Watch out for underground bee and hornet nests

[moss]

While felling a dead pine a few years ago I stood right on top of a yellow jacket nest. They quickly alerted me to my trespassing and chased me all the way to the truck. A hand full of the brutes followed me in to the truck and a bunch kept smacking the glass trying to get me. The next day I brought a camp stove and poured boiling water on the nest. Then I ate some of their larvae. It’s pretty tasty. I’ve also discovered that carpenter ant larvae is delicious and the flavor varies depending on the species of tree they live in.

Eating your enemy is a time-honored pastime ;-)
-AJ

 

[Treezybreez]

Eating your enemy is a time-honored pastime ;-)
-AJ

Think of it as primitive poetic justice.

A couple of times I’ve worked for a guy who had been a missionary to a cannibalistic tribe in Indonesia. That man had some interesting stories.

 

[southsoundtree]

Had "maybe 1000" yjs vaccuumed out by Cascadia Venom Collection two days ago from a "basketball" sized Just found a bigger (looking at the activity and full sun location) nest 10' from where the septic contractor will be digging at the neighbors.

CVC may be out today.

Wondering how long it takes mad wasps to dig new entrance hole if one is covered.

 

[Treezybreez]

Had "maybe 1000" yjs vaccuumed out by Cascadia Venom Collection two days ago from a "basketball" sized Just found a bigger (looking at the activity and full sun location) nest 10' from where the septic contractor will be digging at the neighbors.

CVC may be out today.

Wondering how long it takes mad wasps to dig new entrance hole if one is covered.

Not long at all

 

[southsoundtree]

I bet not.

They haven't started digging close to the nest, yet.

 

[JCB]

I went to the hospital two weeks ago (via ambulance) for (two?) (bee?) stings received while pruning trees. That sucker was furious and relentless, and moved so fast I couldn’t tell what it was. But I soon sensed that I'd been "poisoned." The stings had felt like severe electric shocks, and the bite-wounds were growing painful (one was bleeding). Every neurological function quickly became affected.

Because, in the past, antihistamines had usually mitigated my (minor) allergic reactions to bee stings, I knew that I needed the meds right away. With no time to call for help, I drove the mile to the closest store. No, not far; however, I was rapidly becoming disabled. I entered the store, found the Benadryl, and took a double-dose. I was confident I’d soon feel better. NOT!

While checking out, the cashier noticed my shaky movements and swelling face. She (and two other kind souls) dissuaded me from driving away and offered to monitor me for a few minutes—and that's all it took. In short, I went from standing, to leaning on a stool, to flat on the floor looking at frozen pizzas (all in less than two minutes!).

In the ambulance, the EMT's gave me several drugs but my condition worsened. Their initial aura of confidence wilted somewhat as my vital signs tanked. "Adrenaline! Heart’s too slow!" “Can’t get a good BP!” "Breathe deeper, John!" Scary stuff . . . The EMTs pre-arranged for a trauma room at the hospital—and I got to be awake throughout.

Slowly, I rallied--and the confident expressions returned to the hospital staff's faces. But, had I not obtained the Benadryl in time—or had I not listened to the loving folks who encircled me and called the ambulance—I (along with several medical providers) feel I very well may have died. NOOOWWW, can I get a puppy????

Anyway, the whole ambulance/hospital affair took only about 5 hours, and they sent me home with more Benadryl. Oh, and an Epi-Pen because the medics agreed that "next time" will be worse (and that I cannot imagine). So much for enjoying nature.

PS: Just came from watering shrubs where I noticed another in-ground bee nest immediately adjacent to my front porch. Sprayed them liberally. I must say my opinion (fear) of bees has changed dramatically since that ambulance ride. I recommend having an EpiPen and Benadryl nearby (did you know that Epinephrine has a very short half-life and is only intended to give you enough time to seek additional help?). The medics said the Benadryl I took was what really helped me survive.

 

[southsoundtree]

Happy you're here.


Likely a wasp nest.


Learning to ID bees, wasps, and hornets, along with their preferred nesting places is key.

 

[Treezybreez]

I went to the hospital two weeks ago (via ambulance) for (two?) (bee?) stings received while pruning trees. That sucker was furious and relentless, and moved so fast I couldn’t tell what it was. But I soon sensed that I'd been "poisoned." The stings had felt like severe electric shocks, and the bite-wounds were growing painful (one was bleeding). Every neurological function quickly became affected.

Because, in the past, antihistamines had usually mitigated my (minor) allergic reactions to bee stings, I knew that I needed the meds right away. With no time to call for help, I drove the mile to the closest store. No, not far; however, I was rapidly becoming disabled. I entered the store, found the Benadryl, and took a double-dose. I was confident I’d soon feel better. NOT!

While checking out, the cashier noticed my shaky movements and swelling face. She (and two other kind souls) dissuaded me from driving away and offered to monitor me for a few minutes—and that's all it took. In short, I went from standing, to leaning on a stool, to flat on the floor looking at frozen pizzas (all in less than two minutes!).

