Anybody with aggressive hornet experience?

[BeachBaby]

I recently moved to a rural area (last September). I live here with one man, two young boys, and two dogs.

Boyfriend - over 6'2", brown hair
Boys - one is 5', the other 4'8", one light hair, one brown hair.
Dogs - one is a 180-pound English Mastiff, fawn color; other is 70-pound reddish Golden Retriever.
Me - 5'9", light blonde hair.

About a week after we moved in, we started spending some time outside. It didn't take long for these really nasty, aggressive hornets to make their appearance. They are HUGE, get right in my face, hit me in the head, loud buzzing. If we so much as go onto the deck, they're there in seconds. Furthermore, they make no qualms about sneak attacks at night, if we're outside after dark.

I did some research last fall, and found a picture and perfect description of the culprit. It's called a European Hornet.

This is a summary of what they are:

"In actuality the only true hornet found in the United States is the European hornet,(Vespa crabro L.). This very aggressive stinging hornet was first reported in North America about 1840 in New York state. Since then, it has spread to most of the eastern United States, reaching as far west as Louisiana and the Dakotas. Unlike most other stinging insects, European hornets also fly at night.
The Giant European hornet can be found in both forests and populated areas. The adults eat other insects and nectar of plants. The larva eat prechewed insects feed to them by the adults."

Here is a picture of one:



So after I did the research, I spoke with an exterminator. He told me the best way to get rid of them, is to first find the nest. So we looked all over the place. We used the process of elimination - meaning we used the fact that they attack almost IMMEDIATELY after we come outside, so we know that their nest can't be far away.

We can't find the damned nest.

So he told me that they can survive winters, and will return in the spring, and to look again then.

They're here, alright - and still can't find the damned nest.

The reason I gave you our heights and hair colors is because I am the only one they attack - instantaneously. I have tried everything...no perfume, no hairspray, unscented deodorant, wearing a ballcap. None of it works. I could be outside with the dogs, the kids and my boyfriend, but none of them will be approached by these bastards. Only me - and it's gotten to a point where I'm becoming a prisoner in my own home. Is it my height? My haircolor? I don't get it, but it's really frightening. I can be on the deck at night and BAM - hitting me in the head, getting in my face.

Have any of you ever dealt with this? What can I do to stop this? This is fucking ridiculous.

[TZ]

1. They are homing in on the CO2 in your breath

As do almost all bees wasps and hornets. Do you have a place that *you* mostly sit? If so, look for the nest there. Alot of hornets nests aren't obvious so it could be in or undersomething. But there is something in you thats triggering the "predator" response. So what is it that you *do* that might be different--height? Walk? Where you sit?

[BeachBaby]

18. If only it were that easy, TZ....

doesn't matter where I go...I could be on the front porch, the side deck, the back deck; although it's the two decks where they're the most aggressive. We know that that area is the obvious place to look; but it can't be me doing the looking. It's really that bad.

[Tyler Durden]

2. Don't just look HIGH...

We had a nest in the ground. Found them flying out of a hole that looked like a snake could come out of it, about 1" diameter.

You can't get the sprays that you would usually use on a nest like under the eaves; you need liquid and pour it down the hole.

It is said that they attack based on pheromones, but I vote for color: seems they would always bother people with light hair. They seem to ignore my dogs.

[BeachBaby]

19. When I did some reading on them....

the writer seems to stress on looking in hollow areas of trees, which one has to wonder exactly how to accomplish that. What - I'm supposed to pull out a ladder, climb up twenty feet, just to have those suckers attack me? Yeesh. Don't think so. ;)

I am taking your advice, and will look again for ground holes - as well as under the decks. This could get interesting.

[pitohui]

3. it's possible you're way ahead of me, but look for the nest on the ground

sometimes the hornet's nest is actually on the ground or under a deck or porch, if you are looking too high, maybe this is why you can't find the nest

good luck

finding and destroying the nest has worked fine for me but i don't know if it's the same species

[barb162]

4. Good point and they can alos have a nest inside the house

between the roof and in the attic boards, etc. But most likely they have a nest in the ground. Look for a little hole.

