http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018630826I'm surprised they don't post asking how to breathe:
Sun Jun 22, 2014, 09:59 PM
GreenPartyVoter (65,486 posts)
I was weeding my stairs today, stuck my hand in a hole, and got
stung by a yellow jacket.
If there is a nest of them under the railroad ties, what do I do about it?
Sun Jun 22, 2014, 10:03 PM
mysuzuki2 (3,312 posts)
1. Well, I recommend
not sticking your hand in it. Seriously, yellow jacket stings hurt. There are sprays for nests and they seem to work.
Good call, scooter.
Sun Jun 22, 2014, 10:22 PM
GreenPartyVoter (65,486 posts)
5. That's a plan. Thought it was a chipmunk house and figured
it would either hide or run out the back door.
Very glad we don't have poisonous snakes here!
Sun Jun 22, 2014, 10:04 PM
Star Member blogslut (28,548 posts)
2. Call your county/regional wildlife dept.
That's my advice.
You have got to be kidding me. You need the government to hold your hand to exterminate some rogue insects?
Sun Jun 22, 2014, 10:22 PM
GreenPartyVoter (65,486 posts)
6. I could give that a try tomorrow. Thanks.
No idea is too dumb for a primitive.
Sun Jun 22, 2014, 10:05 PM
Star Member Fridays Child (23,954 posts)
3. Here's something.
[a link for some "non-toxic" peppermint soap mix]
Oh boy, another primitive on the "non-toxic" bandwagon. I stick with the tried-and-true "gasoline down the hole at night and light a match". It works every time. Anyways, here is a review from the primitive's link:
I've had about 5 yellow jackets in my bedroom every day for a few weeks. I would call an exterminator, but the person I live with is a hippy and is very afraid of chemicals. So to please her, I tried your solution yesterday. In less than 24 hours, I've killed about 40 yellow jackets in my room. Apparently the solution is attracting them & making them very angry as they are far more energetic than normal. In other words, this was an epic failure. Now it's time for my preferred method, chemical warfare!On second thought, yeah, go ahead with that soap, primitive. Great idea!!!
Sun Jun 22, 2014, 10:23 PM
GreenPartyVoter (65,486 posts)
7. Lots of ideas in the comment too.
Lots of fails in the comments, you mean.
Sun Jun 22, 2014, 11:45 PM
Star Member csziggy (16,082 posts)
10. One suggestion I read was to put window screen over the hole to the nest
At night when all the wasps will be inside the nest. Then do whatever treatment you want by pouring it through the screen into the hole. This way if the wasps get agitated, they are less likely to get out to sting you.
My solution is to always get someone else to treat the nests. I react badly to stings, no anaphylactic shock but lots of swelling, enough to be dangerous if stung in the wrong place. So I get my husband or someone else brave to treat them.
For treatment if you don't mind a little poison, look for the wasp spray that sprays a very long distance.Some spray as far as 20 according to the labels. I'm intrigued by the peppermint soap idea!
Typical DUmbass solution- get someone else to do the work.
Save your money, and go with the gasoline. No yellow jacket wings can stand 600 degrees worth of liquid fire. Or, go with the peppermint soap; but only if you report back with your findings at the DUmp.
Mon Jun 23, 2014, 01:30 AM
Star Member csziggy (16,082 posts)
12. Spraying at night works for places where there are lights
But in the past we've had ground nests in areas on the farm not near any lights but where we have to walk with the horses.
The worst was one that turned out to be a giant nest with multiple entrances. Once we finally killed off the entire nest - it took four efforts - we excavated the hole - it was about 3' across in every dimension with some entrances extending a few feet past. The main entrance was about 6" across - we put a screen across it, but the wasps kept getting out the auxiliary entrances and attacking. We'd locate those holes, and spray them and find another way out. (I say "we" but it was actually the people taking care of the farm for me - brave folk.)
Then there are the nests built in the pipe gates - it's hard to hit those small holes in the dark. That's how I got my last sting - a wasp flew out of the gate I was unlatching, got me right next to my nose. By the time I walked in the house, I couldn't breathe through my nose. I spent several hours at a medical clinic getting the shots to stop the swelling and to make sure it wasn't going to get worse.
I've had no problems with rural areas, and going after them in the dark. YMMV, primitive. Can you imagine the OP primitive spraying a three foot diameter next with a bottle of peppermint smelling soap and some window screening? Hilarious!!!
