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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 6:40 am
by TPRJones
The problem with the car is, what if you slip up and a few get in the car? Do you get out and try to run for it with all of them chasing you, or can you calmly drive away a bit before getting out with some of them in there with you?
It's a bit risky.
Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 11:19 am
by Paul
All the wasp nests I've seen have one entrance. I think they keep one point of entry so they can fight off invasion.
If it's a big nest I don't know how much penetration the foam will get. It might not kill them all.
In my case, I sprayed them ass-early in the morning as I took my father to the airport. First I made sure to fill the hole, then I just sprayed foam around a lot of it.
The foam expands, clumps, and falls so don't be directly under it.
Some wasps inside the nest were entangled in the foam as they tried to leave or fight it or whatever. They fell with the clumps of foam, but I never saw one fly.
The next day I sprayed it with some normal wasp spray (the take-down stuff, that drops them immediately), but saw no activity. I waited until winter to knock it down though.
Edited By Paul on 1284996155
Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 12:00 pm
by GORDON
I am thinking foam, from the car, early in the morning. Been getting in the 50's at night, here... hopefully the nest cools off, too and they'll be lethargic.
I'll foam the shit out of them, then watch for activity later in the day. Big black bastard wasps.
If it looks good, I'll start a nice camp fire, I will get out the ladder, a big hefty bag with pull string, and the lopper for the branch....
I'll be sure to get it all on video. As usual, as long as everything goes as planned, it will be very dull.
Probably will happen in 2 days, weather permitting.
Don't they make some high pressure wasp spray that is supposed to cut into a paper nest? I already have the foam, maybe I can seal the door at the bottom and nerve gas the colony from the top. Then nuke them from orbit to be sure.
Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 12:53 pm
by Malcolm
Just napalm/thermite the fuckers.
Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 2:04 pm
by GORDON
I don't have a delivery platform.
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 10:03 pm
by Paul
That second dosing I used sprays 20-something feet, and it tore the nest in half.
It was under a car port though, and I don't think it'll do that if you spray it at a far-away target.
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:14 pm
by GORDON
Zero hour is 6:45 am tomorrow. Supposed to get down to 69 degrees tonight.... not happy about that. Would like it cooler. Has been down in the 50's at night, lately. Also, might be rain tonight. I would think the foam may not stick as well to a wet nest?
Have foam to plug the hole and spray to penetrate.
I'm leaning toward delaying the action. I have until Sunday, and there is a low of 51 forecasted for Saturday night.
Occurred to me that it would be funny, if I could get close enough, to plug the entrance with that foam insulation that you buy in a can that expands like crazy. Actually have some in the basement. Would be awesome to plug the hole and then throw an entire nest of angry hornets into a big bonfire.
As a warning to others.
This is the 3rd hive in 4 years with which I've had to deal
Edited By GORDON on 1285125398
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 10:07 am
by GORDON
Oh, called it off. Too warm, and it was raining this morning.
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 10:20 am
by Cakedaddy
I thought of the expanding foam as well. But, I don't think it expands fast enough. Tons of them will come out while you are spraying it in there. I also thought it would/could expand too much and start ripping the nest apart. Then you have major fault lines the wasps are pouring out of.
Can't you rig up a lighter and hairspray or WD40 or something and flame throw it?
Does your son have one of those little electric vehicles? If so, and you had more time, I could bring down my radio controlled airplane stuff and we could build a mobile delivery platform for something.
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:13 am
by GORDON
I think the current plan will work... drive the car right up to it and foam/spray out a crack in the window... I just need weather to cooperate, at this point.
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 3:46 pm
by Paul
Cakedaddy wrote:I also thought it would/could expand too much and start ripping the nest apart.
That made me LOL.
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 11:07 am
by GORDON
Going to try again at 7am, weather permitting. Low of 55 tonight.
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 1:19 pm
by Leisher
drive the car right up to it and foam/spray out a crack in the window
You are rapidly becoming a hillbilly.
I look forward to seeing the battlefield on Sunday.
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 1:27 pm
by GORDON
It's all about cover and concealment...
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 7:57 am
by GORDON
Operation.... it sucked.
Didn't get stung, but:
1) Had Ortho foam, and it doesn't list a range at which will work. Only says, "Can reach first story eaves!" Yeah, so that could be a range of 3 feet from the end of your arm? Anyway, I was able to foam one side of the hive, including the entrance, without too much waste, and was about to move over to cover the other side when... I was out of foam. 17 ounce can gives you less than 10 seconds of foam. So I got one side.
I was switching to the can of spray, then, when...
2) The wind started picking up. Just like that. Had been a calm morning, and now my can of "Spectracide: Wasp and Hornet Killer," which claims to have a "27 foot spray," didn't. Even when I was standing upwind and spraying it with the wind, the arc of the spray was just barely making it to the hive which is 12-14 feet off the ground. I was maybe 10 feet away from the thing, which a^2 * b^2 = c^2 means I was approximately 10 from can to nest. Shit was lame. Maybe if you were 27 feet off the ground and spraying it straight down, then it would reach 27 feet.
So, wind and lame spray = I probably still have a nest of hornets out there. I'll take another look when the day is warmer and I can observe the traffic in and out of the hive. I actually got out for a closer look and was getting buzzed, and not in a good way, so that ended that.
I'm hoping that the foam is just super potent and it will soak into the nest and gas them all. Most of it blew off when the wind picked up, though, so it didn't have a chance to soak in.
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 4:39 pm
by Malcolm
Malcolm wrote:Just napalm/thermite the fuckers.
Would've killed them even on a less than perfectly accurate hit.
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 6:10 pm
by GORDON
Here are the facts as I know them:
1. It is presently 60F, outside.
2. The sun is shining directly on that nest.
3. I just sat and watched for 5 straight minutes, I saw exactly 2 hornets exit and 1 hornet enter the nest in that time.
4. I could find no dead hornet under the nest, but with the winds we've had they could have blown 20 feet away as they fell... if any fell.
5. There is a predicted low of 47F, tonight.
6. The branch the nest is hanging from is small, and easily baggable.
7. I have a heavy duty 55 gallon trash bag, and I am tempted to just go bag that fucker at dawn, taking a few stings if needs be.
++++
Does anyone know if they can chew through a plastic garbage bag, and how fast they could do it?
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 11:13 pm
by GORDON
Hell with it.... I had the alarm set to get up before sunrise and bag it, but why bother. Only saw 2 hornets, temps down in the 40's tonight, and a high of 62 tomorrow. If party peeps get in the area tomorrow, it should be fine. I was standing directly under the nest today and couldn't hear any buzzing or anything. I'll just tell the kids to stay away from that tree. My research tells me the entire hive dies out in the winter, leaving only the queen who will hibernate under some log somewhere, so the thing is probably about done anyway.
Mostly I just want an extra hour of sleep in the morning.
Plus then Leisher can see it tomorrow.
Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 11:26 am
by TheCatt
GORDON wrote:I'm a big fat pussy and wish Paul were here.
*Fixed*
The funny thing is that the first time I accidentally hit EDIT instead of QUOTE.
Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 12:01 pm
by GORDON
My kid's birthday party today.
I considered hanging the pinata next to the nest....