HELP!!! Ground Wasp?!?!

Okay, this wasn't there last night, I know, because we were (finally) getting the Borax out to treat the ant problem. (More on that later.) We suddenly have a ground wasp (I think that's what it is) establishing a nest not 5 feet from the screened porch door, and 2 feet from my pumpkins! Everything I've heard about these creatures is unappealing, to say the least. I've heard that they are very territorial, and sting with little provocation. What I've seen so far says they can fly faster than man can run by a long shot, and now my boys don't want anything to do with the back yard! The other thing I've heard is, once they have a nest built, the only way to get rid of them is by pouring gasoline down the hole and igniting it...NOT and option for an organic garden!!! Not to mention it's proximity to my house! It's also exactly where we want to build a flower bed.

SO, I'm turning to my friends here, hoping that you will have an organic solution to my husband's willingness to build the Southern Bomb... I will also be Googling this to see what I can find out about it...

But before I go, I mentioned the ants... We sprinkled Borax on the anthills we found in the back yard and my son sprayed each pile with water... I can now report that we see a tiny fraction of the ants that we've seen in previous days, even for such a hot day as this. We're definitely pleased!

Can you snap and post a photo of the critter in question? It would help to know for sure what you are dealing with. I am sure about the gasoline being not the best remedy...

It flies extremely fast and has not lit on anything so I could get a photo. I'm searching the internet now, so perhaps I can find a photo of this thing. I know that there's a ground-nesting bee that's not dangerous, but this thing just seems too aggressive in it's flight patterns to seem like a bee to me. It also appears to have a narrow place between head and abdomen.

Okay, the bee, wasp, whatever it is, seems to be off looking for food because I haven't seen it in a while. I've looked at photos of the Cicada Killers (a wasp) common to our region, and this thing isn't that big. Those are not aggressive stingers, and from what I've read they might seem scary but aren't something to worry about. The thing we have is smaller, but I haven't been able to identify it yet. Here's a photo of it's nest:

I'll keep looking for a positive ID, or watch to see if I can get a photo of the thing.

You may wanna check out the University of Florida extension website here to help you identify your bee/wasp.

http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/Pest_ID/biting_and_stinging/

From what I have read you most likely have either the Eastern yellowjacket, Vespula maculifrons, or Southern yellowjacket, Vespula squamosa (Drury) described in the link here as they are the only two species of wasp that make ground nests in Florida.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in238

Its recommended to spray the nest at night (when the nest is less active) with a insecticide containing a fast acting Pyrethrum based product (which is organic) while wearing some some form of protective clothing (CAUTION these insects will swarm you once you start attacking the nest!).

I would recommended you not try to treat the problem yourself and hire a professional to handle it just to be safe.

Thanks Daniel! I hadn't come across those sites yet.

I think the yellowjacket matches what I saw. I guess it's time to call our pest management folks out...it's almost time for the annual renewal of our termite coverage, so we can make the appointment for that when we ask for help with this. If it weren't so darn close to the garden and back door, I wouldn't be bothered by this. They chose a really inconvenient spot! Now my boys will be scared to go out to the garden until they're gone.