pay rent or else...

[35634]

These little critters thought they set up housekeeping in the walls of my house. They are yellow jackets, not honey bees so honeycombs and honey are not an issue, thankfully. Put a little soap & water in the shop vac, positioned the hose on "their" doorway, let it run for a couple hours and, viola! Bug juice. :clap

[Belquar]

thats a lotta yellowjackets.

[wezul]

And when they sting, oh man!
Don't ask how I know. :doh
I'll bet you are glad to be rid of those "tenants".

[535is]

These little critters thought they set up housekeeping in the walls of my house. They are yellow jackets, not honey bees so honeycombs and honey are not an issue, thankfully. Put a little soap & water in the shop vac, positioned the hose on "their" doorway, let it run for a couple hours and, viola! Bug juice. :clap

BAHAHAHAHAHAHA! :laugh

I did that myself a few years ago when the little *****s took up residence above my bathroom, entering through a hole in the soffit. Sprays wouldn't work (they seemed to like it!) and you can hardly burn 'em out of a wooden house. So I had that same flash you did: Shopvac! :idea
I hooked together about 12 feet of tube for it and propped it up on a stepladder. It was really entertaining at first. You'd see them hovering around the tip and then, *THWUP!* Sucked down the tubes! I could count the 'THWUP's as they hit the inside of the hose on their way through, too. Figuring a straight declining rate from beginning to end, I must have done in about 1500 of the nasty little buggers in ~3 hours.

Two years later, I had a nest in a garage wall and made the mistake of cutting a corner. Always use the water & detergent. I tried it dry and had similar decimating results, but when I went to open the thing up, there was buzzing inside. :uhoh So I gave 'em a 3-day 'cooling-off' period sitting out in the back yard. :D

[beeryboats]

I don't know if this is a family secret or not, but we used to make our own yellow jacket traps out of plastic one gallon milk jugs. Cut a couple holes where the indents are in the sides and dangle a hunk of raw bacon on a string from the cap just so you can see it from the hole you just cut. Then put a half inch of soapy water in the bottom.

Put it out in the yard and watch them eat until they fall in the water and die!

[535is]

I don't know if this is a family secret or not, but we used to make our own yellow jacket traps out of plastic one gallon milk jugs. Cut a couple holes where the indents are in the sides and dangle a hunk of raw bacon on a string from the cap just so you can see it from the hole you just cut. Then put a half inch of soapy water in the bottom.

Put it out in the yard and watch them eat until they fall in the water and die!
Too slow. Tried that; it didn't make a dent.

Why use a simple solution made with reclaimed refuse when you can do it fast - with power tools? :thumb

[eaganj346]

How close to the entrance of their 'hive' did you put the shop vac hose? Did you use a nozzle or just the hose end?

I have the same problem in the broken hot tub. Didn't get rid of it in the spring and yellowjackets moved in. The Shop vac method sounds like a winner.

Thanks for the idea.

John

[ragtoplvr]

I was mowing and lucky happened to be looking closely as I mowed over a ground nesting bee hive. Quickly pulled mower back, one escaped. Left mower running wet in house for Benadryl, fast little suckers. Came back out in about 15 minutes pull mower back, and they are still coming out. Remove gas cap, mower running, and add gas. About an hour later, no bees, finish mowing with one eye half swelled shut and itching.

Your way has the advantage of no gas needed. Later I learn gas stops them dead in their tracks.

Rod

[35634]

How close to the entrance of their 'hive' did you put the shop vac hose? Did you use a nozzle or just the hose end?



The hole was on the 2nd floor, so I used some 1 1/2" pvc pipe duct taped to the 6'
of extension I had on the hose. Get the end as close as you can, an inch or 2 from the
opening. Wait until the sun warms them up and they get active. I had some stragglers for a day or two, but they're all gone now.

[35634]

Later I learn gas stops them dead in their tracks.

Rod Gas would probably be a bad idea when the nest is in the house!:laugh

On a side note, years ago I emptied out on old flower pot that was in the back yard. The
dirt started buzzing and a a bunch of big yellow-black hornets came out looking for blood!
The kids were out playing along with 2 curious labs, I had to do something fast. Fired up
the Toro mulching mower and ran it over the nest. There was not a trace of them left!
Thought about writing to Toro complimenting them on such an versatile mower!

[535is]

How close to the entrance of their 'hive' did you put the shop vac hose? Did you use a nozzle or just the hose end?

I have the same problem in the broken hot tub. Didn't get rid of it in the spring and yellowjackets moved in. The Shop vac method sounds like a winner.
I put it right there at (or in) the opening. That kind of agitates them, so they try to 'challenge' it. Even more fun! :laugh I use the regular extension, not the nozzle. I figure that offers the widest entry. They can't come within two inches without takin' the ol' Corrugated Tunnel Ride©. If you do it during that little warm spell we always get in October, you can take out the nest during the winter.