Stingy bugs! (Sting-y, as in prone to stinging. Not stingy as in cheap.)

[wesleysgirl]

We have a stinging bug problem -- they're clearly nesting in the space over our mudroom, getting in through a crack between the roof of the mudroom and the shingles on the side of the house. I think they're yellowjackets based on photos I've seen. If they were leaving us alone, I'd probably just try to ignore them, but they're getting into the kitchen somehow and it's annoying, so they have to go.

Does anyone have experience with spraying them with some kind of wasp/hornet spray? Any advice? The roof of the mudroom is high off the ground and will require a ladder to reach it, so I'm a bit nervous about being up on top of a tall ladder and suddenly having the creatures swarm and sting me/us to death.

Comments

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Wasp sprays tend to be able to shoot 10-20 feet precisely so you don't have to get too close. I've used them for various sorts of nests, and they've done a good job. Also, wasps and bees are less active/inactive at night, so spraying after the sun goes down means you're far less likely to be swarmed. I recommend wearing clothes with long sleeves and legs, anyway, just in case.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I think you've given us enough confidence to have a go of it on our own. If we don't do a good job we can still call an exterminator. Now to see if the neighbors will loan us their very tall ladder!

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Those little bastards can chew into wood, cement, etc. and they don't lose their stingers like bees so be cautious. Honestly, my advice is to go with any exterminator who can safely destroy them. If however you want to give it a try : http://nene.essortment.com/howtokillyell_rfln.htm
Good luck.

[kristinholt.livejournal.com]

Be CAREFUL!

If you've never been stung, or only stung once, you may be one of those people that goes into anaphylactic shock... My dad is, and so am I.

Vicious little buggers, I hope you get rid of them. ;-)

[tabaqui]

This is a good site:http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/entfacts/struct/ef620.htm

If they are yellowjackets, be careful! They're VERY aggressive and will swarm you. My dad and i were swarmed when i stepped on the entrance to an underground yellowjacket nest when i was about seven. They chased us across a huge feild and up to the house, and we were both covered in stings.

Good luck!

[justhuman.livejournal.com]

I've got to clear out nests behind my shutters. First I'm going to work on depopulating them a bit with wasp trap.

They sell them inexpensively
http://www.yankeegardener.com/wasp_trap.html

Or you can make them
http://eartheasy.com/live_natwasp_control.htm

Actually, that last site gives many recs for removal of nests, but recommends using a pro if they are inside the walls like yours are. -- Good luck!