Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

[waterinthefuel]

I'm innocently mowing my front yard and I begin to mow the little swath of grass right in front of the row of blackberry bushes along the side of my driveway. I have to make 2 passes and the first one went uneventfully. The second pass was caught on video by my security camera. I'm innocently mowing along and all of a sudden I feel like someone shot me in the leg with a BB gun. I look down and see a swarm of flying insects. I had no idea what they were but knew they could sting, whatever they were. Rather than jump off the mower and risk leaving it right in front of this swarm, I floor it and take off across my driveway and yard swinging and swatting everywhere, just to get stung a second time on the left wrist. I was in pain all day yesterday and woke up in more pain. I used an ice pack and the swelling went up. My wrist looks huge right now and hurts. I took Tylenol and it took the edge off the pain, but man, I have to go to work early tomorrow morning and I'm not sure how I'm going to do it.

I called and its going to cost me over 100 bucks to have the hive professionally removed but I have no choice. I can't walk down my driveway without being in fear of getting nailed. I've been stung by wasps before, even the big red ones, but nothing compares to a yellow jacket sting. I don't swell for any wasp stings, but my left hand is rendered almost useless. Literally the only thing I can still do with it is type on the computer.

Watch out, these things can be deadly if you are allergic to stings. They looked like a harmless little swarm of flying tiny insects. Come to find out it was yellow jackets. I thought they were much bigger than they are. They could easily fit on a nickel. But man....do they pack a whallop.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

Wait until night time and go and spray a can of wasp killer into the nesting area. Too bad you are not in an area that allows gasoline to be poured down the hole and ignited. Do it at night since they are in bed. Hmmm can be done for under $5.

Ouch. Benadryl is good to take and a paste made up from baking soda applied to the sting will help the stinging and take the itching out...... make sure the stinger is still not stuck in you.

Innocently mowing the lawn???? I thought that mowing is done malice and intent to chop up the lawn!!

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

You can pour a quart of gasoline or kerosene down their hole at night and it'll kill them. No need to light it, the fumes will do the trick.

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

You can pour a quart of gasoline or kerosene down their hole at night and it'll kill them. No need to light it, the fumes will do the trick.

But that's no fun. I like to light it and hear the wooompf upon ignition and feel the ground shake a bit.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

I'm innocently mowing my front yard and I begin to mow the little swath of grass right in front of the row of blackberry bushes along the side of my driveway. I have to make 2 passes and the first one went uneventfully. The second pass was caught on video by my security camera. I'm innocently mowing along and all of a sudden I feel like someone shot me in the leg with a BB gun. I look down and see a swarm of flying insects. I had no idea what they were but knew they could sting, whatever they were. Rather than jump off the mower and risk leaving it right in front of this swarm, I floor it and take off across my driveway and yard swinging and swatting everywhere, just to get stung a second time on the left wrist. I was in pain all day yesterday and woke up in more pain. I used an ice pack and the swelling went up. My wrist looks huge right now and hurts. I took Tylenol and it took the edge off the pain, but man, I have to go to work early tomorrow morning and I'm not sure how I'm going to do it.

I called and its going to cost me over 100 bucks to have the hive professionally removed but I have no choice. I can't walk down my driveway without being in fear of getting nailed. I've been stung by wasps before, even the big red ones, but nothing compares to a yellow jacket sting. I don't swell for any wasp stings, but my left hand is rendered almost useless. Literally the only thing I can still do with it is type on the computer.

Watch out, these things can be deadly if you are allergic to stings. They looked like a harmless little swarm of flying tiny insects. Come to find out it was yellow jackets. I thought they were much bigger than they are. They could easily fit on a nickel. But man....do they pack a whallop.

Are they in the ground or in the blackberry bushes?? If there in the bushes look in to see where the nest is. You don't have to physicaly touch the bush. They wont bother you if you don't disturb them.When it gets dark(dark) saturate the nest with wasp killer, the nest will fall apart and you can saturate the inside. At night the yellow jackets are not aggressive.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

If it is an above ground hive/honeycomb..... wear heavy gloves and at night rip it out and contain in a plastic trash bag...... seal that up tight. Nighttime is the best time. Then get rid of it.

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

The second pass was caught on video by my security camera.

And you haven't posted the video yet WHY?

We also want the video of you trying to get rid of them please...

It's always fun to watch stuff like that ...no offense.

