|
|
|
Hornet help
I have a massive ground hornets nest in my back yard. They took up residence in an old gofer hole (trail system) . I would not worry too much because it is in theback of the back yard but I have an ole crippled up dog that my wife loves way more than me, and I am affraid she will mess with the area and be attacked as fall comes and they get more aggressive. Since I have NOT had to cut the grass for over a month and a half (NO RAIN) until this week, I have not noticed this and they have had the opportunity to thrive WAY too long. I can count 10-15 entering in less than 25 seconds and many leaving during the same time. This went on for more than a half hour as I sat and watched the other day. Although it was almost 100 deg. that day and they may of been more active. The next day I still counted almost as many. I would think this could be a very very large nest. While it was pouring rain out 2 days agao, I went out and took a look. They STILL were flying in and out non stop even in the rain! I sprayed a whole can of wasp killer Ortho) the kind that foams, last night. Did next to nothing! Still in and out today. The hole is on the edge (to almost under) of a bush so lighting this bad boy on fire could be disaterous (BIG BUSH)!!! .
Any suggestions? My bride suggested a professional? My pride wont let me do this at this point yet! If my dog gets it tomaroo I will pay for a long time si I better atleast look like I am trying something?
Any suggestions?
help Mate's (and Sheila's)
|
|
 Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Hornet help
What I do is buy some time release professional style poison from bugspray dot com, mix it with bacon grease, and set it out. The drones take the bait back to the nest and feed it to all the others killing 'em. But this won't happen overnight. Around here bacon grease works well but other food products may work well too.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Hornet help
watch the bacon grease with the dog. My dogs love bacon grease.
The actual nest may be far enough underground that the long reach sprays can't reach and you only end up killing those present at that time.
You could try plugging the other holes and flooding it, but it would probably take too much water especially since Wisconsin has been so dry.
I'd think about giving Kwschumm's idea a try as long as you can put the grease where the dog can't get at it.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Hornet help
I had a wasps nest near the ground in our front foundation planting where I could not spray that foam wasp spray up the nest hole. Ultimately, I scrarificed my wifes flowers by driving over the nest with my Tundra.
Then I blasted the crushed nest with the spray from the safety of my truck.
Hmmmmmm did not impress the wife though with thread marks over her flowers :-O.
But since the old dog that she loves much more than me had been bitten several times she forgave me rapidly 
Here is an idea for you if you have only one hole, buy a house fumigator canister, drop it in the hole after dark when they are asleep, cover it with a five gallon pail with a rock, or just a slab of slate and run out of there fast. Never tried it myself but it should penetrate down the hole.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Hornet help
Iowafun is right about the bacon grease and dogs and I wasn't clear about setting it out. Bugspray dot com sells hanging wasp bait traps that you bait and hang from trees so animals can't get it (and neither can birds because of the design). They also sell some baits. I've tried their lingonberry and salmon paste baits and they don't work as well as bacon grease, in our area anyway.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Hornet help
One solution is to let your wife do the job My wife always goes out at night and sprays the nests while they are sleeping - as Dennis suggests. (Get a direct shot in the hole of the nest and they shouldn't be feeling too good.) We have never gotten stung using the night time method.
I usually get stung about once a year with some minor swelling - not too bad. A couple of weeks ago I opened my shed door and - pow - I thought someone hit me in the chin with a rock. The whole side of my face was swollen like I was Popeye, it went numb like I had 2 shots of novicane. I had to go lay down and use an ice pack for a couple of hours until the swelling went down. My wife says it was a yellowjacket. They are nasty buggars!
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Hornet help
Since the nest seems to be in an underground tunnel system, you could also try piping the exhaust from a small gasoline motor into one of the holes. It certainly works with the gophers.
I think that the insect bomb idea might work also.
For groundhog tunnels, we would put in gasoline and wait for the fumes to penetrate before lighting it. You would see flames shoot out of every entrance and the problem was solved. Try to pick an entrance that is upwind of the main tunnel area.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Hornet help
You guys are too funny! The gas idea was my first thought. X-NAYED it because we have hasd only 1-2 storms in over 45 days and they have been in this last week. So dry I think I would start the county on fire. Also the entrance is at the base of a (useless) shrub/bush. Its not worth anything but it would go up pretty high in flames and then there is the old huge Oak tree above that along with a 1/2 mile of brush and trees behind it. Although one more good rain and I will be considering it.
The house bomb idea is great except for the OTHER reason I forgot to mention. When I was 16 we were attacked pretty good by the same genious little buggers. A buddy was covering the hole with his foot (accidentally) for over a minuit!!! This was in Late Aug. and let me tell you I still remember the "cartoon like" cloud coming out from the hole! My bosses son got it 27 times that day anouther got it 16 stillanouther got it 9 times. I ran the OTHER way than those guys. Maybe I should of been with them because the screams to this day haunt me. Maybe I would not be so affraid of the hornets if I would of experianced it first hand. The stories they told me of how Glen was sweeping them off my bosses sons back as they were running. We were 1/4 mile back in the woods at the time! (PHEW) Ok thats the story and the reasons I fear them so much. Nothing I can do about it, my blood runs cold and my body just reacts with out me able to controll it. Sad but true! Whne I am on my tractor I need to pick the times I uses it and when and where and what I do with it in the fields. I will get ran over by the thing if I have a nest break open under neath me and they attack, because I WILL jump and run with out thinking about it I am sure!!!!
I called ORKIN! $150. You have got to be kidding so I hung up. For $139 I can buy a bee suit! What do you think of that? Anyone ever use one? Would it protect me from an attack? Was thinking maybe it may be the way to go since then atleast I would have the thing for future use (Like plowing in the middle of August! That would be a funny sight! "Hey dad, whats that guy on a tractor out in his field doing with a bee suit on?" "Oh, son, he must be a BEE farmer" EH? Right!!! Thats me a chicken in a mans suit.
Seroiusly though, what do you think about a bee suit? Then I may have the cahoonies to walk up to it at night and do all sorts of mean things to the hornets in the hole?
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Hornet help
I've been stung maybe a dozen times in a single instance. Not fun, but if you're not allergic you would live. They really don't bother me much. I've even mowed over the holes with a push mower without getting stung.
Anyway, a bee suit would protect you but wouldn't get rid of 'em. You still need a strategy for killing the nest. You could sit out there for days spraying the opening and every one you see and still not kill 'em all if the nest is deep.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Hornet help
I would be willing to bet there are 500 to over a 1000 down there. On the hot day last week I watched every few seconds 2-3 flying in at a time for many seconds in a row.
I have my plan!
As soon as it rains again (maybe in Sept. at the rate its going down here) I will go out there at night with 2 10' pieces of 1" pvc connected with a connector. I will then shine a light accrossed the edge of where I think the exact opening is. I will push the end of this tube to the opening and pour about a gallon and a half of gass thru it dragging it thru the grass towards me when finished. (hopefully it will leave a trail of fuel all the way to where I stand. Light that babby up after about 10-20 seconds and grab the garden hose I will have waiting by my side. This may be risky especially if I do NOT hit the hole. I figure I should be able to get within 2-3" at the most away from the hole if I dont get it exactly so hopefully enough will get down there to make a heck of a concusion thru the hole.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
Gas Generator Weather Protecti
07-27-2005, 20:22 
Digg It 
Del.icio.us 
