Re: Yellowjackets, for Duane

**&* L* <t*@earthlink.net>**

GWL: Remember  pheromones? If one yellow jacket is attacked (or assumes so) it emits a pheromone that immediately sends a message that the hive is being smitten and out come the troops. They will follow the leader. And they are a menace, truly. But remember, they close down their underground nests at sunset and leave one guard in the opening so this is the time to get them. There are a couple of efficient chemicals at the box stores to smother the nests with a chemical foam or once you find the hole, you place a large Pyrex clear glass bowl over the hole. At sunrise, out they come and try to reach the sky and, instead, are in an Stephen King world of domes, and are usually dead in a day. Remember, too, all of these insects need water to survive. If you have an extension service in your state, seek their help. Peter

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sally" <sallyroth16@hotmail.com>
To: "Gardenwriters List" <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, September 07, 2015 12:41 AM
Subject: Re: [GWL] Yellowjackets, for Duane

Hacked into a yellowjacket nest with a rock pick (hand tool; all purpose digger) 10 yrs ago when digging out rocks to make a planting hole for a sword fan in WA state. 
Face ~2 ft from hole when they all came boiling out, took me a split second to realize what I was seeing.
Fled. House maybe 100 steps away. Was wearing jeans, boots, teeshirt with sweater and hip-length quilted corduroy jacket over it, buttoned to neck (was cold and drizzly that day). 
Jumped in shower—with swarm still on me—slapping myself like a banshee til every last one was dead. Undressed, killed the strays.
Warily pulled back shower curtain a bit, killed every one I saw on way to get a can of WD40 (most lethal stuff I had on hand, though ever after I keep a can of Raid). And every last one was hellbent on attacking me, right to the end—it was so weird to see one on the liv room curtains, say, and as soon as it saw me, it came right after me.
Yep. Definitely was war.
And they do indeed find every opening. Including eyelets of hiking boots.
150 stings on head alone when doctor stopped counting.
What happens, you ask? Well, massive intravenous benadryl-type stuff for starters. Then constant monitoring for 3 days until most of venom is out of system. No painkillers because kidneys already overtaxed. Kidney failure due to both venom and adrenaline still a risk for next 30 days; weekly doc visits to have tests done (blood & UA) and constant alertness to any odd pangs and pains (aside from the overall oh-sh**-my-whole-body-hurts effect).
All good. I was lucky.

But still have PTSD when it comes to yellowjackets, European hornets, or anything striped yellow and black, incl bits of trash in unexpected places.
I say we take up a collection and hire a pest control company for you, Duane. Those damn things are nothing to fool around with.      
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