Im Gonna Need A Bigger Boat! Yep, it is true. Ideally my dream boat is a sport fishing, walk-around, cabin cruiser, with an inboard. Size is not important, speed and maneuverability are. But I am wandering into fantasy-land, back to reality. I wasnt actually talking about boats, I was in fact semi-quoting the famous line from JAWS in that I have seen my enemy, and I am not prepared. Living in a rural area it is not uncommon to now and then find an in-ground yellow jackets nest. Simple enough, you burn them out. Now this house has seen the century turn twice, sturdy, well built, sided with wood slats 6 wide with a 1 bevel on the top edges. Nice, but open doors to the window and door frames within the walls for the yellow jackets. A few years ago they moved into a window frame this way. Spraying didnt work, didnt want to block them in, so I noticed they stuck to the pheromone path, no deviating at all. All business straight in straight out, So I grabbed the shop-vac and rigged it up so the nozzle was right at their entrance/exit hole. Got them coming and going It took a while, but eventually it worked, and all they got gone. But yesterday, Shane noticed them at the door frame. Traffic is much lighter, so it is early, hoping to knock them with some spray foam then seal it. Knowing there is a risk of being stung, I figured I better gear up. I do own a bee suit but it needs to be washed, and I never got stung the last time, so I figured a sweat suit would be fine. My winter clothes are stored in an out building. I got up there to find something protective, and there, above the doo,r is a red wasp nest. These are common, attached by a single thread, a hanging paper comb structure about the size of a lime, open, meaning you can see the pupae. Very easy to kill, knock em down with a broom and stomp them, being sure to do when the wasp are not there. Spraying works too. The opposite side of this dimly lit building is vented, so I figure I better check down there to see if there are any. I get over there and I was shocked, they are everywhere! I saw one as big as my fist. I had just checked a few weeks ago!! Okay, okay, so I can deal with it, they arent flying in the building just nesting there. I will come in after dark knock them into a bucket of gasoline and have a bonfire. Right after I spray the yellow jackets. With this in mind I figured I better check the eaves of the house for red wasp, routine. I keep up with it, so not expecting much. I was right, saw the starting of two. dispatched with a broom. My final checking spot was the open side porch, it was clear. So I am coming down the steps and I glance up at the eave and there 5 feet from my face is a soccer ball sized Bald Faced Hornets nest! This is not hanging like they do in the trees, but plastered to the wood top and back side. How did we not see this?? Shane was on a ladder washing his truck 8 feet away from this thing for two hours yesterday, and didnt see it. And that is very odd because Shane is eagle eyed. Okay, okay. I need a bigger boat. The bee suit is washed and in the dryer but I really need new gloves. My ibuprofen, prednisone, and cefadroxil are laid out on the counter. 3 cans of spray, gasoline and matches, and a plan to shoot from the cracked window of the truck, then drive all night if I have to. I am calm, battle ready. I walk to the window to check on the fading light. And there right against the window, hovering at eye level looking right at me, is a bald faced hornet. I think they are on to me.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 01:18:18 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015