[BeachBaby]

20. Thanks! n/t.

[barb162]

5. One summer that happened to me too. They all came over to me

no matter how many people were out there. Same story, no perfume, etc. Maybe they liked my shampoo though???? Maybe get a different shampoo and try a handsoap with the least smell. It can be something very simple. I doubt if it's your hair color as when it was happening with me that one summer, almost everyone in the yard had the same hair color.

[BeachBaby]

21. Boyfriend and I use the same shampoo and soaps.

It's quite bizarre.

Thanks for your thoughts! :)

[Frosty1]

6. They can build nests under siding

In soffits and other hard to find places. I have found hornet traps to be very useful.

http://www.amazon.com/Rescue-Reuseable-Yellowjacket-Attractant-YJTR-SF4/dp/B00004TBKI/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1208456503&sr=8-2

[BeachBaby]

22. I'm pretty sure they're not nesting in the house......

we've dissected the whole house, and come up empty.

Thanks! :)

[Frosty1]

45. My mistake

I meant to say eaves instead of soffit. The hornets at my house had entered and built a nest in the air vents of the eaves. They also got in under the ceder siding and built a nest.

[Lance_Boyle]

7. I heard they're attracted to Jell-O pudding pops...

[Parche]

8. This Is The Only Aggresive Hornet That I Know About

:woohoo: :woohoo:

:hi:

Use one of those yellow hornet/wasp traps, put it in an area other then your deck,
the ones where they fly up, but cannot get back out......

:hi:

[quip]

10. Parche! You disappoint me!

[Pierre.Suave]

38. You beat me to it

I was going to post the same thing...

[quip]

39. I "beat you"???? I thought we weren't going to talk about that night anymore!

:shrug:

[Pierre.Suave]

40. As I told you before...

you only dreamed that, it never really happened.

:rofl:

[BeachBaby]

27. Someone else mentioned traps, too....

guess I'm gonna have to look into it. Thanks!

:hi:

[applegrove]

9. I have paper wasps. Their nest is inside the eves of my apartment deck.

But they are really passive. Look to your house and find any little hole in the eaves. Watch and see if their is anything crawling out of the hole (such a hole would be as busy as grand central station. Exterminators say it is too soon to do anything about my nest. But I'm in Canada so yours may be ripe to be exterminated.

Sorry for you.

[BeachBaby]

23. Thanks.....

We really scoured the exterior of the house....everything from the soffits, eaves, gutters, and found nothing.

Guess we gotta keep looking! :)

[quip]

11. I wish I could help you out, JGD! I hope that you are able to find the nest soon,

and kill every last one of those little bastards. I'm all about live and let live, but if they chose to live in MY space, well then I will introduce them to the contents of a can of RAID.

Good luck! :hi:

[BeachBaby]

24. I wish you could, too, tamale.

And I'm not a fan of harming anything, but they're relentless. It's scary - even at night.

Thanks. :hi:

[RainDog]

12. wow

a few things about this post just cannot go unnoticed.

- you're 5'9"? I'm a jealous 5'5" potential object for tossing, apparently.

- that picture of the hornet looks like brak on space ghost, huh? and don't you know that tree is gonna be dead?

- and... soooooo, you moved to the country because of your mad farmgirl skillz?

- if you're gonna go swatting at hornet nests, wear long sleeves, gloves and a bee bonnet if you can, or at least a hat.

[BeachBaby]

25. ....

Whattya mean about being a potential object for tossing? I don't get it.

