Bee/Wasp nest underground (dog, look)

[ansky]

How do I get rid of an underground bee/wasp nest? The nest is apparently directly underneath one of my bushes as I constantly see the wasps buzzing around the base of the bush, and there are several small holes in the ground about the diameter of a pencil. Whenever I mow the lawn the wasps get really riled up.

I did a Google search and most people suggest either pouring gasoline into the holes, or spraying wasp killer into the holes. The first option is obviously a fire/environmental hazard, and I'm reluctant to spray the wasp killer in fear that it will get absorbed by the bush and kill it. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[TrapperL]

Go to any dollar store and buy a box of moth balls. Pour them quickly as close to the holes as possible. They can't stand the smell and will move. You can also spray them with Dawn and water. The Dawn will dissolve the wax on their wings so they can't fly and the foam gets in their lungs and they can't breathe. The Dawn doesn't hurt anything but the bees.

[luv4horses]

Whatever you do, do it when it is as cool and dark as possible. Or when it is raining. You do not want to be disrupting their busy little lives when they are active as they will show you their lack of appreciation.

[UNC4Me]

Originally Posted by ansky

How do I get rid of an underground bee/wasp nest? The nest is apparently directly underneath one of my bushes as I constantly see the wasps buzzing around the base of the bush, and there are several small holes in the ground about the diameter of a pencil. Whenever I mow the lawn the wasps get really riled up.

I did a Google search and most people suggest either pouring gasoline into the holes, or spraying wasp killer into the holes. The first option is obviously a fire/environmental hazard, and I'm reluctant to spray the wasp killer in fear that it will get absorbed by the bush and kill it. Does anyone have any suggestions?

An underground nest is usually Yellow Jackets. Proceed with extreme caution. I had a nest in my yard and if I even got close, the little suckers would chase me down to sting me. We actually had to have a pest control company deal with it since the nest was so large. If you decide to do it yourself, whatever method you choose, do it at night when they're less likely to be active and repeat the treatment every 3-4 months until you're sure they're all gone.

[harry chickpea]

If it is a single hole, cut a 2 liter soda bottle in half and put half of it over the hole and secure in place.

[OwlKaMyst]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

If it is a single hole, cut a 2 liter soda bottle in half and put half of it over the hole and secure in place.

I don't cut the bottle, I just put the opening straight into the hole. It should be a clear bottle and you want to be sure that the nest has the one entrance/exit. If there are other holes, need a bottle for those as well.
How does this work?
The wasps think they are able to leave the nest, they can see outside. They don't know they are trapped so won't dig a new exit. They starve and die.

[useasdirected]

Originally Posted by UNC4Me

An underground nest is usually Yellow Jackets. Proceed with extreme caution. I had a nest in my yard and if I even got close, the little suckers would chase me down to sting me. We actually had to have a pest control company deal with it since the nest was so large. If you decide to do it yourself, whatever method you choose, do it at night when they're less likely to be active and repeat the treatment every 3-4 months until you're sure they're all gone.

Not entirely. I had honeybees (or very similar looking ones) one year that had an underground nest. Looked them up and they're pretty good pollinators.

But if they're yellow jackets, they don't pollinate.

[forum_browser]

We had ground wasps and poured ammonia in their holes at night. It worked for the season, but they were back the following year.

[Foodmuse]

I have this problem as well, I think they are honey bees and they have taken over my mail box. I can't find the holes in the ground. I think they may be in the post that holds up the mailbox. They are getting more agressive. I feel bad about hurting them but what are my choices?
I hate the smell of mothballs too.

[chiroptera]

I had a ground wasp/yellow jacket nest at my last house, they swarmed one of my dogs and although she was OK, she was stung everywhere.
I hauled brush and twigs from around my yard, stacked it over the nest and lit a fire in the late evening. Cleaned up my yard and asphyxiated the wasps in one go. I really don't like unecessary killing of anything but this was not acceptable since they were a risk to the dogs. They never did come back.