NCBEEs - User contributions [en]

Main Page

2026-02-16T20:24:08Z

Tate: /* More info */

[[File:Brothers-with-their-beehive-at-home.jpg|right|415 px|thumbnail|A backyard beehive]]

[https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-106.33237838745117&lat=42.838106855607435 Local Weather and weekly forecast.]

=Honey bees or something else?=
[[File:8755-vespula-germanica.jpg|thumb|left|A Yellow Jacket Queen starting a new nest.]]

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_bee Honeybees]are not [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_jacket Yellow jackets (Wasps)!]Natrona county is rich in Yellow jackets and recently, [[European_Paper_Wasp | European Paper Wasps]]. The differences between then and honey bees are significant. European Paper Wasps (EPW) look quite similar to Yellow Jackets, and unless you know what you're looking for - are almost indistinguishable to the casual observer. For our purposes here - they're pretty much the same.

[[File:Honeybee-vs-yellow-jacket.jpg|207px|thumb|right|Differences between honey bees and yelllow jackets.]]

Honeybees are vegetarians, eating only plant nectar, honey and pollen. Yellow jackets (and EPWs) are carnivores and predatory, not only hunting other insects, but are also scavengers. Special near the end of summer, when food is less available, they can become quite aggressive near garbage bins, picnics or kitchens. This is why they seem to be attracted to your ham sandwich! Many use their prey as fodder for their young. Honeybees will defend their hive or themselves if provoked, but generally are much less aggressive than Yellow jackets. Honeybees do not like to sting, as it kills them. Yellow jacket stingers are barbless and they can sting multiple times without injury to themselves. Yellow jackets are more prone to sting with less provocation, special if foraging or alone. Of more significance, Yellow jackets are not pollinators, and do not produce honey or beeswax. [http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/yellow-jacket-faq/8755.html This site] is a commercial garden supply seller that has more details on Yellow jackets.

Also note: YJs build their nests out of a grey, paper like material. Honey bees do not make 'paper'.

We do offer some information on [[Yellow_Jacket_Trap | controlling Yellow Jackets]]. Be careful, these things are not only mean, but they hurt!

=Meetings=
Please visit the [[NCBA_Meetings | NCBA Meetings]] page for details and information on when we meet, where we meet and what we do at the meetings.
[[File:Facebook-create.png|right|200px|thumbnail|Find us on Facebook|link=https://www.facebook.com/groups/649498415156424]]

=Email Group=
If you'd like to subscribe to our email group - [https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!forum/ncbees you can do that here]. Fairly low traffic - includes meeting announcements, a few wanted and for sale items, swarm collection coordination, etc. Subscriptions are moderated - but the posts themselves are not. (for now). If you need any help getting listed or setting up with the group - please ask!

=Swarm Brochure=
Here is a PDF copy of our 'introduction' brochure. Feel free to make copies and share amongst your friends and neighbors.

[http://ncbees.org/library/BeeBrochureNCB.pdf NCBEES Brochure] (PDF)

This and several other documents are available in the Library - see the link under 'resources' in the sidebar.

=Want to keep bees?=
Visit our [[Getting_started|Getting Started]] page for information on starting your own apiary.

=Where are the bees?=
[https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1aNLbdN6p-LifIXVcM2UinZS1nk7Oe-yU&ll=43.037300577667466%2C-107.634505&z=7 This map, generated using data from the WY Ag Dept shows the location of registered yards in Wyoming.]

[https://agriculture.wy.gov/plant-industry-program From the WY Ag Dept's web site:] 
"The data provided is only as accurate as what has been provided to this office. It should be noted that not all apiary locations have been plotted and therefore the department takes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and this data is solely being provided as a public service. Apiary locations are known to be relocated due to environmental conditions or other industry practices."

=Honey Bee Biology=
This is a HUGE arena with discoveries being made all the time. Visit our [[Biology|Honey Bee Biology]] page for some of the basics and leads for further study.

=Promoting Pollinators on your Place=
From the University of Wyoming Ag Extension office, this PDF talks of Wyoming pollinators from beetles to birds with bees and bugs in between. Also shares on plant choices and forage for pollinators - including honey bees. A very well done and local resource!

[http://www.uwyo.edu/barnbackyard/_files/documents/resources/pollinators/pollinatorguide.pdf Promoting Pollinators on your Place] - this link is hosted by uwyo.edu. There is a copy called "pollinatorguide.pdf" in the library.

=Estimated Frost Dates=
For Casper, WY - Each winter, on average, your risk of frost is from '''September 19 through May 22'''.

