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Barnyard Buddies:  Yellowjackets  |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 02 2011 : 6:16:09 PM
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I don't know if it's a problem in other parts of the country, but here in the midwest we have these yellowjackets that build their nests in the ground. My dad was mowing his yard the other day and ran over a nest and got stung numerous times. Fortunately, he's OK. I remember two years ago I had some in my yard and I got stung twice when I was mowing. I sprayed both entrances to the nest with wasp & hornet killer and my dad poured gasoline down the holes and I haven't seen them since. That same year, I went to a state park to go hiking and the trail was closed due to the yellowjackets. So if you have them in your area, please be careful. And if you have elderly parents who mow their own yard, caution them to look out for them.
Cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2011 : 8:31:25 PM
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We have them in the ground down here in Southeast Louisiana. I spray them with wasp and hornet killer. It works for me.
If they don't bother me, I don't spray them. However, If I am mowing on the riding lawn mower, I know the noise bothers them. So, I carry the can with me just in case they start chasing me. LOL
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1507 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1507 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2011 : 9:39:10 PM
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We have them here in WA too. They love burrowing in old stumps, taking over abandoned rodent holes and setting up camp under piles of brush or junk where they are protected. We even have trouble with them building nests inside rolls of corrugated drain pipe at our shop. They also love to horde honey from my bee hives. Nasty little critters! You are right Marly - noisy machinery irritates them. Whenever I have to work in an area where they are likely to be living I always scope it out first - if I see any yellowjackets I figure out where they live, then go back after dark to spray them while they are all sleeping. It kills all of them at once and it's alot less painful that way!
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Aug 03 2011 : 05:26:27 AM
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Thay are here too! They are always under the apple trees. The other day when I was mowing, one got in my plastic holey shoe and stung my big toe. I went right over and got some plantain and chewed it up and spit it on my toe and withing minutes, it was not hurting. That stuff is great on bee stings. I hope your dad is ok. Good thing he's not allergic.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Aug 03 2011 : 06:15:41 AM
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See another reason for me not mowing. I let my llamas and goats clip the grass (yes sometimes they got over helpful with the lilacs and such) I stopped mowing about 6 years ago - did not want to spend days trying to keep "Food" down while I have critters who would love to do the job. I have them this year coming into the house trying to make nests on the ceiling - that is a first since we moved here 15 years ago. I have allergic and so their unwanted home improvements are not at all welcome.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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embchicken
True Blue Farmgirl
1487 Posts
Elaine
Ocean
NJ
USA
1487 Posts |
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craftbug
True Blue Farmgirl
545 Posts
Patsy
Clarkson
Kentucky
USA
545 Posts |
Posted - Aug 04 2011 : 12:24:58 PM
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kristin: never knew about the plantain doing that for bee stings, will write that down. thanks!
2 years ago we counted 12 bee nests in our yard. we used kerosene and gas down the holes after dark and it worked.these bees are so nasty they will chase you clear into the house. we could hear and see them pinging the screen..scary.
Make my words soft and tender, for I may have to eat them. :) |
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Barnyard Buddies: Yellowjackets |
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Yellowjackets
