View Full Version : Attack by Yellow Jackets
Aargh. In removing a top feeder the other day I spilled some syrup about 15 ft from a hive.
Yesterday and today the area is filled with yellow jackets - many trying to get into the hive. Last night I put an entrance reducer on the smallest setting to help the bees fight back. Before leaving for work today I saw the bees bearding the front quite a bit.
Is there anything else I can or should do? Thanks!
I like robber screens to defend against YJ's. I believe you can find illustrations at Michael Bush's site
I saw those but don't have time for a few days to put something like that together.
What about simply closing off the hive entrance with screen for a few days until I can hose down the area and clear out the yellow jackets? We've had no rain here for several days now.
devdog108
09-23-2009, 03:06 PM
I saw those but don't have time for a few days to put something like that together.
What about simply closing off the hive entrance with screen for a few days until I can hose down the area and clear out the yellow jackets? We've had no rain here for several days now.
Go out and cut the top 1/3rd of a 2 liter bottle off. take hamburger and a little sugar syrup and place it in the bottom of the cut bottle. Then invert the cut piece inside the bottle....like a funnel, They will get in, but not out. That will take care of a lot of your YJ problem.....i had about 75 my first day i did it!!
Thanks. I'll try that. Great sig, btw.
devdog108
09-23-2009, 04:49 PM
thanks.......i need to laugh on a daily basis!!
Well I've put a few soda bottle yj traps out and will see how many I catch. When I got home it just started storming so I'm sure that will help wash away the rest of the spilled syrup. It looks like the bees ARE winning since I don't see anywhere near as many yj as I did yesterday.
devdog108
09-23-2009, 05:25 PM
that meat will really really really attract them. Watch to see if you can get a beeline on them, see maybe where the nest is....
Bee man 44
09-23-2009, 08:50 PM
that meat will really really really attract them. Watch to see if you can get a beeline on them, see maybe where the nest is....
Will the honey bee's not get trapped also?
devdog108
09-23-2009, 08:55 PM
good point, just use the water, no sugar, and they will stay away. I used sugar water though and had no bees.....Just dont use a lot, like 1/4 inch
3pianists
09-23-2009, 09:07 PM
I think I'll try a trap just because I hate the doggone bugs so much--got twelve stings digging potatoes this summer... :doh:
devdog108
09-23-2009, 09:09 PM
the traps i bought didnt work as good..... those 2 liter traps work awesome...
I use about a cup of Pepsi (not coke!) in a plastic 2 litre bottle, and a hot dog hooked on a paper clip inside the bottle. I cut about 3 holes in the shoulder of the 2 liter bottle for the wj's to get into and then hang it from a tree from twine wrapped around the neck of the bottle. The bees don't bother it because the meat repels them, but I do get some moths as well.
Well we had a torrential downpour last night just after I put the soda-bottle traps out. I'm sure it washed away any traces of the syrup I spilled.
This morning I found several dozen yj in the two traps but none anywhere else including around the hives so I think i'm alright.
I know to be more careful when feeding!
Dave Burrup
09-24-2009, 10:38 AM
There is a recipe on here somewhere for a yellowjacket trap that we used last fall. It worked really good on the yj and the bees were not interested in it. If I remember right it had 1 cup of cider vinegar, 1/2 cup of sugar, one cup of water, and a bannana peel. It does not stink mold or ferment. The bannana peel is supposed to repel bees. Each trap lasted all fall and trapped many yj, and only three bees. I put gravel in the bottom of 1/2 gallon milk jugs to keep the wind from blowing them over. The opeing at the top of the jug works good. I put them right on top of the hives.
Jer733
09-24-2009, 01:23 PM
There are several designs that you can make yourself and as many recipes for lure.
Put them out in spring and if you are lucky you will get the queen.
In the spring, the YJ nest started with just the queen and she must forage for herself until the brood i born and takes over the foraging tasks.
If you are lucky, you get the queen(s) and no YJ's all summer!
That said, YJ's do eat a lot of grubs and the like.