Yellowjackets in wall

Joined
Jun 11, 2003
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1,364
Location
Hedgesville, WV
Yesterday I noticed yellowjackets going under the siding on my workshop around back. They were not there or not active 2 weeks ago when I was trimming with the weed wacker, now there are at least 15 or 20 coming and going all the time. I went inside and turned everything off and can hear the buzzing inside the wall. The inside wall in that area is covered with plywood and it does have a small hole or 2 in it from previously bolted on items and while I was there 2 came out the hole, looked around and went back in. I put duct tape over the holes and called an exterminator. They sent an inspector out today and quoted me $425 to fog and dust the cavities. My old guy who went out of business and sold out to this larger company use to charge me $175 for a single treatment but I have not had to use him for the last 3 years. I know prices have increased everywhere but wondering if anyone has had this done recently and the cost.
 
We had some going in through a small hole in the mortar between bricks. I think the nest was behind some insulation in the rim joists as I was finding a few of them in the basement.

Anyway, I mixed up some insecticide in our garden sprayer and shot a stream into the hole. They came and went for a few hours after that but it stopped, and I then plugged up the hole in a couple of days when I was sure they were dead. No more in the basement either. I'll pull out the insulation later and see what was going on in that spot, but I don't like bugs and maybe I'll just leave the dead ones alone.

I got the insecticide on Amazon and mixed it double the label for what it's worth.
 
Thanks guys, I think I am going to get one of those dusters. I have a large container of Sevin dust and this looks like the right way to get it into the wall at night of course. I dont like yellowjackets in the fall. They seem to get very aggressive when the weather starts to cool off.
 
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I've had good luck propping a shop vac hose right at the opening and let the vacuum run for an hour or two to suck up most of the yellow jackets. Then after dark, dust the hole with sevin powder or the product of your liking.
 
Thanks guys, I think I am going to get one of those dusters. I have a large container of Sevin dust and this looks like the right way to get it into the wall at night of course. I dont like yellowjackets in the fall. They seem to get very aggressive when the weather starts to cool off.
I think the modern formulation for Sevin uses bifenthrin, which is what I bought on Amazon. It dispatched them pretty well.
 
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When I lived in Western Washington, this was the time of year to discover the underground nests of yellow jackets. I found a tablespoon of any powdered insecticide eliminated them by the next morning, every time.
 
I've had good luck propping a shop vac hose right at the opening and let the vacuum run for an hour or two to suck up most of the yellow jackets. Then after dark, dust the hole with sevin powder or the product of your liking.
I did that the last time I had a small nest near my deck. I put about an inch of soapy water in the bottom of it and watched from inside while they tried to fly into the hole and would disappear up the hose, I got about 75 before they stopped, but this nest is much to big. From inside the shop the wall sounds like a fan is running in it and there is a constant mass of 20 or so coming and going all the time, they look like they are in a holding pattern waiting to get in.
 
Yesterday I noticed yellowjackets going under the siding on my workshop around back. They were not there or not active 2 weeks ago when I was trimming with the weed wacker, now there are at least 15 or 20 coming and going all the time. I went inside and turned everything off and can hear the buzzing inside the wall. The inside wall in that area is covered with plywood and it does have a small hole or 2 in it from previously bolted on items and while I was there 2 came out the hole, looked around and went back in. I put duct tape over the holes and called an exterminator. They sent an inspector out today and quoted me $425 to fog and dust the cavities. My old guy who went out of business and sold out to this larger company use to charge me $175 for a single treatment but I have not had to use him for the last 3 years. I know prices have increased everywhere but wondering if anyone has had this done recently and the cost.
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I did that the last time I had a small nest near my deck. I put about an inch of soapy water in the bottom of it and watched from inside while they tried to fly into the hole and would disappear up the hose, I got about 75 before they stopped, but this nest is much to big. From inside the shop the wall sounds like a fan is running in it and there is a constant mass of 20 or so coming and going all the time, they look like they are in a holding pattern waiting to get in.
Yeow.
 
Have someone else empty the shop vac
I stuff a rag in the end of the hose and let the shop vac sit a few days, then remove and toss the bag. I don't know how long those suckers survive in the shop vac, but there's no signs of life after a few days.
 
Yellowjackets are the worst in the fall. Their after anything with sugar. Protein in the spring. Maybe that's why they so nasty in the fall. Jacked up on a sugar high. And I'm allergic to them to boot. I swell up like you wouldn't believe. Gotta go to Urgent Care to get a shot everytime. Be careful with them in the fall.
 
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