BEES!!

[annierj]

Got it.... I did leave a small opening at the top of the bag last night, to let the oxygen out...but perhaps with the rain, it wasn't enough...or the nest is larger than I want to imagine..... I am going to try again tomorrow night, with more dry ice...no rain in the forecast. I can sprinkle some Epsom salt tonight, when it gets a little more dark and the little beasties settle in for the night...I will also look for yellowjacket traps at the local hardware store/Lowes and see if I can set those as well. I am nothing if not determined!!

Will watch out for sentries and watchdogs...have no interest in getting stung again! It really hurts and takes about a week for the swelling to do down. Definitely NOT FUN!!

Once they are either all dead or have vacated my cymbidium I will repot and then celebrate -- perhaps a Snoopy happy dance is in order....

Thanks...

[Reeses]

Any update on the yellow jacket situation, annierj?
It sounds like it could be the basis for a horror story: The Orchid Invaders

[annierj]

Funny you should ask... I was going to post an update -- which involves NO stinging!!

The dry ice worked ...perhaps more than I give it credit for... I did sprinkle Epsom Salts (quickly and in the dark) and yesterday morning hung up a yellowjacket trap... I went outside this morning and there didn't seem to be swarms exiting my pot...I did give it some taps with the handle of my broom, giving me room to exit the deck should they swarm...but there seems to be, as of today, very limited activity...if any.... will recheck in the morning, but maybe, just maybe, those that survived the various assaults have left the premises...

thank you, all, not only for your very creative and helpful suggestions, but also for your interest and moral support. Once again this website has come to my rescue....

[annierj]

Latest update.... outside today and moved the orchid about, tapping very loudly on the side of the pot....NOTHING!! If the rains don't come tomorrow, I am going to repot....there is residual Epsom Salts... Even though the rain will wash the salts through, I don't think it's wise to just leave them. Besides, my curiosity leads me to look at what is left inside the bark...what will I find?? Hopefully nothing...but will turn the pot sideways and if nothing continues to happen, will work the plant loose and then repot with fresh bark. That will give it time to resettle before it has to come in for the winter.

There should be one more update...and then, will leave this subject behind, successfully resolved.
What can I say besides thank you? These orchids are pups from those belonging to my grandfather, who was an avid orchid grower. It gave me great anxiety to think I could loose even one -- without this collective wisdom, I probably would've taken drastic measures and lost the plant...Instead, I have the winter to look forward to it throwing out spikes (it has been one of my most productive cymbidiums). A much better future!! Thanks (again)

[annierj]

Humbled once again...sigh... went out this afternoon to repot my cymbidium...ready to post pictures of what I discovered, as I had not seen any yellowjacket activity for a couple of days... So, spilled the pot over onto a garbage bag, loosened the root ball and the plant slid out....along with more bees!! I mean, really???

There were a few bees floating in the bee trap that I hung on a plant hook about 5 feet away...but the clever things are still in amoungst the roots ... and they moved next door to an empty pot - one with dirt but not plants....resilient group of insects, which is why they will probably out-survive people. I heavily doused that pot with Epsom Salt, as there are not any orchids to worry about....

I took a broom handle and worked some of the bark loose on the cymbidium but there are still too many bees for me to do very much. So, tonight, it's water and dishwashing liquid in a bucket of water overnight, to see if we can dis-lodge the persistent boarders. But, it will have to be done at dusk -- too many angry insects at the moment. The queen must still be alive...if she would only show her crown, I could make sure she was "euthanized" and then, perhaps, her flock would disperse and go bother someone else....

Apparently, the saga continues, much to my dismay.

[annierj]

Curiosity may have killed the cat (unfortunately I have a tale that shows that is true)...but it did drive me outside with my big lens...and this is what I found!! I have attached a photo of the nest -- about the size of my fist, and I have large unlady like hands....it is impressive. At least I now know what I am up against...yikes!! Stealth is required tonight, along with courage...where is the Cowardly Lion when I need him???

Tomorrow is a new day....with the dawn, perhaps a yellowjacket free cymbidium....

[VMStearns]

Amazing! As I am fighting my own yellow jacket battle (inside our porch eaves) I am eager to read the final chapter of your conflict.

May the force be with you!

[Oscarman]

This is an amazing story! I have never heard of wasps setting up house in an orchid pot. Sound like you are having quite an adventure - and winning. Great picture of the nest!

[Leafmite]

I get ant nests in my pots and I usually just set the entire pot in my laundry tub overnight. You could use a storage bin. I do not usually like to recommend Sevin but it would probably work very well.

[annierj]

Success...and interesting findings.... Will post photo of dislodged nests this evening...but opened up trash bag this morning, pulled the orchid out from its water bath and the nests were floating...surprisingly, almost no bees. So the queen is either dead or has chosen another location.

Washed off the orchid roots (and found a cute little tree frog), split the plant in two and repotted. Will wash down again this evening, getting the bark wet and hopefully diluting the soap residue, and keep my fingers crossed.

Will put up another yellowjacket trap this evening, with fresh bait. I should leave directions to more friendly locations...I live in the woods, so there are plenty of choices, but my wildlife friends seem to prefer my house, deck and plants. A backhanded compliment, I guess.