I'm allergic to stings so I've developed a fool proof method for elimination of them without getting zapped (and a trip to ER)... I use my trusty wet-dry shop vac and some fool proof methods. I put about 2" of water in the bottom of the vac (remove the bag of course) and add a bit of dish wash detergent to the water.. If the nest is under an eave or in the ground or wherever, wait until dark (they cannot see and won't leave the nest) and carefully place the shop vac hose and crevice tool (on the end of the hose) as close to the opening to the nest or the entrance and exit to the nest as possible and secure it. I use a step ladder for eave nests and secure the crevice tool to the ladder as close as possible to the entrance-exit. When the sun comes up and they get active, plug in the shop vac and joyfully watch the buggers get sucked in, never to come out. They drown in the soapy water. I'll run the vac as long as it takes to 'suck all of them in. I've ran it for a couple days before but not at night, only during the day. When you suck a nest dry, take the cover off the vac and observe the thousands of dead carcasses in the bottom and go dump it in the ditch or somewhere away where you don't have to smell the stink of rotting bugs. Works every time. Been killing them that way for years now. A little tip for not getting zapped. I hate them but I enjoy extermination too....
In The Woodyard did a video on this a few months ago. He actually counted every one. Somewhere around 1200. Never would have thought of the soapy water.
Good plan! I'm allergic myself. And if you have stink bugs a pan of soapy water with a light shining on it works great.
A little dish soap in the water drops them like a bad dream as soon as they hit the water plus the scent makes the vac full of dead bodies not smell so bad. Last year I sucked out one big nest for 2 days and had about 1/3 of the shop vac full of them. All nice and deceased. I use one of those Shop Vac professional vacs with the stainless steel bottom tank on wheels. Dump 'em out, quick rinse with the hose and it's good to go back to shop duties. I gave up on spray bombs a couple years ago. They like to follow the spray right back to you....lol
Cats get the stink bugs, they eat them and then they puke, just like all cats do. Worthless things but my wife likes them. Me, not so much. Nothing better than getting up in the morning and going for a cup of joe and stepping in cold cat puke. really starts the morning off on a high note.
I don't wear boots. Had to wear steel toe boots all the years I worked in the steel industry. When I retired, the boots went in the trash. I only wear normal shoes now.
The shop vac is interesting. But for the ground bees and yellow jackets, it doesn't sound as fun as pouring gas in at night and throwing a bit of fire to the hole.... There's something about cooking them that brings satisfaction....
I've got a nest of those Red Headed wasp... out by the garage I found Friday night. When the temperature rises so does there attitude... Pretty aggressive fellows...
I watched the Robertson boys from duck dynasty do this during the daytime and it didn’t work out so well. Make sure it’s at night lol
Not sure if this was in reference to my post or the shop vac... But if for me, yes, the key word prase is "at NIGHT"!! Try any other time at your own risk and peril!
You think they are evil, they don't They are just doing what comes naturally to them. Issues arise when they congregate in your space, nothing more.
Too long of a suck or a weak shop vac. I get close up and personal after dark and I use a 6.5 horse rated commercial stainless steel tanked one. It can suck the paint off your wife's fingernails...lol I never use any more hose length that the vac has and conduit is too small of a diameter to affect the air speed necessary to gobble them up. Lucky you didn't get stitched by a winged sewing machine.
