Yellow Jackets Eating Tomatoes!!!!!

[Mark Conrad]

Does anyone else have problems with yellow jackets eating thier tomatoes? I have 5 plants, all different varieties and as soon as a tomato gets ripe, the yellow jackets bite into it. I've sprayed insecticide without success. Any help will be appreciated.

[Mountain]

Are these the wasp-like things with bumblebee coloration? If so, and they nest in a hive you might have to seek that out and destroy it with readily available sprayable chemistry.

Failing that you might have to pick the tomatoes just before they ripen and let them turn red on the windowsill.

[Mark Conrad]

Yes, they do look like yellow and black wasps. I have no idea where they are nesting and probably could never find and kill all of them.

I tried to pick the tomatoes a little before they are ripe and the wasps then attack tomatoes before ripe.

Ive heard that you can put out syrup and they prefer it over tomatoes. Hope for the best.

Thanks for the reply!

[d. mark fette]

...peace be with you mark...really...

...i have found that attacking wasp command-central (the nests) is the best strategy...in early morning's light, find/destroy all nests that you can...watch the critters as soon as they appear:

from whence they come & to whither they go
in mornings light & twilight's glow
their path to nest made, your eye to follow
tomato's revenge, death they must swallow

...peace--->mark

[Mark Conrad]

When I find nests, I kill them, but I live outside of town where they have lots of places to hide. Maybe I'll try to hunt them out tonight. Wish me luck :)

Thanks for your reply!