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Bees & Beekeeping

Should I remove a yellow jacket nest?

todancewithwolves

14 years ago

Yellow jackets have build a nest in an old bird house under my eves. I love insects and have my garden certified as a Monarch Waystation. From what I read, they eat other insects. I don't want them preying on my caterpillars before I have time to find them.

I don't want to kill the YJ. My dilemma, should I remove the nest? if so, how? Or is the damage minimal and leave them be? I'm not afraid of them.

Your thoughts?

Edna

Comments (3)

honeyman46408
14 years ago
My thoughts==kill them!! I use bug spraythat sprays 20ft after dark and don`t use a flash lite!
jean001
14 years ago
They're out of reach under the eaves.

So leave them be until the end of the year when all will be gone. Then you can safely remove the nest. Even if it remains in place, the new generation of yellowjackets won't re-use it.
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napapen
14 years ago
Yellow jackets are the only ones I get rid of. usually they nest in the ground so you may have paper wasps which are much more docile and I let them nest where they want. They also keep aphids and other bad bugs cleaned out. Our county mosquito district comes in and removes yellow jackets.

I use to take out the nests at night until 3 crawled up my leg and stung me later.

Penny

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