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Anybody dealt with these before? They seem to be mean buggers. Somehow they built a nest and I never noticed it until recently. I would guess the thing is near the size of a soccer ball and is on the overhang of the roof. I bought a can of the wasp and hornet spray that shoots 20 feet. I soaked the whole nest the other night. Today when I went to check it out they were going in and out as usual. :| So tonight after work I drove my car up along side the house and shot it with my nerf gun. This gun shoots a dense foam ball that had a bubber line coming out if it. I tied knots in the line so it shoots pretty good, people don't like to get hit with it. Well, I hit the nest on the first shot, smacked that sucker good. I was hoping I would get the ball to penetrate the nest but it didn't. Of course the window on my car was rolled up as soon as the shot was off. Right after impact a crap load of them came out. They knew their target cause they all came at me in the car. They were bouncing off the glass and seemed pretty pissed. After getting a good look at them when they were crawling around on the car windows I did some research and found they are called Bald Faced Hornets. I guess the nest is too thick for the spray to penetrate and do any good. I need to get that sucker cracked open so I can nail them. I'll have to post some pictures. Anybody else have any encounters with these guys?

Originally posted by Schwartz
Anybody else have any encounters with these guys?

Yes and it wasn't pretty. My opinion is to call an exterminator. Or you could be stupid and try to remove the nest at night when they are supposedly asleep and torch it.

<a href="http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes ... tm">Here's </a>something that might be of use.

Your better off soaking it with soap and water at night when they are dormant. Your spray can is pretty much useless since the nest is constructed of multple layers.

I've fought similar many times. from wasps(my current problem), hornets, huge dirt digging hornets(godzillas), bumble bees, yellow jackets, etc.. In your case if the saturation with the spray doesn't work then I'd try to knock it down at night. Throw a baseball or something hard at it and carefully try to not damage any windows of course. I've knocked down several that way. They will still come out at night but not as many and the ones who do will be confused. Once things calm down then flame it with something like lighter or charcoal fluid.

If you can't knock it down then use a long pole. I have a real long extending pole I use to clean my gutters with an attached claw that's great for anything like that. Then run or go inside quickly. Once things settle then take em out.

Yea, soapy water will suffocate them. Thats what a lot of exterminators do. Or you could try to find something to plug up the hole with so that they can't get out temporarily and knock it down and torch it. Or my favorite option, find a grenade launcher and fire that at it

Torching it where it is at right now is not an option. I read quite a bit about them lastnight. They are very aggreseve so I'm not going to be stupid about this. If I can crack open the nest so the spray can get inside or knock it down like Blade said then I can get then once they settle down. I messed with them lastnight and they still came out and went for me so I know I can't just mess with it and not expect retaliation. Of course I had a flashlight so that was probably why but I don't live in town and it is dark on that side of the house so I need a light. They seem to be very active but I'll see if I can go out and get a picture before I go to work.

Here ya go, get a fire extinguisher and spray that all over the nest... they're cold blooded right?

Ok I went out and got a picture. It's kinda crappy but not too. I didn't want to get too close so I was a ways away and it was really sunny out so when I was pointing the camera up it wanted to darken the picture up. I'll have to plan my attack tonight while at work.

Judging by that pic I don't think a baseball will work but a long pole will, if you have one.

I kinda like kakerots idea of using a fire extenguisher. I never tried that but the fact is most bees cannot stand cold so it might paralize them long enough for you to safely get it down and then burn em good.

Otherwize I'd spray it with something like karasene or maybe that soapy water some suggested.

be sure you have your escape route planned !!!

that is really neet looking.

Here is what I would do. Knock it down with a stick or what ever late oen nite and then go inside and go 2 bed. and then the night after that go crazy on it. Spray it with what ever you feel like. Just give it a Good soking so all the ones home are Done for.

here is another Idea...Knock it down and put a Rubbermaid container over it. one of those big ones they use for Storage. and Right b4 you cover it toss a Bug bomb in. Make sure U use a Clear one so U can make sure they are all pritty much DEAD when U go to Life it off otherwise you wont be to happy.

Just some ideas there are plenty of other good ones also posted.

Greg

get a pressure washer, and hit it full blast, then run like hell.

My grand pappy would've blasted that thing with the ol' 10 gauge. But then again he would've taken out half the house too.

You could try leaving them alone....or find a really erogant and stupid person, give him $20 and have him remove it. of course have him sign a waiver.

apply flames and call home owns insurince company and say i dont know what happen or how the fire started !

i would spray the nest one more time and do it late at dusk !
and if that dont work call in the pros !
but you and always do the first one i suggested

ps becarefull the wrong stuff can stain the siding and trim and also worp it !

that is an awesome nest, too bad they are so cranky! we needed a pinata at the party that one would have made an interesting glow in the fire pit!