skip to main content

Bees & Beekeeping

how to get rid of 10000s ground yellow jackets on 400-500 holes

9 years ago

Many parts of my 1 acre highly wood area has 400-500 holes (majority of them are size of 2-5 gold ball sizes) which has yellow jackets and other bees inside. We have a lot of 7-12 yr old coming by to play around this part. We had removed a huge 5 feet deep and 14 ft wide bees nest underground (about 4 ft deep) a year ago I did not expect now to have about 100x the amount of bees here, What can I do? Boric Acid Spray with a bees suit? Some neighbors have 'kindly' told us to remove those bees for the kids sake.... what is most economical and fastest way to do this before some kids step on this and get stung badly. There had been cases of this in my area over the past few years and I think mine is maybe one of t new ones... please help

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

jean001a
9 years ago
Unless you've had those insects identified by an expert, it's very likely that those are native solitary bees which are not aggressive, not even if you hold one in your hand.
macropis
9 years ago
Yellow jackets are not bees, and bees do not nest with yellow jackets.

You likely either have native solitary or primitively social bees, or solitary sphecid wasps. These are not aggressive.

The first thing you need to do is capture some and get them identified by an entomologist.
0
Related Discussions
How to get rid of yellow jackets
Q
Comments (141)
Had bad yellow jacket infestation in a rotting fire wood pile.we didn't know it until it was to late... 23 ouches for me and 4 for my 9yr old daughter.Needless to say organic or not I gave them the gasoline and match method. The pile burnt 4 days. Dug thru and found the hive along with the dead queen... A week or so later I noticed a few buzzing around the remains... They were burrowing in and flying larvae away. I couldn't believe it... After a 4 day fire and a week later the larvie were still alive. Called in the pro's. We found out they were western yellowjackets here in the east. They are now gone. But not forgotten. Do yourself a favor and call the pro's.
...See More
Yellow jacket nest in herbs
Q
Comments (13)
Be sure that your warnings will work, especially with young children. I have read that this late in the season we are talking about nests of 5,000 or so. My understanding is that fall is when they are most dangerous because nests are so large and they are agressively looking for food. Last I read, most "bee-sting related deaths" are due to yellow jackets. Adults succumb to the venom from aggressive yellowjackets, and children are even more vulnerable. You might want to consider an option that worked for me -- flooding them out. I found the nest smack dab in the tomato plants I wanted to harvest. For two weeks I put the hose in the hole every night (from a safe distance of 15 feet or so) and turned the cold water on for 30 minutes. My understanding is that this method worked because it drowned the wasps inside and by keeping the ground wet the nest eventually fell in on itself. Eventually the few yellow-jackets that survived stopped trying to fly back in to what was left and went away. As long as I saw any I "watered." Am happy to report that none seem to have lived and I am happily harvesting tomatoes. There are people who collect yellowjackets for labs, where the venom is extracted. They will remove the nest with a vacuum. That's another option.
...See More
yellow jackets in compost pile
Q
Comments (36)
Common sense is always at play, in my yard, and everywhere else. I can't recall ever stating that I went around thrashing and killing everything. In reference to the roses, I didn't say I went and killed all roses, I said I took care of that ONE that was a problem. When I find a yellowjacket or hornet nest, it's like I've stated over and over again, I found it because I got attacked. I agree that everyone can have their point of view; that's the beauty of living in a free country. However, my problem here is not your point of view or anyone elses point of view. The problem lies in the criticism of MY point of view. I say that I don't want yellowjackets or hornets in my yard, and the comments start flying about "overreacting" and "thrashing around killing". Not to mention being called anti-woman. The bottom line comes down to this: My yard is MY yard, and I like to use it. I am NOT going to abandon a section of it so that some insects can live there. Your yard is YOUR yard, and I have no problem, or any right to have a problem, with you doing what you chose. The original poster asked for some opinions, and he/she got some. Then, as you said, things got out of control, because my opinion got attacked. But, I must say Claire, at least you stick around to defend your point of view, and I commend you for that. The person who babbled her mouth off calling me anti-woman didn't have the guts to ever even defend her reasoning, or appologize for such a rude and asanine accusation. Anyways, at this point, I'm sure our babbling has turned off the original poster, because we've let this one get a little carried away. I say we bury the hatchet and just agree that we have different opinions about things, and throw in the towel on this one. Joe
...See More
Yellow jacket time of year
Q
Comments (12)
I've taken out 16 nests this year trying to install drip line. Usually I leave them be - these are the small non aggressive species, but they don't care for dripline being installed on top of them. Dang nests can be 8' apart. They must be like Argentine ants (see Argentine ants) and won't fight each other. Egads, a global yellowjacket colony?? But hey, haven't seen the first aphid! Velvet ants out the whazoo (I do not like velvet ants) as a result but no aphids.
...See More
petalpiddler
9 years ago
Please, do NOT let ANYONE go near that area of your property until you have determined exactly what is swarming out there...especially with the quantities you described. ***Multiple yellow jacket stings can be FATAL*** If it is yellow jackets, they can - and will - attack if someone just innocently steps on or near the entrance to their nest/hive....the problem being that you don't see it until it is too late. (I know of two people who have died from such stings....each receiving 80-120 stings). If you don't feel comfortable trying to catch a specimen (I wouldn't) and you're not sure who to call about it, try calling your local Health Department, the closest University, your local Agriculture department or even a pest control company, who could at least identify what you are dealing with. Even if they turn out to be totally harmless, because of their large numbers they are of great concern to your neighbors (and to you, obviously)...and they are rendering your property unusable. So even if they turn out to be "beneficial pollinators"...whatever they are...even if they don't sting...you might consider having them caught and relocated elsewhere. A skilled Beekeeper (or team of them) will have the right equipment to get this accomplished. There are Beekeeping Clubs and Associations in every state...a Google search will reveal your closest one. Best of luck to you with this challenging, yet interesting, situation. Let us know how it goes!
0

