Bees like Wheel Horses too!

[PaulC 342]

Got home from work yesterday and my next door neighbor approached me in my garage. Told me shes finally having her fence fixed that's been leaning towards my property since we moved in. She then says but I came to tell you, you have a big bees nest out back. Take a walk around back with her to find this....

They made this huge nest on a parts tractor I have out back that was right next to her leaning fence. I thought it was a good idea to cover the tractor for the winter with an old snowmobile cover I had, turns out not. The guys working on her fence got stung a few times removing the fence panels near the tractor and this is what they found when they pulled the cover back. Luckily within a few hours we got them out of there and pulled the tractor out so they could keep working. Turns out its not just us that like these sweet tractors!

[stevasaurus 23,279]

Cool but dangerous for sure. 

[GlenPettit 1,717]

Looks more like a paper-wasp nest, just as bad if not worse sting than a bee . . . the Bee Sprays will not work on them,you must use the Wasp-Hornet spray, and be careful.

There is a guy in our area that will drive 10-20 miles to come and remove them for free, after dark --- he cools the nest down in his special refrigerator, to 33º for a few days, then "milks" the hornets, one-by-one, to remove & collect the chemical from them that really stings, a drop from each, (850 drops = an ounce), which he then sells to a lab that makes antibiotics.  Guess there are dozens of illnesses that is good for.  "one mans trash is anothers _____".  I think it would hard to remove that nest intack.

[JPWH 6,358]

That little horse sure needed a tail.

[PaulC 342]

Was a bit concerned at first how the demolition would go but it turned out just fine, I didn't get stung once. People ive shown have been saying they were mud bees. My neighbor mentioned calling in someone but time was an issue here as my neighbors fence guys couldn't work with it right there and im expanding my garage starting tomorrow and didn't want to deal with anyone getting stung.

I went in with a shovel and lifted the seat which split the nest right in half and boy did they come pouring out. Never got to aggressive fortunately and about an hour later I pulled the tractor out into the middle of the yard. Her fence guys went right back to work with the bees flying around but they didn't get bothered. Theres a few still flying around the area 18 hours later and they are clear that the  is not their home anymore. Good thing I had no intentions of reusing that seat

[HorseFixer 2,013]

If they did that to one of mine they wouldn't for long. Everyone has their own preference's, but this is exactly why I downsized my herd.     They were flowing out the stable doors and into the back yard.   I wish I could stable more but when living in the city you are limited.   I now keep what I can store in doors without sacrificing shop and work space. With a 2500 sq ft home. 1500 sq ft garage and 150 sq ft Shed all on a 150' X100' City Lot I am Maxed out. 

[WHX?? 51,745]

Easy fix Duke....just turn the house into more garage.....

[PaulC 342]

If they did that to one of mine they wouldn't for long. Everyone has their own preference's, but this is exactly why I downsized my herd.     They were flowing out the stable doors and into the back yard.   I wish I could stable more but when living in the city you are limited.   I now keep what I can store in doors without sacrificing shop and work space. With a 2500 sq ft home. 1500 sq ft garage and 150 sq ft Shed all on a 150' X100' City Lot I am Maxed out. 

Boy that's a lot of stuff in a lot that size!
They did this on a tractor I strictly bought for parts specifically the motor. I had and still have the intention to take off the remaining good stuff and store it indoors until one day when I might need it. I am one of those guys that doesn't keep anything outside but really had no choice here and me trying to "cover" my parts tractor is actually what helped them be able to do this. I am about to double my 24 x 20 garage this weekend so I better be able to keep everything indoors now!

[Brian01 481]

That's a big ol' nest! lol. Tell ya what I'd do, wssp n hornet spray, soak it...come back the next day with a coffee can or so of gasoline and soak it, the following day , remove it.

I have found that gas works much better than wasp spray..

[WHX?? 51,745]

Hmmmm....Lets see...24x20=480x2=960 sq ft......hmmm...... too small ...can't ya go any bigger!?!?!?  Triple  the size means more room for tools, lifts & benches so you can have bunches of WH projects going on at the same time...maybe run three phase power in at the same time.....add a 24x 24 lean to on for parts tractor storage??? Hang on to that thought whilst I go design a proper garage and start a thread on it!

[AMC RULES 37,196]

Craziest looking nest there. 

[JackC 617]

" he then sells to a lab that makes antibiotics"

Sounds like there are actually benefits to being stung by a Hornet, you get the antibiotic for free?  There you go, ole mother nature sure knew what she was doing.

[boovuc 1,090]

It almost looks like a Bald-Faced/White-Faced Hornets hive rather than a wasp hive. If they were small blackish bees with a white-face, they freakin' hurt when they sting you! Very aggressive bee!