Moving into our little San Pedro efficiency apartment ten weeks ago has had its ups and downs... I’ll get straight to the point.
So, apparently these little bastards have come to believe we we can share the same living space. Upon first arrival to our humble abode I found four medium sized wasp nests, (12-30 wasps each) PLUS, a large hornet nest of around 70 hornets. Inherently, I’ve proclaimed War and invoked my genetic predisposition as a man to make MY territory MINE.
After failing in my attempts to purchase aerosol wasp killers at the local hardware store, I took it upon myself to 'MacGyver’ remedies. I’m left perplexed and scalded. But I’ll get back to that.
So, apparently these little bastards have come to believe we we can share the same living space. Upon first arrival to our humble abode I found four medium sized wasp nests, (12-30 wasps each) PLUS, a large hornet nest of around 70 hornets. Inherently, I’ve proclaimed War and invoked my genetic predisposition as a man to make MY territory MINE.
After failing in my attempts to purchase aerosol wasp killers at the local hardware store, I took it upon myself to 'MacGyver’ remedies. I’m left perplexed and scalded. But I’ll get back to that.
Now, for the imagery. Our terrace ceiling is comprised of exposed hardwood rafters. Little nooks and crannies exist where the rafters meet the ridge, and these little devils love making there honey-combish hells here.
Now, in the beginning my antics were futile. Just picture a shirtless idiot on a ladder with Formula 409 in hand. A few mists, jumping, then running for the door and you pretty much get the idea.
Come to find out, it only pisses wasps off. I figured, repetition works, maybe? But no, apparently this is not the case.
Now, to give credit where credit is due, Formula 409 is extremely effective on hornets, BUT, you must hit them directly about three times. Perhaps hit them while they’re down too. For a nest the size I was dealing with took near a dozen sketchy attempts.
My reconnoissance has revealed wasps are MUCH more inactive in the evening and at night. However, in the day, they come alive and are extremely intrusive.
I’ve expanded my horizons to employing guerrilla techniques. I’m not going out brazen anymore. I lure them in my home one by one, blast them with a spray of 409, then torch their miserable existence back to the hole they came from. I never thought twice about these cheap lighters… you know, the type that has about a 3” flame on it? As of late, these chintzy incinerators have become a permanent fixture to my pocket arsenal.
Though this method has proven much success in the three to six wasps per day range, the varmints create more nests than I can keep up with. My count to date since we’ve arrived is two hundred thirty nine.
My wife’s hairspray with a lighter seemed innovative. Hypothetically... But, after all, I’m not trying to incinerate the place.
Alas, I thought it a good idea to do a little online research. A few sites mentioned a little soapy water does the trick. NOPE, my soap just pissed them off. The next idea was to throw a pot of boiling water.
Ok, before I proceed, let it be known I practiced this operation in the shower with cold water several times prior. I was a seasoned veteran by the time I amped up the game…
It was about 5:30 in the evening, the sun was dimming. The ladder positioned exactly right under the gnarliest nest of them all.
I eeeeeased up the steps — then realized the nest was still too high and I’d have to change the angle of my dangle a wee bit.
The miscalculations were devastating.
As I released the water from the pot it was already too late. I leaped! But, not. fast. enough. The boiling water hit the ceiling and rained down like hell-fire and brimstone. Luckily I had on a mesh baseball hat and mostly avoided my face. But my scalp, neck, shoulders and parts of my arms really got the brunt of it. My adrenaline raged and I didn’t feel the pain for about a minute. Then it hit me.
I got in the shower for half an hour or more with cool water pouring down on me. Luckily I had some steroid cream for burns in my first aid kit. That stuff is amazing!
After all was said and done, I made way to the porch to see how I did. Their were wasps littering the floor below. Hopefully something was learned from the matter… never can I be too sure though. I am accident prone, that is abundantly clear to me. If you learn well from the mistakes of others, you probably should follow this blog.
Wasps 0 - Jay 239... or is it?
By: Jay Asquith
Now, in the beginning my antics were futile. Just picture a shirtless idiot on a ladder with Formula 409 in hand. A few mists, jumping, then running for the door and you pretty much get the idea.
Come to find out, it only pisses wasps off. I figured, repetition works, maybe? But no, apparently this is not the case.
Now, to give credit where credit is due, Formula 409 is extremely effective on hornets, BUT, you must hit them directly about three times. Perhaps hit them while they’re down too. For a nest the size I was dealing with took near a dozen sketchy attempts.
My reconnoissance has revealed wasps are MUCH more inactive in the evening and at night. However, in the day, they come alive and are extremely intrusive.
I’ve expanded my horizons to employing guerrilla techniques. I’m not going out brazen anymore. I lure them in my home one by one, blast them with a spray of 409, then torch their miserable existence back to the hole they came from. I never thought twice about these cheap lighters… you know, the type that has about a 3” flame on it? As of late, these chintzy incinerators have become a permanent fixture to my pocket arsenal.
Though this method has proven much success in the three to six wasps per day range, the varmints create more nests than I can keep up with. My count to date since we’ve arrived is two hundred thirty nine.
My wife’s hairspray with a lighter seemed innovative. Hypothetically... But, after all, I’m not trying to incinerate the place.
Alas, I thought it a good idea to do a little online research. A few sites mentioned a little soapy water does the trick. NOPE, my soap just pissed them off. The next idea was to throw a pot of boiling water.
Ok, before I proceed, let it be known I practiced this operation in the shower with cold water several times prior. I was a seasoned veteran by the time I amped up the game…
It was about 5:30 in the evening, the sun was dimming. The ladder positioned exactly right under the gnarliest nest of them all.
I eeeeeased up the steps — then realized the nest was still too high and I’d have to change the angle of my dangle a wee bit.
The miscalculations were devastating.
As I released the water from the pot it was already too late. I leaped! But, not. fast. enough. The boiling water hit the ceiling and rained down like hell-fire and brimstone. Luckily I had on a mesh baseball hat and mostly avoided my face. But my scalp, neck, shoulders and parts of my arms really got the brunt of it. My adrenaline raged and I didn’t feel the pain for about a minute. Then it hit me.
I got in the shower for half an hour or more with cool water pouring down on me. Luckily I had some steroid cream for burns in my first aid kit. That stuff is amazing!
After all was said and done, I made way to the porch to see how I did. Their were wasps littering the floor below. Hopefully something was learned from the matter… never can I be too sure though. I am accident prone, that is abundantly clear to me. If you learn well from the mistakes of others, you probably should follow this blog.
Wasps 0 - Jay 239... or is it?
By: Jay Asquith
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