tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post1264751360528386355..comments2024-02-25T14:08:42.814-05:00Comments on Just One Point Of View [justonepov.com]: To Kill A Cicada Killer (Wasp)Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11519831519646337908noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-13147744634955340522012-08-23T00:02:41.817-04:002012-08-23T00:02:41.817-04:00Ellie - Have no fear! You can do it yourself. Just...Ellie - Have no fear! You can do it yourself. Just wait for evening (i.e. after dark). The wasps are inactive at that hour and are snugly inside of their nest. Pour in a cup or two of the ammonia using a funnel (so you won't harm your grass) and use the excavated dirt to cover the hole.<br /><br />If you are really that fearful of being near the nest, enlist the help of a neighbor or friend. Terminex / Other are going to charge you a small fortune and since they don't treat the nest at night, they won't actually solve your problem (i.e. the wasps will be out and about during the day).Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519831519646337908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-34993324159345543262012-08-22T22:30:33.440-04:002012-08-22T22:30:33.440-04:00Dear God...
I saw one of these suckers yesterday ...Dear God...<br /><br />I saw one of these suckers yesterday dragging a cicada up our driveway and into a hole the size of a marble just beside it. My husband had just mowed, trimmed and edged our lawn, and this critter built its nest where he'd edged. I saw a mound of dirt right beside it. Only one I've ever seen. Now my husband's back in S. Carolina working (we live in Louisville, KY) and I'm here alone to battle this thing. Best part? I'm allergic to bees! Next best part? We're getting ready to list our home in about a week (being transferred to S. Carolina). Lovely little extra to have while showing our home, huh?! Our lawn is beautiful, thick, lush and weed-free, but that doesn't matter if we've got ginormous flying insects coming out of the ground, does it?<br /><br />Cannot go near the nest for fear I'll get stung (could kill me). Will Terminex/other be able to help me at all? Any other solutions? It appears I only have one right now...<br /><br />Thanks so much for your help ; )Ellienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-3767166914847015272012-08-17T10:24:55.136-04:002012-08-17T10:24:55.136-04:00Anonymous - Sorry to hear that you had this troubl...Anonymous - Sorry to hear that you had this trouble. I can only vouch for my own situation. When applied as I instructed (i.e. at night, with a funnel directly into the tunnel) I had a literal 100 percent kill rate and absolutely zero damage to grass, flowers, or shrubs. Out of many dozens of nests last summer, I have only seen two this year. Bottom line; it worked for me and many other people.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519831519646337908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-27022896332938842052012-08-15T21:15:25.154-04:002012-08-15T21:15:25.154-04:00I've tried the amonia...went thru 2 gallons, k...I've tried the amonia...went thru 2 gallons, killed my flowers but not the bees...they simply make new tunnels! Any other ideas? I went to a farm and fleet store and clerk sold me a dust that is made for attracting/killing biting flies. She said many customers have had success using this on the cicada bees. However after reading the label didn't use...it says that it's harmful to small animals! Any other ideas? They are pretty much done for the season...are there nests that can be dug up?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-63701427944646437582012-08-13T23:35:56.094-04:002012-08-13T23:35:56.094-04:00Anonymous - I cannot speak to the effectiveness of...Anonymous - I cannot speak to the effectiveness of the ammonia killing the larvae after the adult wasps have died naturally.<br /><br />While I can understand your fear of these insects, I can assure you that we had absolutely no problem treating the nests in the evening once the wasps have "retired" for the night. We would pour in the ammonia and quickly cover the tunnel opening with some of the loose dirt from the wasps' excavation. Not once did a wasp attempt to emerge from the hole and harm us.<br /><br />You can do it!Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519831519646337908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-72578585729773435442012-08-13T23:32:45.377-04:002012-08-13T23:32:45.377-04:00Anonymous Q - I'll be anxious to hear how your...Anonymous Q - I'll be anxious to hear how your treatment goes. While the nest tunnel may be long and deep, we never used a hose on the end of the funnel. And I could tell that the ammonia application was still very effective because we could hear the wasps buzzing loudly after pouring in the liquid.<br /><br />After treating many dozens of nests last summer, I have only seen a couple of new ones this year. There has been no ill effect on the lawn, shrubs, or garden plants. And our pets were not hurt by the application of harmful chemicals. I would say that was a huge success!<br /><br />Good luck!Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519831519646337908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-74759726247756147982012-08-13T15:14:12.515-04:002012-08-13T15:14:12.515-04:00What about treating the nest after the adults have...What about treating the nest after the adults have died off for the winter. For me, that will only be in about two weeks. Would the ammonia kill the wasp larvae that is in the nest? I am too afraid of these things to tackle them even at night.