Hornet problem

There must be a bald-faced hornet nest somewhere, I don't know how far away. There usually are a few of them buzzing around my blueberries. When they leave they head east and go out of sight.

The Internet tells me that bald-faced hornets are one of the most aggressive stingers we have. I know I can kill them fairly benignly by zapping them w/ soap solution; and I've actually been doing that for a few days. But they seem to be becoming more plentiful. I set a homemade trap made from a pop bottle, but the wise creatures seem to prefer the blueberries.

Shall I donate my blueberry crop to the hornets?

 

Are you having a problem? I just pick my blueberries. Wasps, hornets & bees have never stung me while harvesting. We each just go about our business.

 

I did get stung a few weeks ago and it really throbbed for a couple of days. Also, my wife is allergic to bee stings and I'd like her help picking! I definitely agree with you on "live & let live" as much as possible, but am a bit worried about this one...

 

They like to build their nests in trees, sometimes quite high up. Hornets do not overwinter except for the females that will lay eggs somewhere else next season. I don't believe that anything is accomplished by killing individual bees, wasps, hornets, etc. The best thing to do is live and let live; learn to live around/with them. Even with the allergic reaction threat we simply don't accomplish anything by killing one here and one there. If the hive was close and visible then it could be worthwhile to eliminate the entire hive but one at a time, now and then, won't accomplish anything. It could even invoke a defensive response that otherwise wouldn't be there. I wish there was a better answer for you.

 

Thnx PABugman. Sounds like maybe if I endure them this year, next year they might not be so bad. I'll give it a try...