Local Yellow Jackets acting strange!

[oneighty]

First off it is a slow season for Yellow Jackets here in WNY State, at least whereI live.

Normally by this time of the year I have been forced to kill some of the more agressive nests.

Not so this summer. The ones I see are lethargic. Many of them I have observed

crawling on the ground unable to fly. Very strange!

180

[FarLeftRage]

1. I don't think I have seen any

here in Northern New York state...
Very strange indeed!

[oneighty]

2. Hmmm!

Not just here. West of Buffalo I am.

Ed

[FarLeftRage]

3. I am in the Tri-Lakes region

of the Adirondacks and I have seen plenty of wasps and those large bald faced hornets, but no yellow jackets.
They're usually flying around during picnic season, but not this year.

[MuseRider]

4. Strange

here in Kansas we have been missing Honey Bees. The last two years I have only seen a few, others have noticed. Hmmm, have you been sprayed for West Nile? On Edit...of course I meant has your area been sprayed for mosquitos. Sorry.

[oneighty]

5. Spray?

Not that I am aware of. As a matter of fact I have seen few mosquitos or house flies.

Flowers in the area are sparce and no, I have not seen any honey bees either.

Perhaps it is the end of the world as we know it. We used to say that a lot

at the lab, but we were just kidding around!

180

[MuseRider]

6. It is not a joke anymore

is it. I will miss all the different critters as they disappear. I seem to remember when West Nile first hit some states did local spraying to kill mosquitos, that was what I meant. We have not here but giving that most farmers mostly don't give a darn and spray the hell out of everything I would not be surprised to see it start. I have been hearing about horses dying in other states but have not heard about dogs yet. My horses are all vaccinated (darned expensive). Let me know if you find out what this is all about. Have you called the local extension office? They might know.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

7. Not to worry - they're at our house

If you're missing the yellow jackets, you're welcome to come to our house (near Pittsburgh). There are a bunch of mad-as-hell yellow jackets (probably Democrats) building nests in our next door neighbors' retaining wall. A bunch of them attacked a Dish Network repairman who visited our house last week (fortunately no stings; just freaked him out).

[izzie]

8. Does Ashcroft know about this?

n/t