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-56712299138905521542012-08-13T09:47:56.334-04:002012-08-13T09:47:56.334-04:00Thanks Ken! Anonymous again (call me Anonymous Q)....Thanks Ken! Anonymous again (call me Anonymous Q). <br /><br />I will keep you posted with the results. I have close to a 100 holes now. Each year more holes appear so it's time to do something about this. I noticed the males are gone but the females are still at work. The "plan of attack" is this Thursday around 10pm. I have 8 gallons of ammonia, a funnel and I'm going to set-up some outdoor lighting. Question for ya...do you think it's necessary to attach a hose to the funnel so that most of the ammonia doesn’t absorb into the soil? Those holes look deep! What are they…a foot or so deep, right?<br /><br />So, you are Cicada free? None came back the following year? <br /><br />If this works, I owe you BIG TIME! Your advice is awesome!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-16495421174405636302012-08-10T18:37:53.763-04:002012-08-10T18:37:53.763-04:00Anonymous - Yes! You only need a couple of cups pe...Anonymous - Yes! You only need a couple of cups per hole. The most important thing is to wait until night when all of the wasps have returned to their nest. If you treat the nests during the day, you are wasting the effort as their homes are empty. Mark the locations so you can easily find the holes at night and pour in the ammonia. If the nest is still active, you will hear the wasps buzzing about. Cover the hole and that will be the end of it! Good luck.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519831519646337908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-83778042941089895002012-08-10T11:27:18.687-04:002012-08-10T11:27:18.687-04:00Game on! These things are getting out of control....Game on! These things are getting out of control. Hope it's not too late in the summer but holes are still there. Ammonia first and if this doesn't work I plan on buying chemicals. <br /><br />Ken - really, only 2-3 cups in these deep holes?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-30664773498342475312012-08-07T23:19:05.342-04:002012-08-07T23:19:05.342-04:00Elle - I treated dozens (DOZENS!) of nests in this...Elle - I treated dozens (DOZENS!) of nests in this manner last year, and I've only seen a couple return this year. I believe that the ammonia works VERY effectively.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519831519646337908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-36024971991311234492012-08-07T23:15:27.086-04:002012-08-07T23:15:27.086-04:00The process only uses a cup or two of ammonia per ...The process only uses a cup or two of ammonia per nest. I can't imagine that the ammonia gets more than a foot below grade. Your water well is surely a hundred feet deep or more. There is no chance that the ammonia would ever affect your drinking water.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519831519646337908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-74121881952230732502012-08-07T15:55:41.834-04:002012-08-07T15:55:41.834-04:00Having been at war with these things for three yea...Having been at war with these things for three years, I really lost my patience when I saw a female go after one of my hummingbirds. That's it! I have so many nests that I decided to try this tactic. I roll up a paper towel like a cigar and saturate it in a solution of garlic powder and Ammonia and shove it down the nest with a long steak. Last night I spread Bugbegone on the lawn and today I bought Spectracide Triazicide and will use that later tonight. I will keep up this battle until they or I am gone!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-50917187049269988542012-08-05T16:38:40.282-04:002012-08-05T16:38:40.282-04:00Some people say whacking them with a racket is eff...Some people say whacking them with a racket is effective but I have two points on that 1.) They say when swatted they emit a chemical that can trigger an attack even though this is not typical behavior for them and the males don't sting at all and 2.) how does this address the the females and babies down the hole?ellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15236080804797728809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-14823445125535707992012-08-05T16:34:46.664-04:002012-08-05T16:34:46.664-04:00We bought a really long funnel and marked all the ...We bought a really long funnel and marked all the holes and poured two cups or more in each nest at night but the activity during the day is so intense it's hard to be in the yard. I was wondering if you knew if the ammonia gets to the larvae in the cicada bug down in the chamber and if blocking the holes prevents them re-emgerging the next year?ellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15236080804797728809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-83111317485530716682012-08-05T15:41:29.121-04:002012-08-05T15:41:29.121-04:00Hi I also have the wasps. Has anyone called a pest...Hi I also have the wasps. Has anyone called a pest control? I will try the ammonia. The only wasps I have seen are the females. I killed one today. But I have bad reactions to bee bites. So I am very scared of these wasps. I want everyone of them dead......Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-16238932270132606612012-08-05T11:48:02.696-04:002012-08-05T11:48:02.696-04:00Sevendust works pretty well but I've found tha...Sevendust works pretty well but I've found that on some nests, you really need multiple treatments. These things are really a pain to get rid of. If you plant grass seed, it will definatly help as they really can't live in thick grass. They always look for bare spots in lawns or sandy areasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-66025307188640998762012-08-05T01:37:28.067-04:002012-08-05T01:37:28.067-04:00I think the cicadia killer is a neat wasp and I we...I think the cicadia killer is a neat wasp and I welcome it in my yard! Beats putting out the poison! They are beneficial creatures in my book. Cicadias are noisy and destructive and this wasp can handle them in such a fascinating way!