Move over pets, here come the pests. In this case, Yellow Jackets
There have been several sightings of Yellow Jackets throughout Puna over the past couple of years, but the most recent attack in the Volcano Golf Course subdivision has been all the buzz. So, VolcanOhana has expanded to include information on pests. Since hearing about the VGC incident, I received other messages about a sighting (and killing) of a single scout recently in MLE near Jade & 11th, a report of a recent nest found in Pahoa, and of a nest destroyed in OE a couple of years ago.
Rather than paraphrase what has already been cited in an email message to VolcanOhana, I'll include the text and links mentioned therein by K.T. Cannon-Eger, an avid gardener residing in Kea'au:
"A pesticide dust is the recommended treatment by beekeepers in the neighborhood, by USGS personnel battling the yellow jackets in the national park, by homeowners in the neighborhood, and by Department of Ag personnel. Some start with a pyrethrin-based dust. Others go right to Sevin dust.
Keep a look out. These Yellow Jackets are very aggressive and will chase a person down the street. They are meat-eaters and are a danger to native fauna, bees, dogs and humans."
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/kilauea-mountain-of-fire/hawaiis-vulnerable-biodiversity/4838/
David Foote's work:
http://hilo.hawaii.edu/hcsu/projects.php
The experience on Maui:
http://www.hear.org/misc/mauinews/pdfs/20090913_vespula.pdf
A really good photo:
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/24531
USDA requires treatment of mainland Christmas fir trees
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2010/12/16/Hawaii-fights-invasive-yellowjackets/UPI-13391292544406/
This one details the differences among bees, wasps, Yellow Jackets and hornets
http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4dmg/Pests/whatis.htm
As I put the finishing touches on this page and prepared to eBlast news of its existence, a couple more anecdotes showed up in my IN BOX, as follows:
"We have had the vector control guys here for nest of Yellow Jackets or bee hive infestations of attics at least four or five times in the last 30 years. I am sorry to hear they are no more. I think we have a bee suit somewhere. You need to be really careful of the yellow jackets as they nest in the ground and you can put your foot in the nest before you know it, but the nests usually proliferate only in long dry spells, and they are not nearly as prevalent now as 25 years ago. Best practice is when you see them around try to follow some back to the nest, watching carefully where they go, without getting too close."
- Bonnie Goodell
"I had a colony in my ceiling about a year ago on 7th Street. At first I
was told they were honey bees and that I needed to relocate them. After
closer inspection it was discovered that they were actually an
aggressive Yellow Jacket or wasp ... not too sure which. I was told that
they were the kind that also can live in the ground. They moved into my
ceiling and made such a ruckus at night that my son punched the drywall
ceiling. It seems that he may have broken or cracked the drywall in the
attic in that spot and the wasps reappropriated the drywall for their
own uses ... removing it and leaving only a paper thin layer of the
original ceiling in that area. I called someone to remove/destroy them
and plug the holes that they entered from. I have not had a problem
since.
The guy that did the job was Casey Kettler of The Bee Guys at 333-9801."
- Laura Walker
"A few months ago, a neighbor (near Iiwi Road in the Village) about 1,000 feet from us eradicated a nest on his property. They warned us that they had done this and we should beware of bees flying around. Sure enough, we had Yellow Jackets around us for a couple of weeks, and I got stung when I put on a garden glove without checking. Fortunately the bees did not choose to relocate to our property. The take away... Warn your neighbors if you take eradication action and be vigilant for a few weeks."
- Yukie Ohashi
"But, do the cheap Home Depot traps work well enough to put around school? We had some stings last year. Did you know that toothpaste (white, nongel) seems to work pretty well put directly on the sting? Then cover sting with icepack."
- Peggy Heisman
"We are battling a Yellow Jacket hive on the corner of Pala'a Pl. and Pukeawe Circle. We used the trap from Home Depot which filled up with dead Yellow Jackets within a few days. We then removed it and set out a second trap. It looks like everything is now OK."
- Alana McKinney
**********************************************************************************
There are bound to be other types of news befitting inclusion in VolcanOhana, so visit the site often to stay informed.
