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Discussion: yellowjacketsReported This is a featured thread

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tangledmanes
tangledmanes
yellowjackets
Jul 18 2010, 3:51 PM EDT | Post edited: Jul 18 2010, 3:51 PM EDT
What will you do about the yellowjackets? Just fence off their nest areas? When our landlord in NY demolished the big old dairy barn, he found the a larger nest that I ever would have imagined in the wall of the barn -- it was about the size of a fireplace and chimney! The number of hornets we had to live with around the horses decreased after that. (Wish the barn hadn't had to come down but it was structurally compromised.) There must be good ways of getting rid of yellowjackets in the woods (if you want to)...but I don't know how. Do you find this valuable?    
mycontact25
mycontact25
1. RE: yellowjackets
Jul 23 2010, 2:17 PM EDT | Post edited: Jul 23 2010, 2:17 PM EDT
Life Cycle: The queen is the only member of a yellow jacket colony that will survive the winter. In the spring she digs a cavity in the soil or enlarges an existing hole, constructs a nest, and lays a dozen or so eggs. After a few days young larvae hatch from the eggs. The queen feeds them until they mature to workers and can forage for themselves. After this, she restricts her activity to egg production while the workers feed her and care for the larvae and pupae. Over the summer the nest is enlarged until there are several layers of comb enclosed in a paper envelope. In late summer, newly developed males and queens leave the nest and mate. After mating the males die and the females seek out suitable sites in which to overwinter.

Control: These pests usually build underground nests, although some species will build their nests in hollow logs, trees, attics, between walls, or on eaves of houses. Control is best achieved by applying Wasp & Hornet Killer directly into the nest opening. This should be done near dusk, when wasps are more likely to be inside. If you can't find the nest place yellow jacket traps around backyards, picnics and barbecues well in advance of outdoor activities. Traps may also be placed along side trash cans to significantly reduce the number of pestiferous yellow jackets.

Tip: Cover trash containers and keep them away from eating areas to reduce the number of foraging pests.

Note: Most yellowjacket workers forage for food within 1,000 feet of their nest - a distance of 3 football fields. Do you find this valuable?    

ubergigglefritz
2. RE: yellowjackets
Aug 11 2010, 3:34 PM EDT | Post edited: Aug 11 2010, 3:34 PM EDT
I am just keeping the tracking out of the woods for now (sorry, did not see your post =). It actually significantly decreased the work required to get my track up and going anyway ;-) ha ha. I probably won't go through the trouble of dealing with the yellowjackets or going into the woods with the tracking for some time. I have plenty enough to deal with in the beginning, and my property is very shaded as is, so don't really "need" to let her go into the woods for that purpose. I am happy with the track as it is (and I am not going to deal with the yellow jackets myself, would have to have someone else do it for me), will be seeing this weekend whether my horse agrees! =) Do you find this valuable?    
mycontact25
mycontact25
3. RE: yellowjackets
Aug 11 2010, 6:25 PM EDT | Post edited: Aug 11 2010, 6:25 PM EDT
We went on an after-dark yellow jacket assassination run a couple of nights ago. Got rid of MANY many active nests. They like to nest under the eaves of my buildings. We figure we dropped a couple of hundred of them and only used one can of bee spray! Those little buggers are a troublesome problem. If they weren't so darn aggressive, we might be able to live with them....but NOOOO they've gotta be bitchy! Good luck with your situation! Do you find this valuable?