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-6767780646001740072012-08-04T16:02:49.460-04:002012-08-04T16:02:49.460-04:00I have dozens of nests and the exterminator didn&#...I have dozens of nests and the exterminator didn't help. Going to try tthe ammonia tonight ,but I have a well will the ammonia effect my drinking water?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-9349179324716336122012-08-03T22:03:57.469-04:002012-08-03T22:03:57.469-04:00Anonymous - I treated dozens of nests in this mann...Anonymous - I treated dozens of nests in this manner last year, and I've only seen a couple return this year. I believe that the ammonia works very effectively.<br /><br />A tube on the end of the funnel may be helpful, but I would try treating a few nests first. The wasp tunnels seem to be very well defined, even in sandy soil.<br /><br />The process only uses a cup or two of ammonia per nest. I can't imagine that the ammonia gets more than a foot below grade. Your water well is surely a hundred feet deep or more. There is no chance that the ammonia would ever affect your drinking water.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519831519646337908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-65545705412017901122012-08-03T20:53:10.113-04:002012-08-03T20:53:10.113-04:00We have had these wasps for years but they have be...We have had these wasps for years but they have become unbearable this summer. We have had a drought so I'm assuming that's why they are so bad. We have at least 100 nests in our 1 acre backyard. My husband has killed about 100 of them with a racket but they are still everywhere! We are going to try the ammonia this weekend. I have a few questions though. Our yard is mostly sandy soil. Will the ammonia drain down into the hole with it being so sandy? I fear that it won't make it all the way down the hole. We may buy a small tube to insert into the hole further. Also, we have a well system. Will the ammonia leach into the water and possibly into the well? Since we have so many nests, I'm freaked that we're putting too much ammonia into the ground! Thanks for the info and the help! I really hope this works!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-51832587260926577342012-08-02T23:03:48.025-04:002012-08-02T23:03:48.025-04:00Elle - I have not heard of the dishwashing deterge...Elle - I have not heard of the dishwashing detergent method. Seems difficult to me. Be certain that you are performing the ammonia process at night when the wasps have retired to their nests for the day. Otherwise, they are flying about and will likely create new nests. It's my understanding that the wasps do not care for tall grass (i.e. in an unmowed area), which is why they are often found in a well-kept yard where the grass is short. And while you may have treated all of the nests in your yard, there may be others in neighboring yards or adjacent areas, which may be the wasps that you see flying about.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519831519646337908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-12274924558949994992012-08-02T12:07:46.095-04:002012-08-02T12:07:46.095-04:00I tried the Dawn dish detergent first..it is suppo...I tried the Dawn dish detergent first..it is supposed to remove essential oils of the head and wings and suffocate them...didn't seem to work. Then we did the ammonia and blocked the holes with rocks...I no longer see any holes but am over run with the wasps! All the nests I blocked were in the dirt path that out behind my yard. They don't appear to have reopened. I read they don't like to nest so much in grass...so why do we still have so many???ellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15236080804797728809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-25148457701035253472012-08-01T22:12:10.750-04:002012-08-01T22:12:10.750-04:00jennibean - I can tell you that the ammonia is ver...jennibean - I can tell you that the ammonia is very effective at eliminating these wasps. From the dozens of nests I treated last summer, there has only been two that returned this year. And there has been no damage or ill-effect to my lawn, shrubs, or flowers that were near the treated nests. The wasps tunnel deep, and you are only using a cup or two of ammonia per nest. I really don't see this being dangerous in your garden; certainly nothing like the chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers that are commonly used without a second thought. Good luck!Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519831519646337908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413221578516620291.post-24233658241221942332012-08-01T19:05:15.058-04:002012-08-01T19:05:15.058-04:00Last year, I tried to live peacefully with these g...Last year, I tried to live peacefully with these guys since they don't really sting and kill grasshoppers, etc. But they came back in droves this year!!! Unfortunately they are all in my above ground garden, so I don;t think pouring a gallon or two into my vegetable/fruit garden will work. In the meantime collecting herbs, tomatoes and cucumbers etc. is terrifying...you get "buzzed" by 20+ angry looking bugs protecting their nests. Maybe I'll try the boiling water...but that might also kill all the plant roots. Any other veggie friendly ideas?jennibeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11142385862586427417noreply@blogger.com