We have lived here for 2 weeks. My mom bought a soft set pool for us. One week later the yellowjackets are swarming around the pump and the pool. I am too terrified to be out there and its not fair to the kids. Any suggestions?
Go to Lowe's and get something like this- http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2639539 Hang it away from the pool. Good luck!
I don't have a solution but wanted to share what happened to us. This past Friday night my husband was working out in the side yard. About an hour later, he came in and asked what we had for bee stings. I thought maybe he got just one but he ended up being swarmed by bees and got stung about 20 times. He ended up being fine but while googling ground bees we found out that the ground bees are actually the yellow jackets and because they do not loose their stinger, you can receive multiple stings from one bee. My curiousity got the better of me so I had to go see where they were nesting. From a distance, we did not see the bees flying around but it was amazing to see how quickly they came out of the ground when we got closer - it has something to do the vibrations they felt with us walking too close. I wonder if your pool is placed too close to their nest.
I honestly feel like crying. I am guessing the ground nest is very very close to the pool, under the tarp. Tonight we will have to either locate it or drain the pool...or both.
I second Jennifer, try using a trap first! I haven't had yellow jacket issues but I've used a Rescue Fly Trap for flies and it really works. Here is their yellow jacket version. http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1280011 Best wishes to you, the summer bugs sure are annoying.
Try to get outside in the morning and see if they are coming from underneath the pool tarp. Unless they are right under the edge of the pool I don't think they could come out from under a water filled pool. If you locate the nest in the ground pour gas on it light a match and run. Try this at your own risk though. Make sure your trash can lids are closed because they may be attracted to food or anything sweet in your yard. The wasp traps will work or just place a humming bird feeder with a reservoir on the bottom and they will go inside and not be able to come out, drowning them. The humming birds will be happy to use the feeder also. I know that Sevin dust will kill them, but it will also kill honey bees. Put it on whatever they are attracted to and they will carry it back to the nest and problem solved.
^ :lol: Just a public notice on my part. Some people don't realize there is a honeybee shortage and would think nothing of killing them along with yellow jackets. But, we need the honeybees!
If you find the nest, put your pool on TOP of it. That will teach them! I hate those things, I was stung by one a few years ago, 5 days before my scheduled c-section. My hand swelled up like a balloon, and I had to keep ice on it for those five days, it was SO painful. I even went to the emergency room in Smithfield one night when I could not take it anymore, he wanted to give me a shot and could not tell me if it would have any adverse effects on my baby - actually kind of laughed at my question. I was out of there QUICKLY. So, that is my experience with Yellow Jackets and Johnston Memorial. I will never go near either one ever again.
My husband stirred up a nest of them a couple years ago while weedeating. He ended up finding the hole they were coming out of and went out at night while they were sleeping and sprayed a whole can of wasp/hornet killer in the hole. That did the trick. The next day he dug up the hive and threw it in the woods behind our house. Disclaimer - No honeybees were harmed during this.
Actually that is not true (Albert Einstein never made that comment). But life would be a lot harder and expensive without them and I believe the massive Honey Bee die offs have been a contributing factor in the high produce costs.
Timing of topic.... What a heckof a day!!! My 5yo son got swarmed by yellow jackets. I was told I shoul dhave called 911 but did not. He was stung close to 30 times. He's on predisone and benedryl now and also antibiotics for the strep he has as well. Poor kid. It was like something out of My Girl. He came running w/ his brothers to the house and dancing all over the dining hall. We stripped him and I rushed him into the shower. YEllow jackets were just attacking him and then all ove rhte house! I got stuck, 'B' got stung, 'A' got stung and of course the 5yo got stung multiple times. It was horrifying. We've killed many nests all summer. Honest to goodness, I don't know where they are coming from. My oldest daughter just found 2 more in her bed...alive! Now, she can't sleep. URghh!!! Crazy stuff. HATE BEES. Stephanie--mom to 7
Oh man. Now I am even more scared hearing about your day Stephanie. I am staying away from that pool today. I bought a sprinkler yesterday, they can cool off in there today. :?
Speaking of unwanted creatures... I have an ant problem at my house. Anyone out there have the same issue? The little buggers are in my house. I've gotten the traps, and the powder...but it doesn't seem to work. Any tips?
Are they the tiny black ants that like to invade the kitchen and bathrooms? If so go out and get some of this http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=188371-1321-300&lpage=none and get it NOW! We battled those things all summer last year and tried the Raid ant traps but they didn't do squat. I heard good things about the Terra traps over the winter so as soon as I saw the first signs of the little black buggers in my kitchen this spring I got some. Works WONDERS! They have outside traps that you put around your house too, but I decided I'd wait and see if the indoor ones did the job before going that far.