Casper is located in [https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov | USDA Hardiness Zone 5]

Casper, WY chances of frost by date:

{| class="wikitable"
! Temperature
! 10%
! 20%
! 30%
! 40%
! 50%
! 60%
! 70%
! 80%
! 90%
|-
| Spring: 32°
| Jun 8
| Jun 2
| May 29
| May 25
| May 22
| May 18
| May 15
| May 11
| May 5
|-
| Spring: 28°
| May 18
| May 14
| may 10
| May 7
| May 5
| May 2
| Apr 29
| Apr 26
| Apr 21
|-
| Spring: 24°
| May 9
| May 4
| May 1
| Apr 28
| Apr 25
| Apr 23
| Apr 20
| Apr 16
| Apr 12
|}

[http://davesgarden.com/guides/freeze-frost-dates/index.php?q=82604&submit=Go#ixzz3OMlvkweg Read more]

If you've ordered package bees through Prairie Wind or Ft. Collins Honey - some good dates to be aware of when choosing your delivery! In Casper late April to early May - just right!

=Honey Bee Facts=

Visit our [[Honey_Bee_Facts | Honey Bee Facts]] page for interesting tid-bits and trivia on honey bees.

=Threats to Honey Bees=
Another section that's grown to deserve it's own page, [[Threats to Honey Bees | Threats to Honey Bees]] and some things you can do to help.

=Hive modeling software=
Want to see how different things, different conditions and management techniques may affect a colony? You can now model a hive using [http://beehave-model.net/ this software freely downloadable from beehave-model.net]. I've just started with this myself, but it looks quite powerful! For a brief overview, watch the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5AZhaYEt5U video presentation here].

=Mead=
Often called "The Drink of the Gods", mead is an ancient and relatively easy to make alcoholic beverage. One of the better online resources for learning how to make your own mead is [https://www.stormthecastle.com/mead/ Storm the Castle].

=More info=
[http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Beekeeping A 'Wikibook' on Beekeeping]

You're welcome to come attend our meetings or post on our discussion board, [http://millenhaus.com/board The Wyoming Bee Forum]. However, you do have to register an account to post on the forum - but it's free. You can also call me direct - find my info on the [[NCBees:About | About NCBees]] page here on this wiki.

There's also a [https://ncbees.org/library NCBEEs Library] of PDF and other files that may be of use.

=Help with this Wiki=
Consult the [//meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents User's Guide] for information on using the wiki software.

Main Page

2026-02-16T20:22:36Z

Tate: /* Meetings */

[[File:Brothers-with-their-beehive-at-home.jpg|right|415 px|thumbnail|A backyard beehive]]

[https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-106.33237838745117&lat=42.838106855607435 Local Weather and weekly forecast.]

=Honey bees or something else?=
[[File:8755-vespula-germanica.jpg|thumb|left|A Yellow Jacket Queen starting a new nest.]]

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_bee Honeybees]are not [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_jacket Yellow jackets (Wasps)!]Natrona county is rich in Yellow jackets and recently, [[European_Paper_Wasp | European Paper Wasps]]. The differences between then and honey bees are significant. European Paper Wasps (EPW) look quite similar to Yellow Jackets, and unless you know what you're looking for - are almost indistinguishable to the casual observer. For our purposes here - they're pretty much the same.

[[File:Honeybee-vs-yellow-jacket.jpg|207px|thumb|right|Differences between honey bees and yelllow jackets.]]

Honeybees are vegetarians, eating only plant nectar, honey and pollen. Yellow jackets (and EPWs) are carnivores and predatory, not only hunting other insects, but are also scavengers. Special near the end of summer, when food is less available, they can become quite aggressive near garbage bins, picnics or kitchens. This is why they seem to be attracted to your ham sandwich! Many use their prey as fodder for their young. Honeybees will defend their hive or themselves if provoked, but generally are much less aggressive than Yellow jackets. Honeybees do not like to sting, as it kills them. Yellow jacket stingers are barbless and they can sting multiple times without injury to themselves. Yellow jackets are more prone to sting with less provocation, special if foraging or alone. Of more significance, Yellow jackets are not pollinators, and do not produce honey or beeswax. [http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/yellow-jacket-faq/8755.html This site] is a commercial garden supply seller that has more details on Yellow jackets.

Also note: YJs build their nests out of a grey, paper like material. Honey bees do not make 'paper'.

We do offer some information on [[Yellow_Jacket_Trap | controlling Yellow Jackets]]. Be careful, these things are not only mean, but they hurt!

