Any non-toxic suggestions for getting rid of ground-nesting yellow jackets?

[beac]

Last year, I had a colony and I sprinkled diatomaceous earth into the hole after dusk. This took care of that group (the diatomaceous earth apparently dries the insect out and putting it over the hole gets the workers, who then carry it into the queen and others in the nest.)

I've tried it TWICE with this year's group, and they seem impervious to the death-bringing earth. :(

I don't want to do the old pour-gasoline-and-light-kaboom method.

Anyone have an environmentally friendly way to rid myself of these little stingers?

[trud]

1. It says in Wikipedia

that they prey on pest insects and most die overwinter.

I don't like killing things, but I have dumped boiling water on ant colonies that were getting into the house. Sometimes it took two attempts.

[beac]

2. I would leave them be, but unfortunately the entrance and exit to

their nest are both within a couple of feet of my steps so, once their "aggressive" period starts in late summer, we'll have a real problem getting in/out of the house. Last years' was next to the basement door (outside access only), so they had to go too.

I found a suggestion to pour honey down the holes to attract raccoons and/or skunks who will, allegedly, be attracted by the honey and dig up and eat the wasps' nest too. We'll see in the morning, I guess.

[Mist]

3. I had this problem last year--a ground nest near the front door. I got stung a couple of times and

called a local company that uses natural methods to get rid of pests. Just went to their site to see if they list what they use but they don't. I *DO* know that it's important to check if there's a "back door" to the nest--sometimes the little buggers have two access points, and it's important to block both. The "back door" can be several feet away from the nest. After getting stung (once on my head!) I was happy to turn it over to pros, but I didn't want the usual nasty chemicals used (a la Orkin, etc.) I was lucky to hear about a company that uses more natural methods to get rid of pests. Good luck!

[beac]

4. Yes, the front and back doors are both visible, so at least I know where they are

coming and going.

No joy on last night's honey experiment. Nocturnal creatures gave it a pass (have heard it can take up to three days for them to find it, though) and I fear I've only provided a massive food source to the hungry nest. :(

[beac]

5. UPDATE!

After having no success with diatomaceous earth or honey, I decided to try garlic.

I have been using "Mosquito Barrier" in my garden for two years now. It's a super-concentrated all-natural garlic liquid that you mix with water and spray. It repels mosquitoes and ticks but also many other garden pests and prevents them from munching on the leaves and veggies. http://www.mosquitobarrier.com/ (They also make a milder form called "Garlic Barrier" but I've found the MB is the most effective for my needs.)

MB doesn't repel bees, but I was desperate and hoped wasps might feel differently, especially if I didn't dilute it at all.

So, about five nights ago, I poured MB full-strength into the two holes. The next day, many of the wasps were staggering around the edge of the hole, walking instead of flying and, I think, getting a good bit of the diatomaceous earth that was still around on them in the process. By the evening one of the holes had quite a few dead wasps outside it.

That night, I poured a little more MB down each hole.

The next afternoon, I saw that they had abandoned one of the holes and excavated a new hole further into the lawn. So, I marked it with a rag tossed from a distance near, but not covering, the hole and poured MB into it that night after dark. I also sprinkled some diatomaceous earth on top of it.

Next day, some wasps were still flying in and out of the hole but some were doing the weird walking-not-flying routine. I poured a little more MB in the new hole that night.

Friday we were out at a party, so no wasp-eradicating work was performed.

Saturday morning, lo and behold, some creature had dug up part of the nest and removed a big chunk of the comb.

And this morning there was even more of the nest dug up by the new hole and comb scattered about. Haven't seen any wasps today. I've got a couple of large holes to fill in (in a few days when I am sure they are gone), but I'm happy that an all-natural and organic approach actually worked.

Odd that the nocturnal raider didn't show any interest when there was sweet honey poured all over the lawn (which was the whole point of the honey-- to attract a nest-digging visitor.) But I guess even skunks and raccoons can't resist a delicious garlicky meal!

[Mist]

6. Glad you conquered them! And thanks for the link to the mosquito barrier! nt