We have been plagued with wasps for the past two weeks. We have found one underground nest at the back of the garden but there is another one somewhere near the house. We have lots of 'Heath Robinson' wasp traps (inverted plastic bottles with jam) but though they are catching 20 or 30 a day we are still plagued. Any ideas how to deal with them?
we try and leave wasps as they also can play a part in pollination and are food for some birdies. We do get rid of ones in our immediate living environment though. But this year we have found they are very aggressive - especially when it's been hot. You could try just sitting outside patiently in the area you think they might be nesting, just as the temperatures are cooling off and see if they are going back to a nest.
Funnily enough, the wasps which have been aggressive here this year are the paper wasps - got hubby a few times and normally he doesn't react too badly, but he has this year, so perhaps they stung several times. Good luck!
And there was me thinking that I hadn't seen much insect activity of *any* kind this year - even the ants seem to have been relatively quiet! But have hardly *seen* a wasp - or a hornet!
Just one massive swarm of bees which went away just as I had decided to take them (after a week of horrible cold wet weather).....
We have had 2 nests this year, one in the shed and one under the base of a parasol. Got some great spray from Leroy Merlin which also did for a colony of flying ants.
Hard. I had to stand back and watch where they were going, slowly approach that place and then mark it. Took days.
Thanks Brian - only problem is we can't find the source (nest) for those by the house. All we know is that they just keep coming.
Wasps. If they really are a nuisance, say by having a nest to close to where you actually live, then get a spray and put a good squirt into the nest. It will do for the whole colony.
Otherwise, just live with them. As long as you do not swat them or similar they are not interested. Like those of us who keep bees, the way never to get stung is to be calm and let them clear off. It's mainly the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) who are social and live in large colonies which actually does a great job clearing away caterpillars and other insects. They eat a number of plants as well, preferring the sweeter plants and eats their nectar, they also eats fruits and honey. Most cooked human food is not interesting but you might find them going for fat you don't eat - highly nutritious for their young.
Potter wasps are solitary, will perhaps sting a couple of times if 'threatened' but are otherwise fine.
No wasps swarm (bees only there) and do not have the means of communication to organise a 'gang' to come to get somebody. If the colony is a real nuisance though, get rid of it as already said. I have had some myself this year but eradicated them because they were raiding my bees.