=Meetings=
Please visit the [[NCBA_Meetings | NCBA Meetings]] page for details and information on when we meet, where we meet and what we do at the meetings.
[[File:Facebook-create.png|right|200px|thumbnail|Find us on Facebook|link=https://www.facebook.com/groups/649498415156424]]

=Email Group=
If you'd like to subscribe to our email group - [https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!forum/ncbees you can do that here]. Fairly low traffic - includes meeting announcements, a few wanted and for sale items, swarm collection coordination, etc. Subscriptions are moderated - but the posts themselves are not. (for now). If you need any help getting listed or setting up with the group - please ask!

=Swarm Brochure=
Here is a PDF copy of our 'introduction' brochure. Feel free to make copies and share amongst your friends and neighbors.

[http://ncbees.org/library/BeeBrochureNCB.pdf NCBEES Brochure] (PDF)

This and several other documents are available in the Library - see the link under 'resources' in the sidebar.

=Want to keep bees?=
Visit our [[Getting_started|Getting Started]] page for information on starting your own apiary.

=Where are the bees?=
[https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1aNLbdN6p-LifIXVcM2UinZS1nk7Oe-yU&ll=43.037300577667466%2C-107.634505&z=7 This map, generated using data from the WY Ag Dept shows the location of registered yards in Wyoming.]

[https://agriculture.wy.gov/plant-industry-program From the WY Ag Dept's web site:] 
"The data provided is only as accurate as what has been provided to this office. It should be noted that not all apiary locations have been plotted and therefore the department takes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and this data is solely being provided as a public service. Apiary locations are known to be relocated due to environmental conditions or other industry practices."

=Honey Bee Biology=
This is a HUGE arena with discoveries being made all the time. Visit our [[Biology|Honey Bee Biology]] page for some of the basics and leads for further study.

=Promoting Pollinators on your Place=
From the University of Wyoming Ag Extension office, this PDF talks of Wyoming pollinators from beetles to birds with bees and bugs in between. Also shares on plant choices and forage for pollinators - including honey bees. A very well done and local resource!

[http://www.uwyo.edu/barnbackyard/_files/documents/resources/pollinators/pollinatorguide.pdf Promoting Pollinators on your Place] - this link is hosted by uwyo.edu. There is a copy called "pollinatorguide.pdf" in the library.

=Estimated Frost Dates=
For Casper, WY - Each winter, on average, your risk of frost is from '''September 19 through May 22'''.

Casper is located in [https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov | USDA Hardiness Zone 5]

Casper, WY chances of frost by date:

{| class="wikitable"
! Temperature
! 10%
! 20%
! 30%
! 40%
! 50%
! 60%
! 70%
! 80%
! 90%
|-
| Spring: 32°
| Jun 8
| Jun 2
| May 29
| May 25
| May 22
| May 18
| May 15
| May 11
| May 5
|-
| Spring: 28°
| May 18
| May 14
| may 10
| May 7
| May 5
| May 2
| Apr 29
| Apr 26
| Apr 21
|-
| Spring: 24°
| May 9
| May 4
| May 1
| Apr 28
| Apr 25
| Apr 23
| Apr 20
| Apr 16
| Apr 12
|}

[http://davesgarden.com/guides/freeze-frost-dates/index.php?q=82604&submit=Go#ixzz3OMlvkweg Read more]

If you've ordered package bees through Prairie Wind or Ft. Collins Honey - some good dates to be aware of when choosing your delivery! In Casper late April to early May - just right!

=Honey Bee Facts=

Visit our [[Honey_Bee_Facts | Honey Bee Facts]] page for interesting tid-bits and trivia on honey bees.

=Threats to Honey Bees=
Another section that's grown to deserve it's own page, [[Threats to Honey Bees | Threats to Honey Bees]] and some things you can do to help.

=Hive modeling software=
Want to see how different things, different conditions and management techniques may affect a colony? You can now model a hive using [http://beehave-model.net/ this software freely downloadable from beehave-model.net]. I've just started with this myself, but it looks quite powerful! For a brief overview, watch the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5AZhaYEt5U video presentation here].

=Mead=
Often called "The Drink of the Gods", mead is an ancient and relatively easy to make alcoholic beverage. One of the better online resources for learning how to make your own mead is [https://www.stormthecastle.com/mead/ Storm the Castle].

=More info=
[http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Beekeeping A 'Wikibook' on Beekeeping]

You're welcome to come attend our meetings or post on our discussion board, [http://millenhaus.com/board The Wyoming Bee Forum]. However, you do have to register an account to post on the forum - but it's free. You can also call me direct - find my info on the [[NCBees:About | About NCBees]] page here on this wiki.

