Wierd topic--bees

[kloudie1]

For teh mud daubers, I have had really good service from the Hot Shot hanging strips (http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Shot-5580-Unscented-Repellent/dp/B0019BK8AG) They hang in the cabin when I am not there and are in the cockpit lockers and lazarette.. The paper wasps that are in the sail, under the sail cover are always a little surprise when ya put the main up after a period of idle time.. I try to close the companionway and get folks out of the cockpit when I remove the cover and hoist the main.

 

[Ross]

This topic jinxed me today. I was cutting some brush along a fencerow and disturbed a yellow jacket nest. Got one sting on the ankle. I had forgotten how much they hurt.

 

[HalS]

Dryer sheets for wasps

After 35 years of battling wasps, dirt daubers, etc., we started using dryer sheets tucked around where the varmints are likely to travel or try to build nests. You want the cheapest and most highly perfumed sheets available. Look for cheap store brand sheets. We tuck them (a couple) under the mainsail cover, around the mast where the main cover wraps the mast, in the corners of the hatch, and in a couple of odd places inside. We have had no problems since we started doing this a year ago. The stinky sheet smell is gone within minutes of opening the boat, but the sheets seem to last several months before their aroma is lost and need replacing. This is probably similar to the moth ball strategy, but we found this to be much more effective. Good luck.

 

[Forrest15112]

I hadn't been out of my boat in two weeks and just yesterday went down to reconfigure my lazy jack system and run a jib downhaul. I saw the wasps buzzing around the gin pole opening at the base of the mast. It's a 1-1.5" hole at the base of the mast on the 23.5 to help raise it when trailered. Anyway, I was on the dock and had one of those aluminum extendable boat hooks and thought I might plug the opening with the handle while I did What I needed to do. The handle was a little too large and soon as I moved it, a wasp flies out at near light speed and lands on my arm. I was quick enough to brush him off before another stung me on the chest. At that point I ran and could hear what sounded like a half dozen ( probably just one or two) buzing around and chasing me a bit. I couldn't get back near it and left my projects for another day. I intend to go back with spray and then I'm going to seal the mast opening with some expanding foam. I've had good luck with spray, the kind that sprays a stream 10-15 feet, and a little patience.

 

[Steve Dion]

Get yourself an Epi Pen. It is good to have on hand even if you get rid of your visitors.

http://www.epipen.com/about-epipen

 

[Fly_H23]

Ever since I placed a few mildew killer products inside my boat I have noticed a huge decrease in bees. Maybe the bleach drives them away?

 

[CHARLIE STAGE]

I am not an English teacher but the spelling of wierd is actually "weird" it was probably a mistake initially but the constant repeat of it ie."wierd topic--bees" bugged me. After all, the actual definition most often refers to supernatural happenings and Lord knows we sailors do have some belief in the supernatural; bees might very well be an omen!

 

[Pegfrayne]

What about tenting the boat with a huge tarp and setting off a but bomb underneath it? If there are no dead bugs after that your problem might be a nest NEAR the boat but not on or under it. If the wasps don't let you get near the boat to tarp it, you might have to get an exterminator.

 

[JVB]

A "but" bomb should clear out all those nasty sailors on nearby docks too.

 

[RichB]

THE SOLUTION IS.....
Gasoline used to be my best tool but the plastic sprayer quit working after a few minutes.

Now I use Simple Green. It works in a few seconds. Wasps fall out of their nests and spin to the ground. It works when diluted with water 4 or 5 to 1. It is great!

 

[RichB]

Roaches are toast also with Simple Green. Spiders are slightly more immune.

 

[RichB]

To kill wasps 'on the fly' requires a decent spray bottle and a steady hand.

 

[RichB]

Hey Fly_ ,
That works too. But the active ingredient is formaldyhide. (sp??) They work well to keep the mildew out of my h23. I keep one hooked to the front of the Cruisair a/c I use while it is in the driveway. It costs electricity but .... no wasps and no mildew.

 

[jimmcgee]

If you're going after them at night set up a lantern or a bright flashlight shining on the opening where they fly out and away from where you're standing.

When you start hitting the nest with spray they will fly out at night, but they'll fly toward the light. Learned this the hard way when I was a kid and never forgot the lesson. :naughty:

Jim

 

[joelbus]

Bees or wasps?

It make a big difference. Wasps you can take care of yourself, bees? hire a professional.

 

[JVB]

THE SOLUTION IS.....
....
Now I use Simple Green. It works in a few seconds. Wasps fall out of their nests and spin to the ground. It works when diluted with water 4 or 5 to 1. It is great!

Don't get Simple Green on any aluminum.
It dulled the aluminum head of my Miata's engine. Google "Simple Green aluminum" to see lots of comments on the subject.

For example this quote came from the U.S. military:
"Don't use Simple Green to wash aircraft or aircraft components.
It has been brought to the attention of the AMCOM Depot Maintenance Engineering Team that numerous units are using the commercial product SIMPLE GREEN as an aircraft wash. STOP! This product has been through DoD testing and was determined to be highly corrosive on aircraft aluminum. It can also be a catalyst for hydrogen embrittlement in high strength aircraft alloys."

 

[RobertLangdirect]

Thank you everyone for the feedback. I really thought I had this under control. I don't know where the nest is...problem 1. And I'm highly allergic...problem 2. So the last thing I need is to think they r gone and sail off across the lake only to get stung and go into shock. I will scour the shelves at home depot and lowes again. And who knows, the local agricultural solution may be what it comes down to.

So GET AN EPI PEN! I did.

 

[rgranger]

Ditto ! I put moth balls in a jar sitting in the sink. Just put the cap on when using the boat.

A JAR!

Damn I hate it when someone makes me feel stupid for not thinking of the obvious. I'm forever scooping up the moth balls and putting them in a zip lock. I know what I'm doing with the next mayo jar I empty.

 

[rgranger]

...a mistake initially but the constant repeat of it ie."wierd topic--bees" bugged me.

Ha ha... bugged you. Bees.

 

[Ross]

These are some things that I know about wasps and bees. First of all they come from completely different families. Next wasps are seasonal and only the fertile females winter over by hibernating and in the spring they start a new colony. This is the time to evict them. The female will start a nest of only about four to six cells and will lay eggs in those. When those hatch she will feed those and continue building the nest and laying eggs. within about a month the first eggs have metamorphosed into adult wasps that start to help in the feeding and protection of the colony and of enlarging the nest. At this stage the wasps are most aggressive. If you can kill the female as soon as she starts her nest no colony can happen. Wasps away from the colony are determined to return and support the colony. They have no argument with anyone ten feet from the nest but they will sting if they are attacked.