Knowledgebase

Lawnmower left on a yellowjacket nest #772653

Asked September 22, 2021, 10:22 AM EDT

My daughter mowed over a yellow jacket nest last night, and left the mower on top of the nest while she ran away. Now we're not sure how to get our mower back - the wasps are constantly swarming around the mower, even in the morning low light. We're wondering, with the heavy rain in the forecast, if maybe the yellow jackets would hide from the rain, and we could get the mower? What do you think?

Prince George's County Maryland

Expert Response

We're not certain what approach would be the most successful, but you could try to retrieve it during rainy weather or wait until well after dark, when the workers should not be flying into and out of the nest. Generally, pollinators and other flying insects avoid flying in steady rain, since the impact of the droplets makes it harder for them to stay on course or even airborne (even though their exoskeletons are fairly waterproof, water can still cling to their bodies and weigh them down).

Miri

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