Do you want to take a swing at my piñata?

Kidding.  That nest isn’t the problem.

I’ve been dreading this. 

Last time I cut the grass in the front yard, I got stung by two yellow jackets.  It hurt, that sucked, but I couldn’t find the nest.    I’d have to cut the grass eventually, and today was the day.

It’s like that Enemy at the Gates movie with the dueling snipers.  Do they spot me first, and go into a stinging frenzy, or do I spot their nest first, and take drastic action?

Yellow jackets like to fly under clothing and keep stinging as the victim slaps himself silly.  I didn’t go full bee suit, but put on a long-sleeved t-shirt and sweat pants with elastic cuffs.  I might get stung, but they would have to work at it.

My biggest fear was getting hit in the face with a hornet nest.  Sometimes you don’t see something until you smash into it.

I cautiously cut the grass, attentive to all of the little flying things.

I drove right over them.  On my next pass, they were out in force, buzzing around in a furious circle over the entrance in the grass.  They usually form a hor-nado when threatened, then attack in force when the target is clear.

I turned off the mower, and let them settle down as I retrieved the Sevin insecticide.

Turns out agitated yellow jackets don’t photograph well, but I could see a bastard entering or exiting continuously.  About one a second, so that’s a pretty busy nest.

I got an arm’s length away and fired some powder toward the entrance to bloody their noses, dampen their spirits and crush their moral.  I went back at dusk to dump a bunch of powder in the hole.  They will be dust by Monday.