Killing ground dwelling bumblebees

[cstreit]

Okay brain trust...

I've got two rather large gound dwelling bumblebee nests in my yard. Both located right near where I've got to do some digging for some outdoor plumbing fixes. So they have to go.

These are the "Big as your thumb" hairy version...

I've tried natural remedies like flooding them out, vinegar - not even a dent. I've tried spectracide insect filler. I've tried Ground dwelling bee and yellow jacket foam spray. An entire can down the hole over the course of a week. I've tried Sevin dust....

...they won't DIE!

I'd rather not use gasoline/brake cleaner remedies because it would kill the grass and possibly contaminate my well.

so....

HOW DO I KILL THESE THINGS?

[T77911S]

pour gas down in the hole.

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by cstreit

...I'd rather not use gasoline/brake cleaner remedies because it would kill the grass and possibly contaminate my well.

So... need something less likely to do that.

[puddy]

I believe they are dormant at night, so spraying during the day will only get the bees that are in the hive at the time. So if you hit them again at night with some spray of some sort then back fit the hole with some sand or dirt that may take care of them. I have the same things happening to me beside my driveway retaining wall but haven't had the need to get rid of them at this point.

[cstreit]

I've done that too... The poison doesn't seem to affect them at all.... emptied the can into the hole at night, covered it up, etc...

[javadog]

I once used a half stick of dynamite and didn't kill them all.

Good luck,
JR

[vash]

i googled them. never heard of a ground dwelling bee before. who knew?

they suggest ice at night, cover with black plastic and let the heat of the day kill them.

i think dry ice..add the element of CO2 death to the mix?

whatever..it sounds like an awful problem to have. good luck!!!

[john70t]

Just dig the trench and damn the torpedoes.
Do the work in the morning or late afternoon.
Should be fine.

I got stung by a bumblebee the other morning removing wild sunflowers well past their prime. Didn't see him. My fault.
It stung for about 10 seconds and itched a bit for 5 minutes more.

Bumblebee stings are nothing. Get 'er done.

[GH85Carrera]

About 25 years ago the utility companies came through the neighborhood and ran new phone & cable at the same time through the easement at the very back of everyone's yard. One day I came home from work and saw a fresh open trench for many houses as far as line of sight in both directions. I was impressed. Then I noticed a few feet of dirt in my back yard that had not dug up at all. The next morning at dawn there was a knock on my door and it was the contractor company doing the trenching. The guy introduced himself and showed me his credentials.

Then he asked me "did you know you have giant ground bumble bees in your back yard."

Mega thousands of dollars of equipment and a large work crew had come to a stop because of bumble bees. He suggested I let them squirt diesel on the area.

Nope, not gonna happen. I did not want the trees and grass all to die. I was big into the hobby of roses so I grabbed a bottle of Malathion and made a pretty concentrated (more than normal levels) of spray and got my good sprayer and set it to stream and pumped it to max pressure. I started squirting and they would come up and out and die in a few feet. When they quit coming out I just poured the rest in the holes.

They fired up the trenchers and finished up the work.

[winders]

Starter fluid? It is mostly ether and will evaporate......

The dry ice idea sounds good too. The cold CO2 should go down into the nest and it might cause them to die.

[ckelly78z]

We have alot of horse flys at our farm, and it is always good entertainment to hit one with carb cleaner.....they spin in circles on their backs as thier wings go slower an slower and finally succomb.

The other method for getting rid of any ground dwelling pest is to route an exhaust pipe from a running car into the hole late in the evening and then plug the hole after removing the pipe/hose.

[GWN7]

Leaf Vac. Put the pickup tube near/over the hole. When they fly out or come back to the nest they get sucked thru the blades and tossed into the bag.

[JacobS911]

Get a bee hat and put on a couple layer of clothes.. dig em up at night That spray stuff is really only going to reach the entrance. I've dug them up before, and really the best way to get the whole nest out.

[cashflyer]

Have you poured gas down in the hole?

Put a speaker near the hole and play Nickleback songs?

Other ideas:
Try a pesticide with good residual effects. Maybe Tempo Dust or Delta Dust - both made by Bayer?
Water wettable Sevin; mix up a batch and really flood their burrows with it. (I know you said you tried Sevin, but do not know if you tried the "wet" type.)

[puddy]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Put a speaker near the hole and play Nickleback songs?

Hah great idea!! You really might be into something!

I wonder if exhaust would kill them? Fire up the Porsche, hook a hose up to the exhasut and pump some exhaust fumes right into the hole.

[MT930]

Rodenator !

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by MT930

Rodenator !

I do have a full tank of acetylene.

[john70t]

Sulfurous comments.

To get rid of all nature, just asphalt the entire back yard.

[cashflyer]

John - Sulfur works for some insects, but I don't think it works on mining bees.

[mgatepi]

Go to;
doyourownpestcontrol.com

I did and they have exactly what you need!