There's also a [http://ncbees.org/library NCBEEs Library] of PDF and other files that may be of use.

=Help with this Wiki=
Consult the [//meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents User's Guide] for information on using the wiki software.

2022-03-26T05:15:00Z

Tate:

File:20150429 100542.jpg

2022-03-26T05:14:15Z

Tate:

File:Bee-bus-bricks.jpg

2022-03-26T05:13:07Z

Tate:

File:Bee-bus.jpg

2022-03-26T05:12:54Z

Tate:

Package

2022-03-26T05:11:36Z

2022-03-26T04:46:40Z

Tate: /* General Disclaimer */

[[File:Disclaimer.jpg|right]]

== General Disclaimer ==

This is an informational website of NCBees.org. The content of this site is being provided freely, and no kind of agreement or contract is created between you and the owners or users of this site, the owners of the servers upon which it is housed, individual contributors to these pages, or project administrators, sysops or anyone else connected with NCBees.org. Visiting this site does not create or imply any contractual or extra-contractual liability on the part of NCBees.org or any of its agents, members, organizers or other users.

Any of the trademarks, service marks, collective marks, design rights, personality rights or similar rights that are mentioned, used or cited on this site are the property of their respective owners. Unless otherwise stated, NCBees.org sites are neither endorsed by nor affiliated with any of the holders of such rights, nor can NCBees.org grant rights to use otherwise protected materials. Your use of any such incorporeal property is at your own risk.

Please note that the information found here may be in violation of the laws of the country or jurisdiction from where you are viewing this information. NCBees.org does not encourage the violation of any laws, but this information is stored on a server in the State of Wyoming in the United States of America, and is maintained in reference to the protections afforded to content providers and readers in that jurisdiction. The laws in your country may not recognize a similarly broad protection of free speech; NCBees.org cannot be responsible for potential violations of such laws, should you link to this domain or reuse any of the information contained herein.

Information on the NCBees.org wiki is provided as is, without warantee, guarantee or even an implication of usability. Use at your own risk. NCBees.org can not and will not be held liable for any damages, consequential damages or any other liability incurred by your use of any information found on the NCBees.org site. Some of the information on this site pertains to operations and activities that may require licensure. It is your responsibility to be in compliance with any and all laws that apply. Some of the information on this site may pertain to dangerous activities, including but not limited to: falls, dropped objects, other personal injury, electrical shock and RF exposure. Use your own common sense. Your safety is your responsibility. NCBees.org will not and can not be held accountable for any injury you may incur while attempting to use any of the information on this site. It is your responsibility to contact an appropriate authority and verify your own and others safety and compliance with applicable laws before attempting any procedure, activity or operation you may attempt after reading information on this site.

== Disclaimer for the Internet ==
''' WARNING: The Internet is dangerous! '''

Many blogs have been written about these dangers, and there's no way we can list them all here. Read the blogs.

The Internet is covered in slippery slopes with loose, slippery and unpredictable footing. The RIAA can make matters worse. Patent trolls are everywhere. You may fall, be spammed or suffer a DOS attack. There are hidden viruses and worms. You could break your computer. There is wild code, which may be vicious, poisonous or carriers of dread malware. These include viruses and worms. E-mail can be poisonous as well. We don't do anything to protect you from any of this. We do not inspect, supervise or maintain the Internet, blogsphere, ISP’s or other features, natural or otherwise.

Real dangers are present even on the Web. E-commerce is not the mall. It can be, and is, steep, slippery and dangerous. Web features made or enhanced by humans, such as firewalls and spam filters (if any) can break, collapse, or otherwise fail catastrophically at any time. We don't promise to inspect, supervise or maintain them in any way. They may be negligently constructed or repaired. The web is unsafe, period. Live with it or stay away.

Stay on trusted sites whenever possible. The terrain, in addition to being dangerous, is surprisingly complex. You may get lost. Carry food, water and an APU at all times.

Ads for things you don’t want and other objectionable content can arrive from nowhere. This can happen naturally, or be caused by people around you that are being used as bots. Spam and disgusting images of all sizes, including huge images, can arrive, or pop-up with no warning. Use of spam filters is advised for anyone approaching the Internet. They can be purchased or downloaded. They won't save you if you get hit by something big or on a port you left open. A whole DOS attack might collapse on you and squash you like a bug. Don't think it can't happen.

Public opinion can be dangerous, regardless of the forecast. Be prepared with extra damage control, including press releases. Ticking off the blogsphere can kill you. The Streisand effect can turn a simple nastygram into a deathtrap.