The picture of the hornet isn't my own picture - I found it on the internets. The hornets around here don't sit still long enough to take pics of. :)

Honey....living on a farm has actually been easier in some aspects; hardly any spiders - yay! I don't know where you live, but here in Jersey, farm or not, hornets abound. The reason why I started this thread was to see how people found the nests, because this is the first time where I'm absolutely stymied. Can't find a dang thing. (Ya smart ass) :P

And I ain't swattin' at no hornet nest! I know how to "take care of it", but I gotta find "it" first!!!! :hi:

[RainDog]

43. ...

potential object for tossing = employment for someone of the size of herve whazizname on The Love Boat if he didn't have that gig... as in me=short. you=wow. :)

I didn't know hornets looked like Brak or vice versa or however it is but doesn't that thing look like it will not spare that tree till it's gone??

...and just teasing about the farmgirl stuff cause I'm originally from the south and as soon as we get indoor plumbing, we are gonna kick ass. lol.

the last one was just concern you for cause hornet stings would surely hurt, huh?

[ashling]

13. No offense, but I was amused by the redundancy of your post:

agressive hornet
:rofl:

[Radio_Lady]

14. no offense, but I was amused by the stupidity of your post:

you misspelled "aggressive" :hi:

ps. we have NON-aggressive hornets in Portland. They don't attack anything except the food on our plates.

good-bye

Radio Lady in Oregon

[Radio_Lady]

15. Jersey Girl, you can buy a spray that FREEZES them in mid-flight.

I'll try to get the name of the product, but IT WORKS!

On edit: I think this was the brand. Try this link, but try local stores, too.

http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/wasp_freeze.htm



We had HUGE nests of paper wasps in Massachusetts.

Here, we have practically no insects, but occasionally, a hornet or two will get interested in the food on our outside deck.

They've never actually stung any of us, Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, or grandkids... but they are annoying.

Never tried the Wasp Trap, but may we will this summer.

Cordially,

Radio Lady Ellen

[Radio_Lady]

16. Here's a lot of good information on stinging insects:

Learn something new every day. On GOOD days, maybe two things.

http://wwww.doyourownpestcontrol.com/wasp.htm

[BeachBaby]

28. That's the problem.....

They come out of nowhere, slam me in the face or head, and take off. My biggest fear is that one of these times they'll take it too far (stinging). I've seen the results of those stings - it ain't pretty. :(

Thanks for the info, RL! :hi:

[quip]

34. If you get stung, we want pics!

:hide:

[TZ]

35. I just have one thing to say about that.....

Uff da!!!:rofl:
(If I am coming to MinneSOOOta..I had best learn the lingo, ya?):rofl:

[quip]

36. Yashure, you betcha!

:hi:

[Radio_Lady]

41. Wow! Dive-bombing hornets! Ours are very graceful and polite.

They only want to sit on our salads to eat and then rest awhile. Last year, the painter found a tiny paper next under one of the eaves of our house. He knocked it down and perhaps the family is gone for awhile.

Good luck with your problem.

Cordially,

RLinOR (Radio Lady in Oregon)

:hug:

[BeachBaby]

26. To reiterate what RL already pointed out to you.....

there are many hornets and wasps around here who are harmless and actually elusive. These suckers are ruthless.

Thanks for the informational post, btw.

[CatholicEdHead]

17. Do you have any wood piles?

Look around them and even in the ground around your property, look around the edge of your lawn and wooded area (if you have that).

[BeachBaby]

29. Yes, we do have wood piles and lots of trees.....

of which we have been concentrating our efforts.

Guess it's time to look again. Jeez.

Thanks! :hi:

[mike_c]

30. are you certain that the one's you're experiencing are European hornets?

They're usually not as aggressive as you're describing, plus the nests are not usually very hard to locate. First, are they yellow and black or white and black? If the latter, then they're baldfaced hornets, but I figure they're more likely yellow and black or you would have identified them easier.

Are they REALLY, strikingly big? Like an inch or more, often an inch and a half? Or are they smaller, about the size of a largish house fly? European hornets are big suckers, and pretty hairy. Yellow jackets are much smaller and much more aggressive, with relatively few hairs.

European hornets usually nest in trees. Follow some foragers back to their nest by leaving them some food scraps and watching the direction they fly off with the booty. Just keep following. European hornet's nests are paper but usually in a cavity or such in the tree rather than a hanging paper ball like baldfaced hornets and other paper wasps. Sometimes they nest in walls, too. You'll see the hornets coming and going from the next entrance-- if it's an active nest, it's hard to miss. If it's a dangly paper nest, it's probably not a European hornet.

