Urban beekeeping in New Mexico's largest city.

Yellow Jackets

Anyone have any good ideas on how to get rid of yellow jackets a fellow beek is having daily visits

from these honeybee hunters? Besides the hanging trap,the entrance reducer,having a strong hive

etc...what other good ideas are there? I would like to track them back to their nest and....well you know!

anyone out there have ideas?

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Permalink Reply by Megan Mahoney on November 16, 2012 at 8:51am

The yellow jackets should die off soon.....however, in the meantime it is possible to track them a little bit more easily if you can catch them in a cup with a little bit of flour and cover their bodies in the white powder. It makes them MUCH easier to see when they are flying home to their nests. You may have to repeat this with several different wasps. BEWARE: this can become an obsession.

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Permalink Reply by Ron Brooks on November 16, 2012 at 7:14pm

yellow jackets are tougher than honey bees and seem to stand colder

temps as they are out much earlier in the morn lately,,,ill try the powder though

thanks...

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Permalink Reply by Ted Wilcox on November 17, 2012 at 6:39pm

There is an article on this site that talks about how to get rid of yellow jackets at the nest:

http://beeinformed.org/author/rob-snyder/

He recommends either boiling water or a registered insecticide. Both are used at night. Boiling water is poured into the nest. Another technique mentioned is putting a bucket over the entrance to the nest and leaving it there for several days.

Ted

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Permalink Reply by Ken Duckert on November 19, 2012 at 6:48am

Thank you all for your good ideas in dealing with the yellow jackets. It has been a great year for learning new tricks and I'll add your thought's to my list. I've been away for the past week and will check out the hives today to see how they are doing. I'll get my flour ready. Tracking the YJ sounds like a great challenge and the best way to get rid of them.