If you make hasty comments about those in high places (making unsupported comments that reduce the image of a person, often posted quickly and without thinking) without proper thought and, or allow your employees to do so, you are making a terrible mistake. Even if you know what you're doing, lots of things can go wrong and you may be sued for libel. It happens all the time.

We do not provide rangers or security personnel. The other people on the web, including other visitors, our employees, agents, and guests, and anyone else who might sneak in, may be stupid, reckless, or otherwise dangerous. They may be mentally ill, criminally insane, drunk, using illegal drugs and/or armed with deadly malware and ready to use them. We aren't necessarily going to do anything about it. We refuse to take responsibility.

If you surf at work, you may become pre-occupied with it. This is true whether you are experienced or not, trained or not, equipped or not, though training and equipment may help. It's a fact, surfing at work is extremely dangerous. If you don't like it, surf at home. You really shouldn't be doing it anyway. We do not provide supervision or instruction. We are not responsible for, and do not track how much time you surf at work (although we could if we wanted to.) As far as we know, your employer may find out and send you plunging to unemployment. There are countless tons of loose management staff ready to be dislodged and fall on you or someone else. There are any number of extremely and unusually dangerous conditions existing on and around the Web, and elsewhere on the Internet. We may or may not know about any specific hazard, but even if we do, don't expect us to try to warn you. You're on your own.

Rescue services are not provided by us, and may not be available quickly or at all. Local computer geeks may not be equipped for or trained in hard drive recovery. If you are lucky enough to have somebody try to get rid of a virus or find that deleted file, they may be incompetent or worse. This includes your local computer store. We assume no responsibility. Also, if you decide to participate in a rescue of some other unfortunate, that's your choice. Don't do it unless you are willing to assume all risks.

By entering our site, you are agreeing that we owe you no duty of care or any other duty. We promise you nothing. We do not and will not even try to keep the premises safe for any purpose. The premises are not safe for any purpose. This is no joke. We won't even try to warn you about any dangerous or hazardous condition, whether we know about it or not. If we do decide to warn you about something, that doesn't mean we will try to warn you about anything else. If we do make an effort to fix an unsafe condition, we may not try to correct any others, and we may make matters worse! We and our employees or agents may do things that are unwise and dangerous. Sorry, we're not responsible. We may give you bad advice. Don't listen to us. In short, ENTER AND USE THIS SITE AT YOUR OWN RISK. And have fun!

NCBEEs:General disclaimer

2022-03-26T04:46:06Z

Tate: /* General Disclaimer */

[[File:Disclaimer.jpg|right]]

== General Disclaimer ==

This is an informational website of NCBees.org. The content of this site is being provided freely, and no kind of agreement or contract is created between you and the owners or users of this site, the owners of the servers upon which it is housed, individual contributors to these pages, or project administrators, sysops or anyone else connected with NCBees.org. Visiting this site does not create or imply any contractual or extracontractual liability on the part of NCBees.org or any of its agents, members, organizers or other users.

Any of the trademarks, service marks, collective marks, design rights, personality rights or similar rights that are mentioned, used or cited on this site are the property of their respective owners. Unless otherwise stated, NCBees.org sites are neither endorsed by nor affiliated with any of the holders of such rights, nor can NCBees.org grant rights to use otherwise protected materials. Your use of any such incorporeal property is at your own risk.

Please note that the information found here may be in violation of the laws of the country or jurisdiction from where you are viewing this information. NCBees.org does not encourage the violation of any laws, but this information is stored on a server in the State of Wyoming in the United States of America, and is maintained in reference to the protections afforded to content providers and readers in that jurisdiction. The laws in your country may not recognize a similarly broad protection of free speech; NCBees.org cannot be responsible for potential violations of such laws, should you link to this domain or reuse any of the information contained herein.

Information on the NCBees.org wiki is provided as is, without warantee, gurantee or even an implication of usability. Use at your own risk. NCBees.org can not and will not be held liable for any damages, consequential damages or any other liability incurred by your use of any information found on the NCBees.org site. Some of the information on this site pertains to operations and activities that may require licensure. It is your responsibility to be in compliance with any and all laws that apply. Some of the information on this site may pertain to dangerous activities, including but not limited to: falls, dropped objects, other personal injury, electrical shock and RF exposure. Use your own common sense. Your safety is your responsibility. NCBees.org will not and can not be held accountable for any injury you may incure while attempting to use any of the information on this site. It is your responsibility to contact an appropriate authority and verify your own and others safety and compliance with applicable laws before attempting any procedure, activity or operation you may attempt after reading information on this site.

