I've lived with the seasonal threat of running
into Yellowjackets' nests for that past 50+ years, and I agree with Marv's
statements. Bees sting only if threatened and of course are enormously
beneficial to humans...they make honey and they are essential to pollinating
crops. On the other hand, Yellowjackets are, like Marv says, aggressive
and just downright hostile.
One of the most exciting anecdotes I've ever heard
about YJs is the one my husband told me about his youthful experience...
He loved to rope calves and other things when he was young, so one day he roped
a stump that was in a large field from horseback. The horse pulled up the
stump and under it was a YJ nest. The YJs came after him and his horse as
they were running away, and detoured only slightly to attack a neighbor who had
come out of his house to see what the ruckus was about. I always have a
chuckle when I think about this, but being stung by a mass of angry YJs truly
isn't a laughing matter. We've had riders allergic to their stings put out
of some of our endurance rides over the years.
Do we have any bee
experts out there to answer a basic question? Do bees return to the
same ground nest year after year? We have a trail up in the mountains
that has what I call ground yellow jackets on it, they come out of a hole in
the ground, and you can't really get away due to a ledge on one side and a
cliff on the other. Needless to say we have had some really fun
experiences there. Now that it is winter we are using the trail
again but I'm thinking ahead to next summer. Any
ideas?
Running 100+ hives may not qualify me as a bee
expert but I know a little about bees. If they are in the ground they
aren't bees. They are likely the hornets known as Yellow Jackets.
When they become a problem take some bait close to the area where
you see them, rotting meat works good, and when you see where they are
coming from the ground, walk up and wasp spray the entrance really
good.
Bees get a bad rap. Very few of the crimes charged to
them are true.
Marv "Bees will leave you be if you leave them be but
Paravespula vulgaris are born nasty then get better at it."
Walker Horse Info & DVDs: http://MarvWalker.com
