It seems that yellowjackets have made a nest underneath the siding of my house. I bought some spray and used the whole can, but the can fizzles and doesnt spary when it's upside down, so I can't spary up into the nest. I just sprayed around the siding. It seemed to work for about a day until they were back and busy as ever. I can't afford an exterminator right now, and being so close to fall I was hoping that they would die over the winter. But being underneath the siding as they are nested, is it possible that they could survive the winter? I read about yellowjacket traps, and if i were to place one by the nest would it work? If I can't eradicate the nest, which would most likely require an exterminator, I need to try to control them, as their nest is about 7 feet from the front door.
2006-09-03 11:33:10 · 8 answers · asked by imraybarbonifrommiami 3 in Environment
I've had this happen, and you simply will need repeated treatments of pesticide. Eventually, they will be killed of as they carry the pesticide into the nest on their bodies and feet. Persistence is the answer here. You don't need to empty a can each time, just use the foaming kind and cover their entry well with each application.
2006-09-03 11:39:39 · answer #1 · answered by Magic One 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assuming there is no source of flame nearby, on a very cold night when all of the insects are in the nest trying to stay warm spray the nest with WD-40 Lubricant. Spray using two cans at a time (one in each hand). Wear an insulated jump suit or work overhaul suit with a scarf and a full covering winter hat with ear flaps. You can make a face mask from old nylon screen cloth and place this on your head before you don the winter hat. Gloves are a necessity. I like the heavy insulated ones because nothing penetrates them.
Your purchase of WD-40 should be for 6 to 8 cans. Use two full cans, then two more. Take a stick of some kind and jab the nest making holes in it. Continue to spray with two cans going full blast. Soak everything fully. Then spray some more. Rip out the nest and put all of the contents into a plastic garbage bag. Tape the bag shut. Burn the bag and contents the next day. Stomp any insects moving or not. Assume you have work boots on, right?
WD-40 is not a recommended pesticide. It does get the job done however and is far less expensive than your trade name products. WD-40 can also burn, so don't go near flame or sparks with it.
Final clean-up might be chlorine bleach and water 50-50 sprayed up in the hole or slit where you have access.
I have done this several times with success, and no stings.
The trick is to keep the WD-40 spray moving and all encompassing. Spray everything in there.
2006-09-06 10:24:39 · answer #2 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bluebell's advice is good. The traps may catch a lot of them, but they will not affect the nest. At best the traps will collect some of them as they go out looking for food, but as long as the queen and larva survive, the only thing the traps will do is help to keep some of the adult numbers down - but not significantly enough to be noticable.
Also if you should alert the nest - causing them to come out in swarms to defend the nest - DON'T RUN. Stand still or back away very slowly as they cue into and will attack anything that moves.
Your all-around best bet is to call a good exterminator. They will have the equipment and know-how to kill everything living within the nest. If you think you can't afford the services, try to work out a payment plan or line of credit to make less of a dent in your pocketbook. Wasps and hornets will generally vacate a nest over winter and burry themselves into the ground - only to return next year, so you are better off taking care of them as efficiently as possible right now!
2006-09-03 19:04:43 · answer #3 · answered by gshprd918 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you use the spray during daylight hours? The best time to do it is between dusk and dawn, when all of them are 'at home'. If it is cool in the evening, they can't fly even if they wanted to.
During the day, many of the residents of that nest will be out and not get sprayed. Sometimes the ones who are gone will come back and smell the spray so go make another nest. If you get a large plastic sack and put it around the nest, then spray it you will be sure to get them all. ONLY do that if it's too dark or too cold for them to fly out and get you. A drawstring bag is able to slide around the nest quickly then pull it shut and tie it tightly around the nest. All the dead ones will fall into the sack, not on the ground where they can crawl off, or you can step on a dead one and get a nasty sting, believe it or not.
Also, I'd recommend that you wear long pants and long sleeves just in case, and eye protection and a respirator will help you to avoid getting the spray in your nose and eyes. After spraying, leave the area immediately and don't come back for at least half an hour. Even though many products are supposed to be safe, If it's strong enough to kill those tough insects, I don't want to know what it will do to me.
Good luck!!!
2006-09-03 18:49:51 · answer #4 · answered by Bluebellle 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I myself would leave them alone until you can afford a exterminator-the yellow jackets will not bother unless you threaten them so if you're very careful around that are can be safe until you get professional help. There is no way you can,be able to control if you mess with the nest-the exterminators usually freeze the nest and remove whole but fo not know the product(Know they do this with honeybees since the purpose is not to kill)You can be seriously hurt even life threatening for if you cause them to swarm because they feel threatened esp the nest that holds queen they can attack and kill anything in the area and no telling how long(could be hours) they'll be agitated.
2006-09-03 18:41:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you have pet food near where the nest is? Or any thing that might attract the yellow jackets? If so remove the attraction immediately. My grandparents had a major problem with yellow jackets because the cat food was at the back door.
2006-09-03 18:42:17 · answer #6 · answered by Joules 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are traps that you put fruit juice into that should minimize the danger until a better solution can be found.
When it gets really cold, you might try getting their nest, pour water over it so they are frozen in before moving the nest.
2006-09-03 22:41:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can buy spray that comes in a spray bottle (not a can) that you should be able to spray upside down a little better. Make sure you spray at night when the're all in there to make sure you kill them all.
I've never heard of the traps, but if they're not too expensive, then it's worth a try.
2006-09-03 18:39:46 · answer #8 · answered by Mandy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