We have a small canopy over our front door and I noticed a small nest forming. It is a favorite place for flying insects to build a nest. Often it has been wasps, but this year, it was yellow jackets. There is a perennial bed 5ft from the front door. It had not gotten very big yet, less than 6 inches across, my husband just knocked it down with a yardstick and managed to get off without a sting. I anticipate every year there is going to be a nest there, but I was watchful in the spring. This nest started in July and by then I wasn't paying attention. I wonder if there is something organic I can coat the surface of, in those corners where they always start that might discourage them from building? Vinegar? Soap? A spray of garlic/red pepper that would hopefully dry on the surface? But I would imagine it would diminish it's effect in a short amount of time.

I'm concerned about your safety if you install the tarp. I've never heard of this method and don't give much credence to ehow, but ..........if you do it, you'd have to do it in the dark, after the yellow jackets have returned to the nest for the night. I'm in Georgia. Don't find the yellow jackets to be aggressive unless the area near the nest is disturbed. Hope you'll get more advice, also hope you'll post your results.

My husband deals with all the bees here by spraying any nests we spot. He sprays in the evening, when all the bees have come back from their daily missions. It's practically the only time we use noxious chemicals. The fact that stings are life-threatening to so many people seems to warrant bringing out the big guns to kill them. Also, since the chemicals stay in the nest and aren't spread around, seems to me to make them less of a threat to birds, beneficial insects, and other wildlife. I can't imagine leaving nests in the ground, especially since you have a dog and MOST especially since you're allergic to the stings.

I found a website that discusses what might be these bees. http://www.pollinatorparadise.com/solitary_bees/FAQ.htm Particularly in the spring, it is not uncommon for Andrenid bees (genus Andrena), or plasterer bees (genus Colletes) to appear in large aggregations in lawns and bare ground. These are solitary ground nesting bees. The issue isn't whether they will sting or not. basically if allowed to run rampant it is impossible to get to teh front door. in the case where you are listing a house for sale that can cause real problems right? :) The bees dont seem to change location every year, they appear in the same south facing flower bed every year! So i'm wondering how to prevent their appearence altogether by putting the right pesitcide down wiht the mulch. Any thoughts? Thanks CHitra