Yellow Jackets or Bumble Bees (flower, cypress, violet, insects)

[Sunshine Chick]

I have a ton of yellow jackets making a nest in my mother in laws garage and they continue to grow. They are not inside they are outside and have bored a single hole in the wood.
I have bought spray, used a smoker and water the nest down and they come back.
They are going in this hole and up along the boards along the roof so I cannot get to them directly.
Any ideas on what to do to get rid of them?

[alleycat]

Yellow jackets live in the ground. Bumblebees live in the ground too, but will bore into the soft wood of a house or garage if they find a "weak spot" and make a nest, so I'm guessing these are bumblebees or carpenter bees.

I've heard of people using a dust type insecticide such as Sevin rather than an aerosol to get rid of carpenter bees. I've also heard the suggestion to spray with vinegar, but I have no idea how well this works. After that you need to close up the hole solidly. If you can't get to it yourself, maybe you can find some kind soul who will climb up and do it for you.

Good luck.

[Janecj]

They are carpenter bees from what you describe. I am diligently fighting them in my fence right now. Bored about 3 holes so far. I heard the same.. Sevin is a product that does work if you get it in the hole and kill the queen. Otherwise they'll keep coming back and will bore more holes next year in different place.. that is what I'm faced with right now. Thought I got them last year.. but no... they're back and I'm at my wits end... filling holes and hoping they suffocate.. spraying an enitire fence doesn't seem to work.. don't know what else I can do.

[new jersey mike]

What you are describing are carpenter bees they will bore a 1/4 hole and then a 3" room.
I live in a log home, and it had hundreds of them, saw dust would just fall all around the house.

Buy drione dust Drione Insecticide Dust - Free Shipping
this company is great, I buy from them all the time.
The dust will get on the bee and then it dies.

Also get the 8oz bellows duster / applicator
Crusade/Bellow Duster (http://store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/cgi-bin/Pestcontrol.storefront/4810ba090071a94827404200c15f05f3/Product/View/S220 - broken link)

And then stain or paint any exposed wood.

I have hardly any bees now. After doing this in the spring for one or two years you kill the adults and offspring.

Mike

[Sunshine Chick]

Thanks to everyone.

NJ Mike I am going to order the kit. Thank you.

My real concern is my MIL is 78 years old and has to go by the bees to get to her garage and car.

Do these bees sting or only the queen stings?

Sorry, I have no idea all I know is they are probably in the hundreds and they are protecting the nest like an army.
I do not think I can get into the hole where the queen is because there are so many.
I might find someone who can drill me a larger hole and put the dust in.
Any volunteers??

Appreciate the help folks.

[Northwoods Voyager]

The lick below describes bumble bees, which are extremely beneficial. So the bees that you are describing must be something different. We have many bumble bees around our gardens and they are fascinating to watch as they go from flower to flower, their 'job' around here. Good luck to you in deterring any unwanted bees.


...........www.bumblebee.org/

[andthentherewere3]

Definitely carpenter bees, we have them, too.

In the late-spring and early summer, homeowners often notice large, black bees hovering around the outside of their homes. These are probably carpenter bees searching for mates and favorable sites to construct their nests. Male carpenter bees are quite aggressive, often hovering in front of people who are around the nests. The males are quite harmless, however, since they lack stingers. Female carpenter bees can inflict a painful sting but seldom will unless they are handled or molested.
Carpenter bees resemble bumble bees, but the upper surface of their abdomen is bare and shiny black; bumble bees have a hairy abdomen with at least some yellow markings. .....carpenter bees tunnel into wood to lay their eggs. Bare, unpainted or weathered softwoods are preferred, especially redwood, cedar, cypress and pine. Painted or pressure-treated wood is much less susceptible to attack. Common nesting sites include eaves, window trim, facia boards, siding, wooden shakes, decks and outdoor furniture.



Carpenter Bees | University of Kentucky Entomology

[Sunshine Chick]

Thanks everyone for your help!

[wit-nit]

Here is also another informative site for control of your bees.
Carpenter Bees , Carpenter Bee Control, How to Kill Get Rid Of

Yellow jackets are wasps, a different breed of insect.
Yellowjackets, Yellow Jackets, Stinging Insects, Wasps

[RavynJax]

Powder form Boric Acid is a great product for getting rid of bees and ants in a home. This can be purchased at Home Depot, Lowes and most hardware stores for around $5.00 per pound. First, you'll need to smoke the bees out so that you can inject the powered Boric Acid into the area affected. Once injected it is common to have bee activity for 7 to 10 days afterwards, but it'll slow down and the bees will either die or leave.