== Disclaimer for the Internet ==
''' WARNING: The Internet is dangerous! '''

Many blogs have been written about these dangers, and there's no way we can list them all here. Read the blogs.

The Internet is covered in slippery slopes with loose, slippery and unpredictable footing. The RIAA can make matters worse. Patent trolls are everywhere. You may fall, be spammed or suffer a DOS attack. There are hidden viruses and worms. You could break your computer. There is wild code, which may be vicious, poisonous or carriers of dread malware. These include viruses and worms. E-mail can be poisonous as well. We don't do anything to protect you from any of this. We do not inspect, supervise or maintain the Internet, blogsphere, ISP’s or other features, natural or otherwise.

Real dangers are present even on the Web. E-commerce is not the mall. It can be, and is, steep, slippery and dangerous. Web features made or enhanced by humans, such as firewalls and spam filters (if any) can break, collapse, or otherwise fail catastrophically at any time. We don't promise to inspect, supervise or maintain them in any way. They may be negligently constructed or repaired. The web is unsafe, period. Live with it or stay away.

Stay on trusted sites whenever possible. The terrain, in addition to being dangerous, is surprisingly complex. You may get lost. Carry food, water and an APU at all times.

Ads for things you don’t want and other objectionable content can arrive from nowhere. This can happen naturally, or be caused by people around you that are being used as bots. Spam and disgusting images of all sizes, including huge images, can arrive, or pop-up with no warning. Use of spam filters is advised for anyone approaching the Internet. They can be purchased or downloaded. They won't save you if you get hit by something big or on a port you left open. A whole DOS attack might collapse on you and squash you like a bug. Don't think it can't happen.

Public opinion can be dangerous, regardless of the forecast. Be prepared with extra damage control, including press releases. Ticking off the blogsphere can kill you. The Streisand effect can turn a simple nastygram into a deathtrap.

If you make hasty comments about those in high places (making unsupported comments that reduce the image of a person, often posted quickly and without thinking) without proper thought and, or allow your employees to do so, you are making a terrible mistake. Even if you know what you're doing, lots of things can go wrong and you may be sued for libel. It happens all the time.

We do not provide rangers or security personnel. The other people on the web, including other visitors, our employees, agents, and guests, and anyone else who might sneak in, may be stupid, reckless, or otherwise dangerous. They may be mentally ill, criminally insane, drunk, using illegal drugs and/or armed with deadly malware and ready to use them. We aren't necessarily going to do anything about it. We refuse to take responsibility.

If you surf at work, you may become pre-occupied with it. This is true whether you are experienced or not, trained or not, equipped or not, though training and equipment may help. It's a fact, surfing at work is extremely dangerous. If you don't like it, surf at home. You really shouldn't be doing it anyway. We do not provide supervision or instruction. We are not responsible for, and do not track how much time you surf at work (although we could if we wanted to.) As far as we know, your employer may find out and send you plunging to unemployment. There are countless tons of loose management staff ready to be dislodged and fall on you or someone else. There are any number of extremely and unusually dangerous conditions existing on and around the Web, and elsewhere on the Internet. We may or may not know about any specific hazard, but even if we do, don't expect us to try to warn you. You're on your own.

Rescue services are not provided by us, and may not be available quickly or at all. Local computer geeks may not be equipped for or trained in hard drive recovery. If you are lucky enough to have somebody try to get rid of a virus or find that deleted file, they may be incompetent or worse. This includes your local computer store. We assume no responsibility. Also, if you decide to participate in a rescue of some other unfortunate, that's your choice. Don't do it unless you are willing to assume all risks.

By entering our site, you are agreeing that we owe you no duty of care or any other duty. We promise you nothing. We do not and will not even try to keep the premises safe for any purpose. The premises are not safe for any purpose. This is no joke. We won't even try to warn you about any dangerous or hazardous condition, whether we know about it or not. If we do decide to warn you about something, that doesn't mean we will try to warn you about anything else. If we do make an effort to fix an unsafe condition, we may not try to correct any others, and we may make matters worse! We and our employees or agents may do things that are unwise and dangerous. Sorry, we're not responsible. We may give you bad advice. Don't listen to us. In short, ENTER AND USE THIS SITE AT YOUR OWN RISK. And have fun!

NCBEEs:General disclaimer

2022-03-26T04:43:44Z

Tate: Created page with "right == General Disclaimer == This is an informational website of NCBees.org. The content of this site is being provided freely, and no kind of agre..."

