> From:         CRONKLETON <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject:      Re: Environmentally Friendly Yellow Jacket Removal
>
> Is it really "environmentally friendly" or "frugal" to leave your
> vacuum running for a couple of hours?     -Peter Cronkleton
> Univ. of Florida
 
Weighed against the alternatives, I'll stick to my assertion that the
vacuum treatment is environmentally friendly and frugal.  On the
occasions I have used this method I honestly can't say that I noticed an
appreciable increase in my electric bill for that month, but for the
sake of argument let's say it cost me $1 an hour to run the vacuum,
times 3 hours.  Hmmm ... still less than what I'd pay for a can of bug
spray, or so I think - I don't buy bug spray.  But since we're making up
these figures, let's say the cost for electricity to run a vacuum equals
the cost of a can of bug spray.  I can walk to my closet to get the
vacuum, but I must drive to the store to buy the bug spray, so even if
the cost of electricity equals the cost of bug spray, add my gasoline
and time costs and factor in the emissions from my truck, and the vacuum
appears to me to be more friendly and frugal.
 
Now, the alternatives mentioned so far have been pesticides, pouring
boiling water down the hole, pouring gasoline down the hole and covering
the hole with a clear salad bowl.
 
Pesticides: Costly, not something I'd want to subject myself to, and
their effect, although targeted towards the wasps, is not limited to
the wasps alone.
 
Boiling Water: Cheap, easy, but again, its effect is not limited to the
wasps alone.  I'd hate to be an earthworm or a plant or any other
living critter around the nest.
 
Gasoline: Need I even comment on that one?  Of course it will kill the
yellow jackets (and every other living thing around it), but our society
has created entire governmental agencies to deal with hazardous spills,
and gasoline is one of those hazardous substances.
 
Clear bowl: Cheap if you happen to already have one.  Minimal effect
on non-targeted life forms, although it could burn the plants within
it's enclosure, and it's slow.  But it is a green, environmentally
friendly and frugal alternative, and a method that I'll be comfortable
using and recommending.
 
In conclusion: I'm surprised to have my vacuum assertion challenged.
'Is it really "environmentally friendly" or "frugal" to leave your
vacuum running for a couple of hours?'  To accomplish the goal of
removing yellow jackets in a benign manner with minimal detriment
to my surroundings, YES Peter Cronkleton, it's really "environmentally
friendly" and "frugal" to leave my vacuum running for a couple of hours.
 
Aaron Morris