In the ambulance, the EMT's gave me several drugs but my condition worsened. Their initial aura of confidence wilted somewhat as my vital signs tanked. "Adrenaline! Heart’s too slow!" “Can’t get a good BP!” "Breathe deeper, John!" Scary stuff . . . The EMTs pre-arranged for a trauma room at the hospital—and I got to be awake throughout.

Slowly, I rallied--and the confident expressions returned to the hospital staff's faces. But, had I not obtained the Benadryl in time—or had I not listened to the loving folks who encircled me and called the ambulance—I (along with several medical providers) feel I very well may have died. NOOOWWW, can I get a puppy????

Anyway, the whole ambulance/hospital affair took only about 5 hours, and they sent me home with more Benadryl. Oh, and an Epi-Pen because the medics agreed that "next time" will be worse (and that I cannot imagine). So much for enjoying nature.

PS: Just came from watering shrubs where I noticed another in-ground bee nest immediately adjacent to my front porch. Sprayed them liberally. I must say my opinion (fear) of bees has changed dramatically since that ambulance ride. I recommend having an EpiPen and Benadryl nearby (did you know that Epinephrine has a very short half-life and is only intended to give you enough time to seek additional help?). The medics said the Benadryl I took was what really helped me survive.

Wow, glad you made it. I would suggest carrying a mini stun gun/taser. When I lived in the jungle of Peru all the pilots carried them for snake bites and other poisonous insect stings. If you zap the sting/bite quick enough, it can neutralize the poison. One of my friend’s dad died after being bitten by an 8ft long bushmaster. The snake zapper was not in his village at the time, so he died three days later.

 

[surveyor]

Had a helper who was allergic to stings (he had not told me). It is not unusual to be stung at least once each year when out land surveying, and sure enough he was stung by a yellow jacket and began to have trouble breathing properly, I raced him to the hospital ER, but they seemed more interested in finding out what insurance he had than administering any medication.

 

[bobs yeruncle]

Wow, glad you made it. I would suggest carrying a mini stun gun/taser. When I lived in the jungle of Peru all the pilots carried them for snake bites and other poisonous insect stings. If you zap the sting/bite quick enough, it can neutralize the poison. One of my friend’s dad died after being bitten by an 8ft long bushmaster. The snake zapper was not in his village at the time, so he died three days later.

tasing yourself after being stung? talk about adding insult to injury (or injury to injury)

 

[Neill]

Holy Moses that is a harrowing tale! Thanks for the shares!

One year as a kid I found a ground nest with the lawn mowers d got stung, as expected. The next mow I just left a circle around the nest and they left me alone. I did that for two years not getting stung again. The circle was probably about 2ft diameter

 

[cory]

Couple days ago I was walking a woods trail with my dog and I stopped to tighten my belt and so let my hiking staff drop onto an old hollow log there to have 2 hands available. As it was dropping I said to myself 'that looks like the kind of log that could have a hornets nest in it..'

Sure enough they came storming out of the log and I ran for my life, got stung twice, they followed for about 30 yards.

A long time ago part of one job was to remove a tall skinny pine sapling next to the house. When I looked at the tree during the appointment, I saw it had a pretty huge white face nest in a skinny ilmb about 12' up so I resolved to return before we showed up to do the whole job and use a pole saw to zip off with one stroke the limb holding the nest and then I could spray it on the ground. So I reached up carefully with the pole saw and don't ask me how but instant that blade touched the limb, they were on me. Got stung on the scalp as I fled in terror and those head shots hurt!

 

[27RMT0N]

Well, just got stung in the face this evening, it looks like I'm trying to smuggle half a golf ball inside my cheek. Turns out there is a nest between the sheathing and ridges in the metal siding of my "mobile"/secondary shop, right next to the door. A really tough spot to spray and kill.

 

[evo]

Well, just got stung in the face this evening, it looks like I'm trying to smuggle half a golf ball inside my cheek. Turns out there is a nest between the sheathing and ridges in the metal siding of my "mobile"/secondary shop, right next to the door. A really tough spot to spray and kill.


View attachment 99387

Not laughing that your hurt but laughing at the rest of it including the photo.
We had a bald face nest set up camp head level right on the edge of the driveway. Trying to be a dirt bag hippy I figured at dusk I’d take the pole snips and cut the twig the nest was attached to.
All I saw was a dot instantly and got nailed between the end of by eyebrow and the corner of my eye.

About 12 oz of peppermint doctor broners per gallon of water actually kills them on contact and acts a deterrent. A hand pump sprayer shot from as far away as possible works well, just aim for the hole in the nest and drench them. I personally don’t like the idea of chemicals and the only way to hit the next well is in a straight line into our garden.

 

[27RMT0N]

Laughing is always allowed Here is another good one you ought to get a chuckle out of.

Well over a decade ago I did something.... sort of...... similar. Only I climbed the a tree at night while the wasps were calm, in flip-flops, cut the branch with a pole pruner in the tree, and dropped it into a waiting trash can with a friend in a bee-suit below. No one got stung. It was for another friends wedding in a day or two and the dancefloor was right below where the nest was hanging, so we had to get it gone.

 

[evo]

And in a dragonfly saddle!