Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Killing yellow jackets

Yep, and the size range for the various species is incredible; from roughly 1/8" to some over 5".

Startling in appearance; harmless (to humans).

I had a boxer that hated yella jackets.

When she would find a nest, she'd start digging at it and eat the yj's as they came pouring out. She'd just stand there's snapping them out if the air.

Within in a minute or so Her head would look like a basketball and you had to cram Benadryl down her throat. Got sketchy a couple times.

Damn I miss that dumb dog.

Hmmmm! Try driving an old dump hay rake pulled by a team of mules over one. miles

After 50 years I saw my first winged cow killer. Apparently those are the males.

I can typically count on seeing 1/2 dozen or so of the females taking a stroll across the yard.

Have you seen the flying cow killers? I hadn't till the other day.

You mean these?



Yep, male Eastern Velvet ant (aka "cowkiller"); Dasymutilla occidentalis. They are a parasitic wasp, not a true ant, and their stings hurt like an immortal SOB. Only the wingless females sting, though. The winged males are stingless.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasymutilla_occidentalis

Here's an item we use on the back deck for fun, entertainment, and revenge. See who can get the loudest Snap, or stinkiest puff of smoke, fun for the whole family. Some of those hornets will take three or four good hits to die.



$3.00 at Harbor Freight.






btw: Thanks for the poison meat tip. I'll be trying it out.

I used a shop vac on a big nest of yellow jackets I had in my garage wall last year. There were hundreds of them. None of the poisons seemed to work on them. It was right by the side entry door so I would pretty much shield myself by cracking the door enough to get the vacuum wand out to the entry to the nest. Just be sure you spray some poison in the vacuum when your finished and stuff a rag in the hose. The little B** will crawl back out otherwise. I learned this the hard way.

Yeah, "Arse Dagger" in particular made me laugh!

John

Gasoline works, it is quick and a cup is not going to cause much pollution or damage to ground water. Any VOC will work but gasoline is the easiest to come by. Water with detergent does the same thing and is less dangerous and safer to handle.


Besides, I like to listen to them drown.

As a former beekeeper I am not a fan of seven. It works real well when used properly but a lot of folks do not use it properly. I have lost hives full of honey to seven. Ended up having to burn the hives.

"Missionary Wasp"

Soon to be "teabag wasp" it appears

Well, first things... first.

Looks like there is one "on deck" in the crack.

i hate yellow jackets! two years ago i was mowing my neighbors yard for them as the owner was in the hospital. well i didn't know there was a nest in the ground. mower went over it running loud and really getting them upset. mower went past them and then my legs were over the entrance as they came barreling out of there looking for the disturbance. i was wearing loose fitting shorts, very bad choice on my part. pricks lit me up like a dang gum pinball machine! i hate them i hate them i hate them!!!!!

My oldest boy is a yellow jacket magnet. We were in Va. last yearshooting his .243 and he was stung 3 times, in 3 different areas. His little brother or me got narry a sting.

I always used gas but the meat trick sounds like it would get'em all.

bald faced hornets

gawd do they hurt when they sting

http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/baldfaced-hornet


a spray can of brake cleaner does well

Problem with the meat bait is they only crave meat (protein) in the spring and fall.

Middle of summer they're looking for sweets (pollen) I put a meat bait out last week,, caught two,, but my sugar water/lemon juice baits are loaded with corpses.

The upside to meat baits is that honey bees aren't meat eaters so there's little chance of doing any damage even if you do put seven on it.

Detergent and water,,,,, it works if you can get a good dose on em but a simple spritzing doesn't do very much if anything.

I'm covered up with the yellow demons this year so I'm using all of the above.

Granddad favored kerosene.