Related Stories

MOST POPULAR How to Get Rid of Those Pesky Summer Fruit Flies

By Mitchell Parker

Learn what fruit flies are, how to prevent them and how to get rid of them in your home

SAVING WATER Xeriscape Gardens: How to Get a Beautiful Landscape With Less Water

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Conserve water and make gardening much easier with the xeriscape approach’s 7 principles

BUDGET DECORATING 9 Tricks to Boost Your Home’s Appeal for Less Than $400

By Propia Limited

Whether you’re redecorating or just doing a quick update, check out these ways to enhance your home on a budget

DECORATING GUIDES A Mobile Home Gets a Bohemian-Chic Makeover

By Becky Harris

Designer infuses world traveler’s guesthouse with tribal textiles, Moroccan tiles and kilim rugs

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Making Over a Rental for About $1,500

By Becky Harris

Fresh paint, new hardware, added storage, rugs and unexpected touches breathe new life into a Los Angeles apartment’s kitchen

COMMUNITY Get a Bird's-Eye View of America's Housing Patterns

See the big picture of how suburban developments are changing the country's landscape, with aerial photos and ideas for the future

KITCHEN STORAGE Cabinets 101: How to Get the Storage You Want

By Matt Clawson

Combine beauty and function in all of your cabinetry by keeping these basics in mind

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Native Ground Covers for Tough, Dry Spots

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Sun beating down on your sandy gravel? Thick shade darkening your clay soil? There’s a ground cover here for you

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Get Along With Less Lawn — Ideas to Save Water and Effort

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Ditch the mower and lower your water bill while creating a feast for the eyes with diverse plantings and gathering places

BATHROOM WORKBOOK 12 Ways to Get a Luxe Bathroom Look for Less

By Shana Ecker Home Stylist

Your budget bathroom can have a high-end feel with the right tile, stone, vanity and accessories

Sponsored