Yellowjackets also make a paper nest but it's almost always underground. Again, follow the foragers back to the nest by giving them some food to carry back with them. You'll find the nest the same way, by watching the steady stream of wasps flying in and out of a small hole in the ground, but be careful not to approach to closely, especially during daylight. Yellow jackets are VERY aggressive nest defenders.

Once you're absolutely sure where the nest is, call your local state extension office for control suggestions.

[BeachBaby]

31. 99.9% sure......

Did you see the picture above? The hornets we're dealing with are a perfect match, and we've been told before that these hornets are quite common here (I've seen them here and there over the years, just not this aggressive).

I imagine their aggression is a result of me being on their turf. I just wish I knew exactly what the boundary lines are! LOL

FWIW, I have read many articles about their aggression, and that they will sting you right in the face if they feel the need. Yikes.

But you're right about one thing.....alot of articles mention the nests in trees, namely hollow trees.

Yes, they're BIG. Between one and two inches. Hairy. Creepy.

Maybe I'll get out the binoculars and stare at the trees for awhile. Thanks! :hi:

[mike_c]

33. well, if they're that big then you're almost certainly right....

If you catch one more-or-less intact you can PM me for an address and I'll positively ID it for you. If the nest isn't obvious a temporary feeding station will help you locate it. Keep moving the feeding station in the direction the hornets depart toward until you get close enough to the nest to locate it. Crumbled hamburger on a saucer with some honey-water sprinkled over it should be pretty attractive, I would think (although it will probably draw yellowjackets from the next county).

It's surprising they're so aggressive. Despite their size, European hornets are usually not aggressive and since a large nest consumes thousands of other insects, they're usually considered beneficial as long as they don't damage shrubs too badly collecting bark fibers or live inside walls where large nests can be smelly and noisy, as well as introducing the hornets to the interior of houses.

[Digit]

32. It is claimed that wearing light colors keep those dang asian tiger mosquitoes from seeing you

I wear a nasty white shirt I bought at Goodwill if I am going to be doing any yardwork, and it does work to keep the little buggers off of me. Perhaps it will also apply here. Oh, and try out the fan in the store first...there is some real junk out there.

Since I also like to take my parrot outside, I will take a strong fan out with us and have it blowing on her. They can't fly in the strong wind.

[Taverner]

37. Here's one trick - it may or may not work

They are usually meat eaters. Leave out a steak (or a piece of cake) and wait for them to descent. It is important to do this away from your home, and in the yard.

Then after they discover the food, look for their line. They should form a "bee line" from the food back to their nest.

[Radio_Lady]

42. Ha-ha-ha! The hornets are forming a BEE LINE! That's hysterical!

But then again, there is no such thing as a HORNET LINE, is there?

:rofl:

[Jamastiene]

44. No kidding, try this.

Get some garlic oil tablets from the herbal section of your local grocery store. Try taking one and going outside.

Barring smelling like garlic forever, try looking under the eave of your house. If you have a brick home, look on the mortar. There are insects that will drill holes in your mortar. Once they leave, others will use the convenient already-built shelter. They may be hiding out in there. Check your attic too. The little bastards could be anywhere.

Also, you could try some insect repellent. Other than that, flick a lighter every time the little bastards get near you. Have the Raid nearby and make sure none of your family are in your line of fire though. :evilgrin:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

46. Here's how I used to handle my aggressive hornets

+ +

Drive-by shootings aren't only useful for gang violence.

[NewJeffCT]

47. At least it's not these wasps

the giant wasp of Japan (3 inch wingspan, 1/4 inch stinger)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_giant_hornet

the video shows one of them overpowering a praying mantis:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/07/060720-hornets-video.html

[raccoon]

48. As opposed to passive hornets, or passive-aggressive hornets? nt