Question
Dear Jim, I live in the little town of Kendalia in the Texas Hill Country.  I, as well as many of my friends, have a lot of problems with mud dobbers.  They are destroying a lot of my equipment in my barn by building their dirt nests inside engines and motors etc.  A while back I was searching the internet and came across a website (that I can now, not relocate) that advertised a device that looked a lot like a hummingbird feeder that you could hang in a barn area and it attracted dirt dobbers.  The tray held dirt and the bottle held some sort of chemical and when the dobber picked up the dirt and took it back to their nests if would then kill them.  Have you ever heard of this device or do you know of any way to get rid of or control dirt dobbers?  I am desperate to fine some way to save my equipment (lawn mowers, battery charger, pressure washer, power tools, and just the whole barn in general).  I appreciate any assistance you could provide.
Sincerely
Barb Bohmann

Answer
I would spray the areas with an insecticide either the aerisol wasp spray or use one you may have around the farm--Sevin, dusban  or Malathion. Knock off all mud nests you can find and spray the areas where they were located. This will cut the population of new wasps and prevent the wasp from building at the sparyed place. I have also seen people who do not use equipment often cover the tail pipes and exaust with netting (old panty hose works) this will prevent the wasp from getting in the exaust system. You may want to contact the Texas Entension Service and ask them what they think. Their phone # should be in the local phone book.