wasps

[tryz]

last year afew customers had a wasp nest under their deck. I suggested filling a ice-cream pail a quarter full with something sweet + sticky (kaluha, corn syrup, grenadine) mix it with a bit of water, cut a few holes near the top of the pail and put the lid on. then place it somewhere close to the hive. usually this worked, but does anyone have any other suggestions.

[Barkleymut]

Hit it with any (raid, ortho, etc) wasp and bee killer. I have always had good results with sprays. The bees/wasps/yellow jackets are dead in seconds. Even the nests should be controlled with these products.

[mdb landscaping]

RAID kills them instantaneously most of the time. make sure you are not allergic to bees before spraying. try and do it around dusk while the bees are less active too

[Bob Minney]

I carry a can of wasp spray on the truck. I run into a few nests every year. The one's that nest in the ground usually get in a few stings before I get them.

[walker-talker]

I like to hit them early in the morning, just at sun up. They are sleeping (or doing whatever) in their nest. BTW, I use RAID.....dead on the spot!

MATT

[Fantasy Lawns]

http://fantasylawns.com/nest.jpg

I like lighter fluid n a match ;-> ....... we'll maybe not ..... last summer at wally world they were changing the brand or clearing out bunch of stuff n got a case (24 cans) of the Ortho stuff that shots 20' at $1 @..... God I love that stuff

[LawnLad]

I used a croquet mallet once on a bee hive when I was younger. They didn't like it very much. Not a very good way to control bees.

Since I haven't used a mallet on a wasps nest, I don't think I can offer any suggestions here.

[65hoss]

Last season was the 1st time I was not stung by anything. I made a new discovery before the season kicked off last year. I educated myself on the benefits and habits of all the little stinging buggers. Learned what not to do and it worked.

Anyway, there are times to get rid of them. If they are too close to people (decks). Then I would us a can of wasp spray and handle it.

[keifer]

For above ground use the cans. but once i did a job where the wasps had been following me all day come to find out there was a triple decker nest under a big old pampas grass plant. I soaked her down with gas.

[65hoss]

Here is the link to the thread from last year. I explained my reason for not getting stung or killing them uselessly anymore.

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?threadid=18525&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

[Turfdude]

Friendly advice on preventing some stings.

When pruning shrubbery, have a laborer go around property smacking and shaking shrubs w/ a rake. If there's a hidden nest inside, he/she has a good chance to get away. Sure beats diving into a shrub w/ gas powered shears a blazing and slicing a paper wasp nest in half like I did many years ago - yeeeeeoooowwww:mad:

Oh yeah, BTW I'm allergic to most all stinging bastards - so I try to take special care.

Bob

[Commander]

I would have to say that if the nest is not bothering anybody, don't kill it. Wasps are parasitic to certain types of insect pests. Just something to think about.