Yellow jackets in my well

[Alternety]

There is a yellow jacket nest in my well cap. It has a temporary power connection and there is a small gap. Just about the right size aparently.

I have put a pherenome based trap next to the nest. I will see if it attracts workers faster than the queen makes them. However I need to put the new power wires in the cap.

Spraying anything toxic into my well seems like a bad idea. I would also rather like to minimize things dropping out of the nest and into the water.

I have thought about going out at night and taping over the hole. Then come back and put a bunch of dry ice on the cap. It they are actually on the cap it might freeze them to death.

Any ideas?

 

[Hube]

Frst of all, there are many types of well heads.(deep drilled, 4", 6", 8"diam,, ,shallow 30" diam, etc, etc.
is this Well the drilled type,perhaps 6 "in diam, with a domed metal cap.?
if it is not, then please describe more accurately what type it is and others may help you out.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Mikey]

Try a Shop-Vac.

 

[Speedbump]

If they are in fact Yellow Jackets which usually make their nest in the ground, I understand they won't come out at nite. So the Shop Vac at nite might be the best way to go.

bob...

 

[Cass]

If you cover the well cap with a plastic bag tight enough so they can't get out and leave it for a week it should kill them, you can also leave a bleach soaked rag in the bag and the fumes will help take care of them also.

 

[Rancher]

If you have a MIG welder, Argon will put them out.

You can also rent an Argon tank from a welding supply.

Rancher

 

[Alternety]

The trap seems to be having an impact. After a couple of days I am not seeing traffic at the nest. But lots of annoyed wasps in the trap. I will let it go for a while and open the cap at night.

 

[Alternety]

Just a follow-up. The trap worked perfectly. And it did not leave yellow jackets inside the pipe to fall in the well.

The traps are generally fairly useless in controlling a nest unless you get the queen before she settles in to make a nest. But close proximity if you know where the nest is may be a good general solution to the problem.