BEES!!

[annierj]

I have a problem with some very aggressive bees who have taken up residence in my cymbidium orchid bark. I don't think they are honey bees, as they are too aggressive and attack when you water....so I don't mind trying to eradicate them, as they leave painful reminders. But, I don't want to put toxins into my orchid, as it is sending out new growth. Any suggestions as to how to treat this problem??

As it is, I have to figure out how to spill out the bark and carefully remove the plant....all in the dark, when the bees are not trying to sting me....and then repot the orchid and get it settled before winter sets in...

I live in Northern Kentucky and have had honey bees in the walls of my house...these are different...smaller...mean spirited...

thanks for any help that can be offered.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Those sound like yellowjackets. I would Google and confirm that is the insect you are dealing with, then do more internet research and find a control method you are more comfortable with.

Yellowjackets are most active at mid day, less active, or inactive, dusk through dawn. Plan your control efforts accordingly to minimize getting stung.

[Subrosa]

Put the plant into a plastic bag at night, and place a small piece of dry ice in the bottom of the bag.

[annierj]

Wow...thank you! Dry ice?? Who would have thought?? Will give it a try and let you know....

[Subrosa]

Make sure to leave a small opening at the top of the bag. Dry ice works because CO2 is heavier than air, so as the dry ice sublimates ("melts") the CO2 settles to the bottom of whatever it's in and displaces the air upwards. The air has to be able to escape.

[MattWoelfsen]

Hi annierj, I would place the entire plant in a big plastic garbage bag. Then put the whole thing in a bucket. Fill with water, until the pot is submerged by an inch or so. Put dish soap in the water, a small amount. This will drown them. Of course do this overnight.

When morning comes, pull the plant out and repot.

[annierj]

Thank you! thank you! Now the trick is to do this without getting stung!! At night, I know....hope I can see what I am doing...will let you know whether all this works...nice to have an alternative if one doesn't....appreciate your insights and help.

[Daethen]

Always remember that honey bees are fuzzy. If the bees are not fuzzy they are not honey bees.

[orchidsarefun]

another option is just to leave them be. Can you take a photo to enable identification ? if these are a type of bumblebee, they are essentially harmless and beneficial. Most bees are beneficial to us, certain types of hornets and wasps are another story.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

another option is just to leave them be. Can you take a photo to enable identification ? if these are a type of bumblebee, they are essentially harmless and beneficial. Most bees are beneficial to us, certain types of hornets and wasps are another story.

Uh, yeah . . . no.

Aggressive stinging bees (or yellowjackets, or wasps, or whatever) are not harmless and beneficial when they are living in close contact with you, and you are getting stung as annierj reported in the original post. Living inside a plant pot that you must tend to a couple of times a week requires that they be eliminated. This is true even if these are bumble bees, which will defend a nest by stinging.

The flooding or dry ice solutions are interesting and creative solutions to the problem.

annierj, here is some Wikipedia information on yellow jackets: Yellow jacket - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I suspected yellow jackets because they were living down in the pot; it is common for the Vespula genus of yellow jacket to live in the ground, but other bees and bee relatives do this too. Regardless of the kind of offending bug, I hope you can get rid of them!