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ScottGem · Sep 26, 2011, 03:45 AM

Yesterday, my bicycle club ran its annual event ride. An event ride, for those that don't know, is a large scale ride with hundreds of participants. Generally such rides have multiple routes with different mileages and include rest stops where food, liquids and facilities are available for participants.

The food generally consists of stuff like fruit (bananas, oranges), trail mix, cookies. Drink is generally powdered sport drinks in large coolers.

The problem is this all attracts yellow jackets in hordes. This year was worse than other years (not sure why). But there were dozens of them hanging around the food tables. We had at least 4 stings at the rest stop I worked at.

So I'm asking for any suggestions on ways to control this. Is there anything we can do short of putting a bubble around the food, to keep them away?

Aurora_Bell · Sep 26, 2011, 06:46 AM

Scott, we are having the same issue up here as well. Have you guys thought about putting the fake hornets nests around the food stations? Hornets are the yellow jackets natural enemy and when they see the fake nest they usually take off.

My mother will take apiece of fruit and stick a skewer through it and put a pan of water underneath the fruit (melons work best), the wasps will gorge and then sink to their demise!

They also have wasp traps, but you can make your own. I use a 2L pop bottle. I cut the top off and invert it into the bottle (does that make sense?) and put some water and grenadine in it. They land and can't get out and they usually drown.

ScottGem · Sep 26, 2011, 08:13 AM

I thought about traps. You reminded me of the 2L bottle trick. We'll have to try that. We have tried putting a tray of sweets away from the people and letting them have that, but they don't want to stay there. I'm afraid though, our LI insects will be too smart for it.

Aurora_Bell · Sep 26, 2011, 09:26 AM

They are attracted to bright colours as well as the smell of the foods. You can buy the fake hornet nests at the dollarama. I swear by them. I have several around my camp. They look like chinese lanterns. Good luck with the traps.