Fight Yellow Jackets with a Glass Bowl

Q: I had been fighting yellow jackets for weeks. They had built a nest in my hugelkultur (a method of composting). I tried various methods, including insecticides, but only your glass bowl method worked. You need to get this info out! 

A: It is remarkable how effective it is. I first heard of it from  Dr. Paul Guillebeau, extension entomologist.

To do it, first find the exit hole for the yellow jackets. At dusk or later, using a flashlight held away from your body so as not to attract the insects, go back to the exit hole and invert a clear glass bowl over it. Seal the edges of the bowl to the ground with dirt (this is important).

When you come out the next day to observe, you’ll find a crowd of very irritated yellow jackets under the bowl, unable to escape to forage for food. They are not smart enough to tunnel under the edge of the bowl if it’s sealed.

After a couple of days, the nest dies from starvation. If the nest is under pine straw or wood chips, you’ll need to carefully rake the mulch until you find the hole, then seal the glass bowl to the ground. I’ve done this twice, and I’ve gotten several successful stories from people who have tried it. And now, thanks to Julie, I have another. For more details, see https://bit.ly/GAyjbowl.