Ground dwelling wasps. Lots of them.

[RichnSteph]

I went out yesterday afternoon to start clearing the land around the house in preparation for our garden beds, chicken coop, etc... and while moving some fallen brush I got stung by what I thought was a bee (for a second I was all happy that we might have native bees). It was a ground dwelling wasp, some folks call them "yellow jackets". Ok fine, one little nest isn't an issue for me. 20' farther on I picked up a large dead fall and got stung multiple times with quite a few being in my neck and back of the head. So I went and took something for the pain and fell into a nap for a while. In further looking there are more nests out there than the two that I disturbed and I need to get rid of them. Any ideas on how to get rid of them other than burning? The leaves that they are living under are 2' deep in spots and I don't want to burn the house down or burn up all the underbrush to kill the bees.

Thanks
RichnSteph

 

[sourland]

I locate the nests during the day, and then spray them in the evening with a can of Raid wasp and hornet spray - spray right into their entrance hole. They will become more aggressive in the fall when the nest is filled with the following year's young queens.

 

[Pent]

Guinea hens? Natural wasp control, they gobble those suckers up!

 

[RichnSteph]

I talked to the wife lady about guinea hens and she doesn't want them since they are apparently very vocal. Ok.... I tried to find one of the nests yesterday and luckily didn't get killed by the wasps as they came flooding out of the leaves. There were probably several hundred in the air around the house. This is now a much larger concern since my 1 year old daughter and I do a lot of walking around the property in the evenings.

Will try to locate the nests either this evening or tonight after the darn things are in there and asleep.

RichnSteph

 

[thomasboyle]

I brush hogged a ground bee nest last year. When I was coming back on the next pass, I saw a swarm of angry bees. I went out and bought two cans of the foaming bee spray (foaming being the key word). The foam covers them completely, and makes quick work of the nest.

 

[MeepBeep]

If you can afford it consider having a pro do it, now I generally HATE paying people to do anything but licensed exterminators have access to regulated 'restricted-use' chemicals that make over the counter stuff look like junk...

 

[dheltzel]

We used to pour gasoline down the hole, but I don't recommend that!
Once you locate the holes, go out after dark and pour hot soapy water into the hole. Safe. organic even, and effective.

A lot cheaper than gas too, not to mention less combustible.

 

[aart]

We used to pour gasoline down the hole, but I don't recommend that!
Once you locate the holes, go out after dark and pour hot soapy water into the hole. Safe. organic even, and effective.

A lot cheaper than gas too, not to mention less combustible.

Ditto this^^^^^

Have used this numerous times, mark the nest as close as you can during daylight.
I go out before dawn as that's when they are least likely to be active, and I am an early riser, and pour 3-4 gallons of very hot very soapy water down the hole.
Usually works in one shot...then a few days later a skunk will come along and dig the nest up to eat the larvae.
Last year I had a nest with multiple entrances on a hill, water didn't work. Had to stuff the holes with paper towel and soak that with the jet spray insecticide.

 

[RichnSteph]

I went out this morning at about 5 to locate and attempt to terminate the wasps. It rained like a fiend last night and once I located the hole I simply opened it up a bit and emptied a can of hornet killer into it. I'm hoping the rain will help the liquid spray penetrate the nest. One of them must have been on patrol because it buzzed my ear, of course I jumped up and ran like a little girl.......

RichnSteph

 

[jerryse]

I used to pour granular diazanon into the hole . They no longer sell this . I have not had a need to try a replacement . I would think the current granular lawn insecticide would work .When they have to move the granules to clear the hole they get enough to kill them . Wipes out the whole colony .