Ground Dwelling Bees.... !!!

[infiniteMPG]

Last year while mowing near a large bush I stirred up a nest of ground dwelling bees that swarmed all over me before I, let's say, evicted them. Several months ago I was trimming near the back of my house and an old 2X4 was laying on the ground, when I bumped it with the trimmer a cloud of them came out from under the 2X4 as they had a deep nest in the ground below the board. Once again, evicted. On both occasions they nailed me several times before I got the message.

With fall arriving here in Florida my southern pines have started dropping needles. We had some activities in the back yard on the last two weekends and both times I noticed dozens of the same looking bees scouring around above the needles around the back yard. Could not see them gathering at any location so couldn't identify an actual "nest", but they appeared to be shopping around.

How can I dissuade them from starting a new nest in my yard or do they possibly already have a new nest nearby that I need to find? Not sure what is attracting them to my yard but with my one year old granddaughter occasionally visiting, the bees need to go. I have over an acre of land so treating or something would involve a lot of ground.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[infiniteMPG]

Quick look online and seems these are yellow jackets and not "bees", my apologies to any bees I may of offended :O)

[Mathink]

Hi infinite,

After a quick look found someone who suggested: "My way of getting rid of the yellow jackets cheap and easy is to find the hole in the ground and place something on the ground just inches from it. Wait until an hour after dark for them to all get in for the night. Next take an empty coke bottle, fill it with gasoline, take a flashlight and something to go over the hole like a piece wood board about 6 in to cover the hole, then quickly put the neck of the bottle in the hole till empty, then move it and cover the hole with the wood. Next AM move the board they are all dead."

Although somebody else quickly pointed out this BADLY contaminates the soil all around the nest...

Other people suggested getting a professional company in to get rid of the bees, although this may turn out pretty expensive...

A cheaper way: "Do this at night right before it gets real dark!

"Go to your local hardware store pick up a three pack of indoor insect fogger, duct tape the fogger can to a stick or pole (because the hornets will crawl out and sting your hand if you hold it, have had a couple of stings this way) click the continuous on the fogger can stick it in the hole. The fog will go through every hole in your yard, wall etc. you can see the fog of spray clouding out.

"I guarantee every yellow jacket in the hole will be dead, be it in a wall or hole. If you think you need more go for it as you get 3 cans in a pack.

"Safe cheap easy way to rid the bugs without doing dangerous thins with gasoline etc."

Hope this helps!

[Frank]

Much better to pour in a bottle of Sevin solution or Malathion, whatever on hand. I find I can even do this during the day with yellow jackets if I first blast opening with a knock down spray.

[Red]

Not true. Diesel fuel or kerosene may contaminate the soil but gasoline evaporates very fast and leaves little-to-no residue in the soil. EPA cleanup of most gasoline spills only requires spreading the soil so sun & air can aid evaporation. A coke bottle full would evaporate very fast with no contamination.

Red

[Stubby]

Well, if you don't blow yourself up, you are likely to start a ground fire. This can travel in the thatch under grass and can spread quickly. I had one such incident about 20 years ago when a "Gopher Gasser" blew a spark out of the hole and started a fire. I had a rake and thought I could easily put it out. But it kept spreading and at that point the hose I had prepared could no longer reach. I call the Fire Department.

[Red]

Uh, no one said anything about igniting the gas to burn them out. Gas fumes by themselves are highly toxic to the critters.

I assume most intelligent people know to keep flames away from gasoline. Those that don't can learn the hard way.

Red

[Jon Danniken]

Can't help you find the nest, but the next time you do find one, go out just after dark and stick a garden hose in the hole. Make sure it's snug.

Go back to the spigot and turn on the water. Go in the house and eat some food or something.

When you have completely forgotten about the water being left on, and remember that it has been on for a while, go turn it off.

Jon