# Yellow jackets **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534 "2015-08-22T17:35:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lk122232](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/67e7ee/32.png) [@lk122232](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lk122232)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/1 "2015-08-22T17:35:28Z")
How do you keep yellow jackets away from your hummingbird feeder? I’ve tried everything known to man except a 12 gauge and I think that may be my next course of action. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/2 "2015-08-22T17:42:03Z")
Use a feeder that doesn’t allow the wasps to come into contact with the nectar, or even know that the nectar is there. [This is the one that I use.](http://www.ubidwin.com/products/Aspects-ASPECTS367-Humzinger-Ultra-Feeder-53312) No problem with yellow jackets at all. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/3 "2015-08-22T19:31:58Z")
I use the same type with no wasp or hornet problems. An additional feature is that they don’t empty themselves with temperature changes. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/4 "2015-08-22T22:48:59Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > Use a feeder that doesn’t allow the wasps to come into contact with the nectar, or even know that the nectar is there. > > [This is the one that I use.](http://www.ubidwin.com/products/Aspects-ASPECTS367-Humzinger-Ultra-Feeder-53312) > > No problem with yellow jackets at all. Even with that type of feeder, though, you’ve got to keep the surfaces absolutely free from ‘nectar’ (sugar water) contamination. If you spill any while filling it and don’t wipe it off completely, the wasps _will_ come (and tell their friends). ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/5 "2015-08-22T23:28:32Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Even with that type of feeder, though, you’ve got to keep the surfaces absolutely free from ‘nectar’ (sugar water) contamination. If you spill any while filling it and don’t wipe it off completely, the wasps _will_ come (and tell their friends). I fill the feeder, rinse the top, then snap the top on. It’s usually not a problem, and I never have wasps hanging around the feeders. ---
**Author:** ![lightmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@lightmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightmike)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/6 "2015-08-24T20:24:28Z")
Find their nest and spray it well with just about any flying insect pesticide. Real yellow jackets build above ground nests that look like a collection of hollow paper straws. There are bees that aren’t wasps that look like a lot like yellow jackets that live in nests underground. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/7 "2015-08-25T03:20:39Z")
Mix a tube of Frontline flea and tick killer with a can of drained tuna. Make precautions to keep it away from all animals and pets except for yellow jackets. Laugh menacingly while tapping your fingers together. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/8 "2015-08-25T10:39:55Z")
And now, if someone can just tell me how to keep the feral kittehs out of my yard. Need answer fast. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/9 "2015-08-25T12:41:33Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > And now, if someone can just tell me how to keep the feral kittehs out of my yard. > > Need answer fast. Feral dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Potestas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/10 "2015-08-26T01:41:53Z")
kerosene a ring around the outside of your hummingbird feeder (like the ground underneath it in a tight circle) and take a match or other fire source to it. Worked for me and the yellow jackets stayed away ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/11 "2015-08-26T03:19:03Z")
> [@lightmike](#): > > Find their nest and spray it well with just about any flying insect pesticide. Real yellow jackets build above ground nests that look like a collection of hollow paper straws. There are bees that aren’t wasps that look like a lot like yellow jackets that live in nests underground. Yellow jackets, a kind of wasp, frequently live underground. [Eastern yellowjacket - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_yellowjacket) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/12 "2015-08-26T17:41:26Z")
Near the feeder, set up wasp traps. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/13 "2015-08-26T18:21:23Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Near the feeder, set up wasp traps. Yes to this. Death to yellow jackets. Use the hummingbird feeder to lure them into the area, then let the trap finish them off. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/14 "2015-08-26T18:49:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Feral dogs. There’s an old lady, wants to talk to you. Something about a goat? ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-jackets/728534/15 "2015-08-26T18:57:42Z")
If the hummingbird feeder isn’t cleaned regularly do the birds know to stay away? My folks have a feeder at their cabin but we’re not always there every week to clean/replenish the water.