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Florida Gardening

Hornets-wasps-yellow jackets...oh my!

13 years ago

...call them whatever you want. I hate them all.

I sprayed 4 small-med nests yesterday and found another one today. Plus, the ones that 'got away' came back to one of the nests to rebuild. I'm still convinced that there's a 'Big One' somewhere that I have yet to discover. Just hoping I don't find it while trimming something, since I am allergic!

This year has been just awful with the waspy-hornet things. Anyone else having this problem or is it just my backyard?

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Comments (9)

babalu_aye
13 years ago
I've been having a lot of the little wasps around lately. They even made a nest under the arm of my favorite Adirondack chair. Luckily they're not aggressive.

I did see a yellow-jacket today, investigating my cold beer reward after a day of working in the yard. Fortunately I haven't seen any hornets.

John
ritaweeda
13 years ago
We've had wasps really bad here, too. I do know that if you decide to spray the nest, it's better to wait until almost dark since they will ALL be in the nest and you will get them ALL.
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User
13 years ago
rather than pesticides, try a long piece of bamboo cane, knock the nest down and run like hell. wasps are not killed, nest is gone. wasps are great predators of bad bugs. we have alot of nests and haven't been stung yet. i think they get use to you being around them just like some of the other birds and critters we have living here.
ritaweeda
13 years ago
I agree that if the nest isn't right in conflict with where you congregate leave them alone, however, if they choose to nest where their traffic pattern is the same as mine or my family, they have to go. Also many people are extremely allergic to the sting and don't realize it until stung. I don't want to take that chance. However, if they are out of the way and don't hassle me I ignore them too.
dirtygardener73
13 years ago
I have more this year as well, and it's driving me crazy! I just found a next on the leaves of my clivia. If you knock the nest down, look out, because they will build a nest in the same place next year. I've had them in the same places for 10 years now. I don't know why there seem to be more, but there are, and all I can do is kill them because I don't want to die!
SaintPFLA
Original Author
13 years ago
In my opinion - because I am allergic! - the only good wasp, is a dead wasp. My weapon of choice is the 27 foot shooting range can of Raid.

Plus, all the wasps seem to select home construction in places that don't work for me. Such as, over the front door, garage door, under my chaise, hanging flower pots, under the leaves of my roses (nice treat when you sniff the flowers!), in the bird house (surprise...). They are so aggressive that it doesn't matter 'where' they are located, if you come within a few feet, the Sentry-Guards will chase you away.

I just hate them!
goldenpond
13 years ago
I too have noticed an incredible increase this year. I filled out a survey for Mother Earth and noted that. I am noticing many of my larval butterfly plants are NOT being eaten to death and I fear the caterpillars are being eaten by the wasps before they have a chance.
Hubby,grandkids and I have been stung repeatedly.I have had nests on rose bushes ,palm fronds and of course the house and garage!
Tanya
User
13 years ago
well, i guess we are just going to have to sacrafice you to the wasps.....big:) i'd kill 'em to if i was in that situation. if you notice, all bugs are back big time this year, killer winter, they are going to come back twice as much. but that also includes the butterflys, ect.....i'm just saying be selective in your spraying...we do.....no stings.
SaintPFLA
Original Author
13 years ago
Wallisadi...LOL...that was funny!

Yeah, I'm a pretty good aim and hit my target. I'm just nervous about the nests that I have NOT found yet. They're so aggressive.

I think you're right, the wasp (bug problem) is from the hard freeze this year. The butterflys do seem to be in an abundance as well - but I like those!

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