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Eliminating Yellowjackets
TRAPS
Trap queens by placing a shallow pan half filled with sugar water and a squirt of liquid soap as near the nest as you dare to go. Yellow jackets can normally tread water, but the soap changes the surface tension of the water and causes them to sink. This queen trap is only effective in spring, but each queen you catch will eliminate an entire future nest.
Later in the year, you can catch worker yellow jackets by suspending a piece of sweet, ripe fruit or fresh meat over a large pail of water containing soap. After the yellow jacket gorges himself he drops to the ground (i.e. into the bucket.) Don't forget the soap, or he will swim to the edge and crawl out.
DESTROYING THE NEST
Destroying aerial nests calls for a professional. If you knock down the nest, it will only be rebuilt and the inhabitants will enhance their defenses in the process.
If the nest is underground and you live in an area frequented by skunks or possums you have it made. Pile sweet molasses horsefeed, suet or other sweet feed near the nest and the night feeding mammals will excavate the nest for you. Otherwise, you can pour rotenone in the nest, cover securely, and run.
Warning: If you plan to go near the nest, do so at night, and work quickly.
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