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2022-03-26T04:43:22Z

Tate:

Yellow Jacket Trap

2022-03-26T04:42:14Z

2022-03-26T04:26:11Z

Tate: /* Yellow Jackets */

[[File:YJ headon02USM.jpgp|thumb|right|A Yellow Jacket]]

= Yellow Jackets =

Yellow Jackets are not [[European_Paper_Wasp | European Paper Wasps]]. Two very different animals even though, at first glance, they appear almost identical. Both do prey on honey bees. As bad as Yellow Jackets can be, think of European Paper Wasps as a type of Yellow Jacket on steroids.

Those flying stinging pissed off critters seem to have a special talent for ruining your day. Not only stinging seemingly without cause, they also prey on your bees! As with anything encountered in nature, it is worth our effort to understand not only their role in the ecosystem, but their biology. This gives us a perspective on effectively controlling their numbers while minimizing unintended consequences. They do have a place in nature. They prey on other bugs, such as spiders, plant worms and caterpillars. Special in the spring time. There are a few gardeners that actually cultivate Yellow Jackets for pest control.

The biggest difference between Yellow Jackets and Honey Bees, is Yellow Jackets are carnivorous - Honey Bees are pure vegetarians. Yellow Jackets also over winter with very small or even single member nests - the queen. In early Spring, these queens wake from their winter slumber to hunt protein to raise up her new cadre of summer workers. So, if we can 'control' these Spring queens, we can greatly reduce the number of foraging workers that get into our picnics, lunches and hives!

This video demonstrates the aggressiveness of Yellow Jackets. He simply places a camera near a nest entrance, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaK_g_d81Hc well - just watch]. Quite dramatic!
[[File:Reusableyellowjackettrap 1.png|thumb|left|Rescue brand reusable Yellow Jacket Trap.]]
[[File:Disposableyellowjackettrap - alt.png|thumb|right|A single use, disposable Yellow Jacket trap]]

If you'd like to read a LOT more about YJs, EPWs as well as find some handy ID charts, [http://watchingtheworldwakeup.blogspot.com/2009/11/weekend-cleanup-part-2-all-about.html visit this site.] One of the better ones I've found.

= When =
The key is to star early. If you're being pestered by Yellow Jackets or loosing bees, you're already too late in the season to take anything but [[Yellow_Jacket_Trap#Nuclear_Option | the most drastic of measures]]. Don't expect immediate results either. It's taken me about 3 to 5 years of trapping to knock local populations down to a tolerable level. Worse, if you skip one year - they can rebound with a vengeance.

= How =
My preferred method of control is a Yellow Jacket Trap. Baited with heptyl butyrate attractants, these traps pose NO THREAT to our bees at all. Placed early enough in Spring, they can catch those emerging queens and drastically dent the summer's populations.

The easiest trap to deploy is a store bought type. One I've used over the years is the 'Rescue' brand, reusable trap shown at left. These come with a bait that lasts for a few dozen days. You can buy longer lasting baits (10 weeks) as well as refills for either. I've not yet found a good DIY protein based bait for these traps. Maybe the same bait used for the [[Yellow_Jacket_Trap#Nuclear_Option | Nuclear Option]] would work. I haven't tried it, yet. These traps emit an odor which draws in protein (meat) seeking insects. Once inside, they can't figure out how to get out again and die within the container.

Rescue also sells a disposable trap - it's even easier to use, but more expensive over time. Set it, use it - when it's full or no longer effective, you throw the whole thing away and start over.

It's important to know these commercial protein baits have NO AFFECT on European Paper Wasps! They'll totally ignore these baits.

=A 3 way trap=
Apparently these have been on the market for a few years, but I've just now come across them. This commercial trap uses 3 different chemical baits to attract Waps, Hornets and Yellow jackets (the W-H-Y bit). I've not used them myself, yet - but reviews are encouraging! Called a [https://www.amazon.com/RESCUE-WHYTR-Non-Toxic-Reusable-Hornets/dp/B001H1GRPI WHY Trap and sold by Rescue], you can find these at most any garden supply shop as well as online.

