Hornets, what to do?

**Katharina** · 09-13-2012, 06:31 PM

I have a new pest around. Hornets. So far they are hitting the duck house each day catching flies. Killed several of them. It is only a question of time until they go over to the hives, so I need to find a way to deal with them. I like to hear suggestions on how to get rid of them.
Thanks,

**BigGun** · 09-13-2012, 07:21 PM

12guage, tennis racquet, baseball bat, looking for a solution myself

**Joseph Clemens** · 09-13-2012, 07:29 PM

Wasp/Hornet traps can help. I'd do a search on this forum for that subject. I believe you'll find several threads that address that issue, in great detail.

**mike haney** · 09-13-2012, 07:32 PM

do a search for wasp traps or homemade wasp trap here and with GOOGLE .
this time of year they are after the bees and larvae (protein) more than honey/nectar so you bait them with rancid raw chicken or spoiled tuna.
i prefer the design made from a 2 Liter Coke bottle-easy and cheap enough to be disposable. get your friends to donate some and put out several.
PS MR Clemens beat me to the post but he dosent type with one finger

**Eddie Honey** · 09-13-2012, 08:03 PM

What about that metal mouse guard that adjusts for hive size. It seems a hornet would be too big to fit through the holes but the honeybees can come and go easily.

Like this:
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com...oductinfo/528/ seems it might work...

**scrapiron** · 09-13-2012, 08:08 PM

For you folks up north, Mother Nature will provide a free extermination within a month or so. (first frost/freeze) Unless you see several hornets in a 5 minute period, each carrying a bee away.... No worries. Their resources are drying up this time of year and they are seeking alternative food sources. Unfortunately for us, a small beard is a buffet. Here is a fun remedy. Drink at least 4 or 5 adult beverages, grab a tennis racquet, wait till hornet has bee in its grasp and is flying slowly due to extra weight, apply tennis racquet to hornet in a smooth graceful WHACK.... thus turning it into a fine red mist. Good Luck

**throrope** · 09-13-2012, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by scrapiron

For you folks up north, Mother Nature will provide a free extermination within a month or so. (first frost/freeze) Unless you see several hornets in a 5 minute period, each carrying a bee away.... No worries. Their resources are drying up this time of year and they are seeking alternative food sources. Unfortunately for us, a small beard is a buffet. Here is a fun remedy. Drink at least 4 or 5 adult beverages, grab a tennis racquet, wait till hornet has bee in its grasp and is flying slowly due to extra weight, apply tennis racquet to hornet in a smooth graceful WHACK.... thus turning it into a fine red mist. Good Luck

My thoughts exactly. 'cept the tennis racket, 'cause I'm two-fisted.

**Karen1611** · 09-13-2012, 09:05 PM

I have a horrible hornet problem. There is a recipe for hornet traps. some folks put them right on top of their hives. I have containers all over my yard and I do get thousands of hornets in them but they still went after my smallest hive to the point of them swarming. The recipe is 2 cups sugar, 2 cups water, 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar, 3-4 slices of banana peel about an inch wide or more and a few drops of dish soap. The hornets are attracted to it and the honey bees don't bother it at all. Good luck. I have already decided I will move my other two hives to my friends house if the hornets start after them.

**Katharina** · 09-15-2012, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Karen1611

I have a horrible hornet problem. There is a recipe for hornet traps. some folks put them right on top of their hives. I have containers all over my yard and I do get thousands of hornets in them but they still went after my smallest hive to the point of them swarming. The recipe is 2 cups sugar, 2 cups water, 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar, 3-4 slices of banana peel about an inch wide or more and a few drops of dish soap. The hornets are attracted to it and the honey bees don't bother it at all. Good luck. I have already decided I will move my other two hives to my friends house if the hornets start after them.

Thanks for the recipe. I have this one for wasps, but wasn't sure if they work for hornets. Haven't put out any traps for wasps this year. Should have and I would have known it works for the hornets too. I hope you find the hornets nest so you can take better action. I had to deal with one in Germany and it wasn't fun at all. They are so darn aggressive when you get near it. Near is a very liberal word, we were 60 feet from it and they went nuts.