When I was a kid, we had clothes lines in the backyard. They were strung between two, six feet tall, hollow, T shaped aluminum poles which were imbedded in cement a few inches under ground.

Every summer, the northern most pole would have a colony of wasps. I did not like the little bastards. So, one day when I was about 14, I decided to deal with them. I taped together four black cat firecrackers, braided their fuses, and lit them. Them I pushed them into one arm of the T.

It was like Luke targeting the thermal exhaust port in the Death Star. Those fire crackers slid down the arm of the T, and then went into the open port. . . er. . . hole leading to the vertical support — and the wasps’ happy home.

KABOOM! The whole support rocked back and forth on its cemented base, And then, a single wasp flew out somewhat drunkenly, and fell to the ground dead. None of his little friends escaped from my bombing.

But I wouldn’t do what these guys did. I’d just nuke them from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.

Traildogbob

(11,569 posts)

3. The one meme

Reply to orangecrush (Original post)

Wed Jul 23, 2025, 08:24 PM

Jul 23

On the Blue Sky response of Tom Hanks as Forrest, beginning his epic run, (momma always said to run from hornets) had me belly laughing so much it hurt.

pansypoo53219

(22,440 posts)

5. where + what kind of hornet?

Reply to orangecrush (Original post)

Wed Jul 23, 2025, 09:48 PM

Jul 23

stung by a bee? oh no. 1st a wasp, then i stepped on a hornet. but those look evil.

orangecrush

(25,878 posts)

6. Murder hornets

Reply to pansypoo53219 (Reply #5)

Wed Jul 23, 2025, 10:37 PM

Jul 23

Marthe48

(21,377 posts)

7. I wonder how long it took for that colony to be established?

Reply to orangecrush (Original post)

Wed Jul 23, 2025, 10:56 PM

Jul 23

That's got to be the biggest concentration of hornets I've ever seen.

I saw the biggest cuckoo clock in the world last weekend. It's located in Sugar Creek, Ohio. It's as tall as a 2 story house and has an elaborate mechanism that springs to life on the hour and 1/2 hour. Up at the top is a little niche with a cuckoo bird. We watched the 3:30 activity. It started with the cuckoo popping out 3 times, and with it, a swarm of angry wasps. I was glad that it was up high enough so that the wasps didn't take it out on the spectators below. I can't imagine how strung out the wasps are if they are disturbed every 30 minutes and they have nothing to sting!