Ground bees. Ow.
- Thread starter Elric
- Start date
Ian
Notorious member
We used to have lots of those, then the fire ant invasion killed them out in the early '80s. Amdro killed all the fire ants and red ants, then the horned toads all starved to death, then the killer bees came and took over, and then NAFTA happened and all we have between here and Mexico is Mexicans. We miss the ground hornets. 
Kevin Stenberg
Well-Known Member
I feel your pain Elric. Cleaning brush along our driveway. I stepped on a nest. I was lucky and only got 2 stings. Bee spray got rid of them. Kevin
RBHarter
West Central AR
Green Hell ........ I never thought that the thought of Haunta Virus , 4-6" scorpions , the annual what bug is it migration , and 8-10' Great Basin and/or Diamondbacks would look good to me ........ You guys keep talking and I'll be gone before I get the chance to meet any of you in OKC ......... Now you got ground bees too ? Isn't there anything that doesn't eat your garden , cat , have a death sentence virus , turn over cans , stink to high heaven , or attack you because you walked by within 10 ft or leave puss filled welts behind to prove it was there even though you can't see it ?
I'll tell another 40 yr in the desert is looking pretty good along "God's country" .
I'll tell another 40 yr in the desert is looking pretty good along "God's country" .
fiver
Well-Known Member
you just described both Texas and Australia.
it it ain't trying to poke or bite you it's probably gonna poison you.
I can say from experience those ground bee's have more than one opening to their nests.
my [former] neighbor can also attest to the velocity they attain when some gas is poured down the other hole tamped down and ignited.
it it ain't trying to poke or bite you it's probably gonna poison you.
I can say from experience those ground bee's have more than one opening to their nests.
my [former] neighbor can also attest to the velocity they attain when some gas is poured down the other hole tamped down and ignited.
Ian
Notorious member
They call it "God's country" here too, for some reason. I read this somewhere many many years ago, best "no trespassing" sign ever, on a gate in west Texas:
"I know you're thinking about crossing this fence, but before you do, there's something you should know. If the Mesquite, heat, prickly pear, or rattlesnakes don't get you, I will."
At the bottom the landowner had signed his name in blood-red paint.
"I know you're thinking about crossing this fence, but before you do, there's something you should know. If the Mesquite, heat, prickly pear, or rattlesnakes don't get you, I will."
At the bottom the landowner had signed his name in blood-red paint.
Last edited:
Back in the 80s while Dad and I still had the dairy, I was feeding some heifers and noticed a few bumble bees drifting around. One morning I drove up on the tractor and cart with the grain and bumped into an old water pressure tank sitting there by the well. Bumble bees swarmed out and luckily spied the heifers first. All hell broke loose, those heifers were bucking and bawling, and took off down into the timber. Now if you've ever waded through a bunch of tame Brown Swilss yearlings with a couple of buckets of grain you know what a feat that was. Those things will run over you getting to the grain. Early next morning with a heavy frost on the ground, I sneak up to the pressure tank with a gallon bucket of diesel fuel, kick the tank over and slosh the fuel under it at the same time. Got every one of those nasty things. Quite a large nest of marble sized eggs too.
Took a couple days for those heifers to get back to their normal crowding, pushing selves at the feed bunk. They carried big welts for a few days too.
Took a couple days for those heifers to get back to their normal crowding, pushing selves at the feed bunk. They carried big welts for a few days too.
Kevin Stenberg
Well-Known Member
I have seen lots of ground hornets nests, Paper wasps. But i have yet to see Bumble bee nest.
Last couple of years there have been new kinds of bees. A black hornet they are supposed to be very agresive. This year a wasp that is at least 1 1/2 times larger than normal. They are some tough customers. When they fall to the ground after being sprayed. They wouldn't die by just stepping on them. I had to grind my foot on the ground to kill them.
Last couple of years there have been new kinds of bees. A black hornet they are supposed to be very agresive. This year a wasp that is at least 1 1/2 times larger than normal. They are some tough customers. When they fall to the ground after being sprayed. They wouldn't die by just stepping on them. I had to grind my foot on the ground to kill them.
Ian
Notorious member
Years ago I got hit on the back of the neck by a bumble bee once while picking Mustang grapes by the roadside, what sucked the most was I parked right next to the nest and didn't find out until after filling a few buckets. About .002 seconds after the one dive bombed me without warning, the chemical message set off the whole hive. I ran about 1/4 mile down the road, broke up a cigarette and chewed the tobacco to make a poultice, and after a while found a cedar shake and went back after my truck. They calmed down enough after about an hour that I was able to make a dash for it and get all the windows up before they got after me again. Afaik those buckets of grapes are still where I left them in the thicket.
Actually, you are right. My wife should be picking them.
F
freebullet
Guest
I evicted a whole nest of some kinda stinging creatures from my father's gate tube last summer. If ya spray them & their home with pb blaster they die quickly. I dunno, just run what I brung.