cicada killers don't swarm as they are solitary wasps that only loosely congregate (the males, anyway) for mating...and only the females sting. They're also HUGE and quite beneficial, so should be left alone. They don't fit the description.

 

[RedDrgn]

Also, my neighbor tried this and said they had success. I haven't had the opportunity to give it a whirl myself: http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/control-yellow-jackets-technique.aspx#axzz2XXkpjgDH

 

[ky chicken mom]

i cant get a picture of these...there not liking me much...understandable...these are a colony of some type of bumblebee not a wasp and not the digger bee they are solitary and dig many holes...These have1 entrance with a huge amount living within ... most times there is another back door to these burrows but i cant see or find it... I dont want to be there target being pretty cautious before getting within eye contact...LOL...i will look and see if i can find a picture online...I sprayed wd 40 on them just a bit ago while you might think its a harsh product...its really not and biodegrades fast in dirt...knocked them down...Thats about all it did...Ill get some amonia when i go to the store later and try that ...

 

[Kelsie2290]

Not the most environmentally friendly method maybe, but the easiest way I've found to get rid of nuisance yellow jacket nests is by taking a couple of bottles of "Flea Shampoo" for dogs, diluting them with water, and just pouring the whole thing on/in/around the nest after dark, well after dark. I'll usually use 2 big bottles or so and five gallons of water... or if you have one big entrance in a bad place, take a five gallon plastic bucket with a small hole in the bottom you can plug/unplug, pour the shampoo/water mix in and put the bucket over the main entrance hole to the nest, most of the stuff will soak in around there and even if it is a really big nest with a lot of entrances they will move away from that entrance at least. Probably any liquid insecticide that kills bees would work, just usually have the shampoo sitting around and the soap in it seems to help it stick.

 

[cosmo1104]

Please don't kill them, if they're bumble bees, we need all we can get. Contact a local apiary,and I'm sure someone will come get them for you!

 

[bryan8]

If it was me wouldn't worry about saving them. Bees around my house are a no go, not about to lose a life or get hospitalized over it. Had about 20 go up my pant leg once and almost put me in the hospital.

The gas down the hole worked good for me. Any strong chemical should work. Than when your sure there dead dig down a little and put clean dirt in so they birds cant get to the chemicals.

Bryan

 

[ky chicken mom]

.i just checked a few for my area...very good idea..the ones i checked are exclusive to live removal of honey bees..(they will kill the other types)...with the exception of 1 in lexington...for a price unknown...i will check it tomorrow and a few others listed...i dont think they will come this far without a hefty $ the gas alone would prob be around 80 ... thank you for a possible good solution...

 

[Mehjr10]

I have used gas on the ground bees pour in a dose and then dig up a bit and be ready to hit them again, the nest can be quite extensive under ground. You may not kill them all the first time so open the hole up and hit them again.