 

[Stevens520]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

Just found a nest of them in my back yard last week, and little gas down the hole goes a long way. As the other fellows said, just figure out exactly where the nest is, then get 'em at night.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

You don't have to wait until night to kill them. Casually walk over to the area where you were stung and sit or stand and watch, you'll see them flying around and you'll see where they're going to the nest... probably a hole in the ground (they're nicknamed Ground Wasps).

When you find the hole empty a can of wasp killer into it and then step back one pace and watch, all the ones that return to the hole will start dying as soon as they get to the entrance and tumble into hole... I find this rewarding after being stung by the little snots.

 

[marcoalza]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

The second pass was caught on video by my security camera....... Rather than jump off the mower and risk leaving it right in front of this swarm, I floor it and take off across my driveway and yard swinging and swatting everywhere, just to get stung a second time on the left wrist.

More importantly, post the vid my friend:facepalm:

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

More importantly, post the vid my friend:facepalm:

I haven't figured out how to extract just that few minutes of video from the DVR. I only know how to do the entire day. But I do have a few screenshots!

Here I'm just mowing away....probably getting stung at this moment.

Here I am darting across the driveway trying to get away from these things. Note the time: 4 seconds has elapsed.

And a few minutes later I went and got a can of wasp spray and went at it. I didn't do much good but I was pissed.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

Did the same thing a number of years back. Ran over a nest while mowing wearing shorts and loose running shoes. Little buggers went inside my shoe and proceeded to inflict pain. My foot swelled up like a football. Got 13 stingers but the rest hurt for weeks. Get them ALL out if you can. I went out at night and filled the hole with wasp spray.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

But that's no fun. I like to light it and hear the wooompf upon ignition and feel the ground shake a bit.

It is not necessary to ignite the gasoline, just pour it in and let the fumigation begin...it won't burn underground anyway

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

I had used a weed eater/brush cutter and ran into a huge paper nest (bigger than a basketball) that was attached in some weeds..... I got stung multiple times. I feel your pain. That was 8 years ago.....

I used a can of wasp spray (the stuff that shoots 20') and used the entire can........ placed a special effects explosive device on top of the nest about an hour later and when it went off it was gone..... the nest and the bush....... oh did I forget to mention the fireball and flames? That is when I found out how flammable wasp killing spray was and had to stomp out a brush fire.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

i agree with attacking at night. that way you are guaranteed to kill the queen. a can of wasp killer works wonders.

for killing during the day, a simple pan with a small amount of dish soap and a can of mountain dew will attract and kill them by the hundreds. they are attracted to the mountain dew, and the dish soap is a surfactant that helps drown the yellow jackets and wasps.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

So.......you are under surveillance while you are working? Is this your property? I think that is creepy and you do not photograph well.

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

Got stung on the top of my ear by a wasp 2 weeks ago while push mowing inside the dog pen. Evil little things let me push the mower right thru the gate, with my head inches from their nest on the backside of the post, then proceeded to attack once I was blocked in.

Stepped on something stingy this Saturday afternoon too, while setting up my tent, barefoot. Got me on the underside of the arch of my foot.

These workboots feel great today.


Kill them all, with a vengeance.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

Another trick that works.....place a shop vac hose near the nest and turn it it on. The bees will be attracted by the noise and will attack the hose wand and get sucked up. Wait awhile before you empty the vac!!!!

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

So.......you are under surveillance while you are working? Is this your property? I think that is creepy and you do not photograph well.

Yes it's my property. I am away from home so much that I installed a video surveillance system at my house. Via the internet, I can watch my cameras live from anywhere in the world. But, it's a DVR that is always on and recording any motion it sees. I have all access points of my property covered as well as all doors. There is really no way to approach my home without being seen on camera. They are full color night vision cameras. The still shots are not as clear as the actual video. It's also far away. The closer you go to the camera, obviously the clearer it is.

 

[keith2k455]

Re: Yellow Jackets.....OUCH!!!

Sorry...I couldn't help but laugh.

About 2 years ago I was pushmowing my front yard and when I went by the brick wall in front of one of my trees they just came like crazy to get me. I ran out in the street and started running in a zig zag (because they follow wind) tearing my shirt off because the yellowjackets were swarming me. Neighbors must have thought I was crazy. Wife asked what the hell I was doing when I walked in the back door.

But....if they are truly yellowjackets, good luck killing them. I've found those sprays work on everything but yellowjackets, but that's what I'd try first. I had to get rid of mine with gas....tried everything - spray, soaking with a hose, everything. Gas...didn't light it, just poured it in the hole at night. Never saw one there again.

I would work right at dusk. They will be sleeping then and you will be able to see better then if you're out there at midnight.