= Where =
The key to an effective trap use is placement and bait. As both of these use the factory supplied baits - half the battle is already won. That leaves placement. Remember, these things not only stink, but they'll also attract Yellow Jackets. Do not put them were people or pets might also find themselves! Put them out on the perimeter of your yard, away from the house. Put them above head height, so if you're out mowing or doing yard work, you don't inadvertently meet up with one of these nasty critters.
[[File:Yellow-jacket-trap.jpg|thumb|A deployed, reusable trap]]

[[File:WHY-trap.jpg|left|thumb|[https://www.amazon.com/RESCUE-WHYTR-Non-Toxic-Reusable-Hornets/dp/B001H1GRPI Rescue's WHY trap] ]]

= A DIY Trap =
[[File:Bee-safe-wasp-trap-cut-tip-off.jpg|left|thumb|Preparing a water bottle to become a Yellow jacket trap.]]
[[File:Bee-safe-wasp-trap-inserted.jpg|right|thumb|Assembled DIY Yellow Jacket trap made from a water bottle.]]
You can make your own traps as well. There are many plans and sites on the internet with how-tos, plans and more detials. Likely the easiest is the 'water bottle' trap. Essentially, you cut the top off an empty water bottle, near the shoulders, discard the cap, invert the top and stick it back into the bottle. Idea is to create a funnel like opening pointing down, into the bottle. Tape, staple or wire things together, add your bait and put it out. You do not need a layer of water or other fluid to drown the Yellow Jackets. Just the bait. Dead Yellow jackets, ironically, make a fairly decent bait for Yellow Jackets and other wasps.

==DIY bait==
Bait choice is a key factor to effectiveness of these DIY traps. Timing also comes into play. In the Spring, when we're trying to catch those queens, protein (meat) baits are the most effective. What I've found online says Swanson's canned white chicken breast meat is one of the, if not the most effective baits you can use. But, it's a bit expensive to just throw away. You may want to try such things as a piece of hot dog, left over chicken skin or pretty much anything else you can drop into the trap that'll develop a 'meat' aroma. Some report success using beer! Some also advocate the use of apple cider vinegar. Be careful with fruit based or other sweet baits as you will also attract bees. And, you have to be patient. In early Spring, there may not be as many queens foraging as we'd hope to trap - just not seeing any dead Yellow Jackets in your trap may not mean you've a poor bait. You may just be lucky, timed things wrong - or yes, have a poor bait. Read up and try several. See what works for you.

== fresh bait ==
According to a published article from the University of California Ag & Natural Resources office, Yellow Jackets are NOT attracted to rotting meat. To keep things effective, you'll have to change out your meat based baits, frequently. With that in mind, it may just be easier to use the commercial bait refills from Home Depot or Sutherland's. Made from heptyl butyrate, this bait is fairly selective for Yellow Jackets alone.

[[File:They-work.jpg|left|thumb|These things can be quite effective]]

[http://ncbees.org/library/yellojackets.pdf A PDF with more information on YJs and controlling them in the apiary.]

=Nuclear Option=
There is a method - a bit drastic, but effective - to essentially eliminate all Yellow Jackets within about a quarter mile radius. Rather than repeat it all, I'll just link to the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsd-lAUmb0A Youtube video and leave it at that].

[http://ncbees.org/library/TRAPS_AND_PROTEIN_BAIT_TO_SUPPRESS_POPULATIONS_OF_YELLOWJACKETS.pdf This link is to the paper] he references in the video.

One source of Fipronil is "Paws" brand flea and tick treatment for dogs and is less expensive than a 20oz bottle of [https://www.amazon.com/Taurus-SC-9-1-Fipronil-Termidor/dp/B0058DGMKG Tarus SC]. The flea and tick treatment contains %9.7 Fipronil. There are quite likely others.

Protect your honey bees! Fipronil is one of the most toxic agents to honey bees you can buy. It'll kill your bees as easily or even easier than Yellow Jackets if they contact it. Key is to use baits that have NO CHANCE of attracting honey bees. Also, caging your baits so other animals (pets, kids, birds, squirrels, skunks, possum, etc) can not get to the bait is of high importance. We do NOT want any 'unintended consequences'.

You can read up on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fipronil Fipronil in the 'pedia].

== Katharina Davitt's PDF ==
Katharina, a Master Beekeeper, [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zZhBZCrxD4Yb_tsP1iq5yfeNOTG_9rbQ/view released this PDF slide deck]. It's well worth a read through!

Bit of a different method of application - but offers a lot of info.

== Articles on eliminating Yellow Jackets ==

[http://anterior.inta.gov.ar/bariloche/ssd/nqn/ecologiadeinsectos/pdfs/Sackmann%20et%20al%202001.pdf "Successful Removal of German Yellowjackets (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) by Toxic Baiting." (PDF)]

[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ps.3262/abstract Short and long-term control of Vespula pensylvanica in Hawaii by fipronil baiting]

[http://www.doc.govt.nz/news/newsletters/revive-rotoiti/autumn-2011/#wasp-warfare "Revive Rotoiti Autumn 2011"]