Yjackets

[Galapoheros]

OK, I like inverts, but Jackets, no way!, been stung tooooo many times. I was going to spray this nest in my backyard but I don't like that stuff. I'm going to wait, be patient and dig it up when it gets cold, more interesting anyway.

 

[Vulgaris]

Good choice!

Those are Vespula squamosa by the way. Don't do any digging until at least November

 

[Galapoheros]

I have a small nest collection. I usually find many larvae still there in the dead of winter along with one to several queens, the larvae make OK feeders. Do you know if the ones left sometimes continue the same nest year to year? I've never given them a chance to do that if they do, I don't like them around my yard.

 

[Vulgaris]

Got any pics of your collection?

There should be very few larvae (if any) left in the nest by November. The few that may be left are usually dead - they can't take cold temps and the adults cannibalize or evict them

Perennial colonies are very uncommon, so it would be extremely unlikely for this nest to overwinter

 

[Galapoheros]

Don't have any pics, guess I could take one, might have one somewhere, just a few nests. The last one I dug up and several left, cold, just sitting there but I don't remember what month it was. I'll post pics of when I dig this one up.

 

[Vespula]

Nice squamosa colony!

 

[bugmankeith]

They are everywhere by me, and what I did was mix a drop or two of maple syrup with water, put some on the end of a q-tip, and slowly put the mixture towards the nest, all the wasps will drink from the q-tip and if you do it every day they actually learn not to fear you! No joke!

 

[stevetastic]

Ugh. I hate those things! About 2 weeks ago I was cleaning one of our outdoor cages and 8 of them burst out of the ground. I got 2 in the leg 1 in the hand and 1 in the ear which was the worst!!!

 

[sparular]

When I was younger I stepped on a nest while playing hide-and-seek. I was stung 24 times. I had a vendetta for a long time, but I've forgiven them. I'd like to habituate some with the q-tip trick but I don't see them in Florida. I guess I'll have to settle for the 10 million other insect species in Florida.