Something not too easy to do, as we know all too well at Vulcan Termite and Pest Control, Inc. But here goes: Catch a regular ol’ bee. Don’t get stung. Once you have it between your thumb and forefinger, check its belly. See any hair? If you don’t, you haven’t caught a honey bee.

What you plucked from the wind is a yellow jacket. A little bit bigger and hairier critter like the h’bee will sting you if you get them mad. So will yellow jackets. And let’s say you want to get rid of them. Don’t do it in the daytime. Wait until the sun sets. Yellow jackets are more docile and less likely to zap you.

Nesting Places – Part One, The Ground Ones

Yellow jackets live all kinds of places. One such environment is amidst your plants and landscaping. They may also find a crack in your house and set-up a hive there. Some tips for blowing-away the buggers:

• Spy on them during the daylight hours. You’re looking for where they congregate. Write down wherever you find a nest.
• As night falls, grab a flashlight and throw-on some protective clothing:
  • A hat or helmet.
  • Light colored, heavy jeans.
  • Fashionable leather or canvas high-sleeved gloves. Kinda like the ones that Audrey Hepburn wore in the remake of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s — The Industrial Cut.”
• Try something like the product D-Force HPX aerosol. Squirt it smack-dab into the nest. You could opt for Delta Dust. This poison acts fast and lasts about a half-year. You’ll need what’s known as a centrobulb duster to dispense the fine particles. Good suggestion: Do it again in 3-months to wipe-out any un-hatched insects which were around during the initial application.
• Can’t seem to find the exact location of the nest? Use some liquid things like Demon WP or Cynoff WP. Follow directions as you cover the entire area by employing a gallon sprayer. You’ll need to practically drown the place to be effective. In two weeks, do it again.

Nesting Places – Part Two, Aerial Nests

This one is another night job, but you’ll be donning the same getup of protective clothing. These exposed outdoor yellow jacket nests are usually spotted hanging in trees and eaves. Here’s the drill:

• Do not use a regular flashlight. You’ll need one that lights things up with an amber or red tinge. With that type of colored illumination, you won’t tick-off the guard wasps.
• Same as before. Pick-up some D-Force HPX aerosol. Squirt in smack-dab into the nest. Or Delta Dust and a centrobulb duster to dispense the fine particles. Same suggestion: Do it again in 3-months to wipe-out any un-hatched insects which were around during the initial application. It’s safer to use the back entrance of the nest and not the front door.
• A neat trick would be to pull a large, durable trash plastic bag over the nest. Cut the branch. When the buzzing calms, dump some insecticide into it. Seal it tightly and set it out with the garbage.

Proactive Stuff

A few bullet points you might consider before any infestations:

• Always tightly cover your trash can.
• Check the chimney flu. You may need to call in a pro to screen-cover the top.
• Keep bugs, like yellow jackets, out of your house by fixing any cracks or holes on the outside.
• Any animal holes in the yard? Fill ’em up. Not only are they habitats for critters, but they’re tailor made for a move-in ready hive of yellow jackets.

Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/garden-pest-control/getting-rid-of-yellow-jackets

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