Like many places, here in the woods we have an issue with yellow jackets summer and fall. The forest and even our yard collects these insect land mines which you usually aren't aware of until too late. The gardener and I have found a proactive plan that has worked well the last few years at reducing the problem at least around the house. During the spring you see the yellow jacket queens collecting nest material and food to start their demon brood. Both of us carry a can or Raid Wasp and Hornet and kill these things on sight while we are working in the yard, anywhere from 5-40 a day this time of year.
Later in the year you don't see the queen as the smaller workers are doing that job and you can't keep up killing them, but late spring, dead queen is dead nest. Finding an active nest in the woods without stepping on it if my SA is working well enough I'll mark it and return with a piece of fruit. Toss it close to the nest which will bring in a skunk/possum/raccoon that night, when the animal is done with the fruit it will dig up the nest and eat the larva.
Later in the year you don't see the queen as the smaller workers are doing that job and you can't keep up killing them, but late spring, dead queen is dead nest. Finding an active nest in the woods without stepping on it if my SA is working well enough I'll mark it and return with a piece of fruit. Toss it close to the nest which will bring in a skunk/possum/raccoon that night, when the animal is done with the fruit it will dig up the nest and eat the larva.
