Any magical solution to prevent yellow jackets from nesting around your house?

[mouseclick1]

I've been waiting for it to warm up all winter long, and now that it has I've already discovered a nest of yellow jackets outside the house. I realized they were in my sons' basketball hoop, so I sprayed and counted 61 that have come out and died in our driveway so far. Arrgh! I am pretty good about leaving most insects alone if they leave me alone, but I have no sympathy for yellow jackets. Are there any measures that one can take to prevent them from nesting? Help!

 

[helenabear]

Anything here??

 

[mouseclick1]

Thanks for the link. I guess I better stock up on wasp killer for the season!

 

[rae519]

I call the exterminator because after being bit once by one, I do not want my DS (or anyone for that matter) getting bit ever!! I was advised to get an epi pen for future bites that could be more potent (often fatal).

Exterminator says that they are VERY dangerous (don't I know that!!!) but whatever he used killed them ALL and we haven't had any recurrences (knock on wood).

It might be worth the money to invest in a professional because his work is guaranteed.

Good luck -

Rae

 

[pumba]

go to walmart and purchase diazanon....it is good stuff and they smell that and won't come back ......they need another state to go to....so do not send them to MAINE.......

 

[rae519]

Maine has it's own curse - black flies!!!!

But I loved living up there (Caribou, Presque Isle) and canoeing!

Rae

 

[mouseclick1]

Ok, so I'll stock up on spray, purchase some diazanon, and call the exterminator! That ought to do the trick, right?

I was stung 19 times by a hornet that flew down the back of my shirt a few years back, and I guess the paranoia never went away! Wow, I just realized that "a few years back" was actually 20 years!!! My son got stung on the neck last year and I felt so sorry for him! I really do hate those things!

 

[pumba]

his ears came out so far that they split the skin.....they were so swollen.....he got stung by a yellow jacket and swelled too....but not bad......hope the stinkers leave and dont' come back

 

[rae519]

Sting 19 times! You are lucky you aren't dead!!!! Those little buggers really cause a lot of problems!

I got stung moving a small planter and my finger (THAT one) swelled up, ached and then the pain moved up to my shoulder! Not allergic, but sensitive to their poison. It took several days for it to stop hurting. That's why MD suggested epi pen for any further problems.

Yup, load up on the sprays, poisons and exterminator!!!

Rae

 

[piratesmate]

Yellow jackets are the worst!!! Other bees I don't worry about as they'll leave you alone if you don't mess with them...but those #$%* yellow jackets!!!!

When DS was 2 1/2 he & I were visiting at my parents camp site. He just TOUCHED the trailer hitch they were nesting in (unknown to us) & they swarmed all over him! I was only stung about 15 - 20 times, but at the ER they counted over 200 on him! My mother got about 20, but had a few on her lips. (not good!)

I carry an EpiPen because I'm allergic, although not highly - it usually takes ~20 minutes before I have trouble breathing. From the panicked adrenaline (I guess) neither Mom nor I had a reaction until we got to the ER. DS never had ANY! I asked the doctor if that meant he wasn't allergic, but he said that the next sting could be the one that causes major problems since he had such a dose that time. Fortunately, he's never been stung again & he's 22.

 

[rae519]

Thank God you were all able to get to the ER - 200 stings! That poor child!!!!! I know that 1 caused me incredible pain but 200!

Yup, carry that epi pen!!!

Rae

 

[piratesmate]

Originally posted by rae519
Thank God you were all able to get to the ER - 200 stings! That poor child!!!!! I know that 1 caused me incredible pain but 200!

Yup, carry that epi pen!!!

Rae

Yes, we did thank God! Believe me there was a lot of prayer going on! That ER was over 20 min away at 55 MPH! He was so brave (or in shock!) - he hardly made any fuss once I got to him & ran away from the bees. He made a much bigger fuss the next day when he "fell" in the creek. (He was holding my father's hand & one foot got wet - I'm not really as negligent as it must sound. )

 

[fklhou]

Last year we had a nest in the walls of our house. We had to get the exterminator out to kill the nest. They ended up wearing bee keeper suits.

 

[AllyandJack]

I had the same problem last year. Our house was brand new and I was home all day studying for the Bar Exam and I had to sit there and watch their little bodies hovering around the eaves of my house. I called the Orkin Man - the only exterminator I know of - and they told me there was nothing they could do because they wouldn't put one of their men on a ladder to spray for them. I finally called a small firm of exterminators, owned and operated by women, and they came with some big pressure washer thing and sprayed the entire house. She even went up into the attic to confirm that they weren't in the house. They weren't. No problems since, but I'm waiting to see what happens now that the weather is getting warmer. They said they may have to come back in the spring. It was horrible even after they sprayed since they came to the house and then died. After a while, they just stopped coming over. Hopefully they won't come back, but if they do, I'm having the exterminatrix come back.

See, if you want something done right, you have to call a woman!

 

[rae519]

piratesmate - you didn't sound negligent at all. I know kids!! Turn your head and they are into something!!!! I'm just glad that all turned out well.

AllyandJack - well, first congrats on getting to the Bar - hope you passed and are enjoying your new career. I really did have a good laugh over the story about the female exterminators - and your comment about women!!

I once had a tee shirt that said (in French), "the more I know men, the better I like my dog". My Dad was Canadian and Mom called him "Frenchie" - (hence the language), and he hated that shirt!!! But my favorite expression was "I have to do twice as much as a man to be considered half as good, but it's really not all that hard!" You can imagine what he thought of that!!!
(I really miss my Dad!)

Okay, quick story here, we were all vacationing in Vermont at the lake (camping out). He built an outhouse so we could have some privacy - even though we were in the deep woods. Well, one night as we all sat by the fire, he went to the outhouse and a few minutes later came out screaming bloody murder! I grabbed the shotgun (after all, we were in the deep woods) and he came running down the hill. A racoon had gotten into the outhouse and jumped on his back just as he was sitting down!!! With all the people (Men) there, and just me and Mom, I was the only one to respond! We have laughed over that one for years. And no I didn't shoot the racoon - Dad scared him off too!

Rae

 

[AllyandJack]

Thank you, Rae....I did manage to pass the Bar. No small feat since I was building my house and planning my wedding at the same time! Disney was great though...two phone calls and it was all planned.

I was really shocked that the Orkin Man told me he couldn't help. I mean, they are a HUGE company and you would think they would have the capabilities to handle these things. I'm amazed that I had to call a small firm to take care of it. I was getting ready to just sell the house to get away from those things!!

 

[rae519]

Congratulations on passing the bar - and you were building your house and planning your wedding at the same time?! My God! You are so multitalented!!!! I hope that God continues to bless you with your talent and abilities - it's been a pleasure "talking" with you!!!

Take care and again, best wishes to you!!!!
Rae

 

[AllyandJack]

Thank you.

And here's to getting rid of the bugs!!