The Sting of Yellow Jackets & Bad Service

They say start anywhere so, this will be my first post. I am an organic gardener. Insects and other wildlife have their roles to play in both gardening success and failure so, there is my mental link. Organization is happening, step by step so, please excuse my pest control induced diatribe. I won't name them here, since there is a yelp review. I promise to include more useful information toward the bottom so you can TL;DR HERE.

I usually leave the insects well enough alone. They don't bother me and I don't bother them. I use Captain Jack's 3 in 1 Neem Oil on my garden veggies, which works for most veggie munching insects, diseases and mite issues.

For the past 10 years, I have had recurring solitary ground bees living inside the hollows of the furniture on our front porch. I would often spend time on the shaded deck to do crafts and gardening tasks. Sometimes a bee would hover so close, I could feel the breeze from its wings on my skin, then it would fly to it's home. I never swatted or yelled at them. We all existed in the same space together and there were no issues.

I was happy to see the ground bees back again this year, buzzing around but, eventually, I realized there were more than a few and, they were definitely not bees. A few weeks ago, I stood by the banister, tending to one of the garden boxes, when I was struck in the back of the neck by an angry yellow jacket. The pain was immense, with the sting lasted for days and my neck was swollen on one side from fluid for a week.

This is a Ground Bee

This is a Yellow Jacket

(Left: Ground, Bee Right Yellow Jacket)

I usually sit out with a simple box fan, to blow the mosquitos away while I sit on the deck. I decided to set it to high and place it over one of their paths. Within the day, there were at least 30 dismembered yellow jacket corpses in the bottom of the fan. I tried this on and off for a few days. Some days, I wouldn't see any. Other days, I saw at least a dozen hovering about, trying to figure out the fan. 

Five days later, I was stung again, this time it got into my shirt, into the house and, my dutiful foster kitten caught and ate it immediately. He was fine.

I broke down and started using wasp and hornet spray whenever there was a lot of activity but, it still wasn't enough. I didn't know where the nest was, just that it was somewhere under the deck. I got on the ground, outside to the deck and used a flashlight to try and locate the nest, to no avail. This meant they are possibly inside the walls of our home.

I generously sprinkled– more like caked Ditomaceous Earth into the cracks of the deck, where they emerged most frequently. I figured the best case, it smothered the nest between the deck skirt and the wall and, worst case, they eat their way through the powder and show me where it is. Unfortunately, they started climbing up into the window trim, meaning it was time to call the professionals.

I called around and set up appointments with a few companies. One gave me a price but, tied it to recurring service, while the others scheduled a free estimate to handle a yellow-jacket nest near my front door. The first "technician" arrived promptly at 7:45 AM for an 8-9 AM window and immediately misidentified the yellow jackets as honey bees. He quickly proposed a "Full kill" service for $785, which prompted me to inquire about the specifics.

"What does that mean?"

"The nest will be gone."

"Does that mean you are going to physically remove the nest?"

"No. I'm going to fill the wall with pesticide and they will be dead."

"Ok. What kind of chemical will you be using?"

"Industrial pesticide."

"Right but, what kind?"

You want the actual scientific name for it?"

"Yes."

"I don't have that."

"Do you have the MSDS?"

"No."

Disappointed with the lack of knowledge and safety transparency, I declined the service. This incident highlights the risks of inadequate training and underinvestment in skilled labor within businesses. If a professional can't identify a common insect and does not know what type of chemistry they are using, how can they assure that their service is if safe or effective?

There are several different methods and types of chemicals that can be used in this situation and, a company that shows up quoting near $800 to pump your walls full of an unknown toxic substance, and leave the dead bodies to decay inside, is not one you want to use. While we have termite bait traps monitored and serviced once a year, because termites do serious damage; I strongly reserving pest control services for extreme circumstances.

While I'm not a professional exterminator, I take care of most pests myself using basic resources and advice from friends who are beekeepers. This yellow jacket issue compelled me to seek professional help due to its proximity to my home's entrance, posing a potential danger.

Having lived here for a decade, I've encountered various insects and wildlife, which often signal necessary home repairs rather than simply nuisances. Addressing root causes usually resolves these issues without harsh measures, promoting a balanced environment where native creatures thrive.

For instance:

• Bats help control mosquitoes; sealing their roosting entry points after dusk prevents them from re-entering after their evening hunt. You can give them a place to sleep by installing Bat Boxes somewhere you are more comfortable and sanitary than your home's belfrey.

• Snakes inside your home could be a Rat Snake in a Predicament or, it could indicate a potential rodent on insect problem. I recommend joining a Snake ID group on facebook. Most snakes are harmless. Did you know less than 1% of venomous snakes will bite, even when stepped on?

• Cleaning up what attracts rodents and insects prevents spider infestations, while most spiders are harmless and beneficial. To avoid the rare brown recluse or black widow bite, look before sticking your hand into dark crevices.

• Carpenter ants and roaches signify moisture issues; fixing leaks and replacing damaged wood resolves these.

• In cases involving hive bees, calling a beekeeper will ensure a safe relocation.

• For severe infestations like German roaches, seeking competent professional help is crucial.

By understanding and respecting the role of each creature in our ecosystem, we can mitigate pest issues effectively and responsibly.

MSDS is the Material Safety Data Sheet, that should be available for anyone handling chemicals of any kind. Here is a link to the OSHA Brief, if you would like to learn more. It's good knowledge to have, for your own safety, if you work with chemicals of any kind.