Wasps

FirstClassMale

On Saturday, i noticed that a wasp had begun building a byke right above the door of my timber shed. It is quite a small thing and has a certain beauty to it. There is no question of leaving it there so I intend to use a blowtorch on it.

Am I right in thinking that you should wait until late evening before doing it so as to dispose of the creatures inside. If I do it while they are awake will they get a bit annoyed? :mad:

I could buy the spray stuff but that's not very moneysaving and I am confident that a quick blast with a blowtorch wont set fire to the shed.

Debt_Free_Chick

FirstClassMale wrote:

Am I right in thinking that you should wait until late evening before doing it so as to dispose of the creatures inside.

Yes, because during the day they're out foraging.

If I do it while they are awake will they get a bit annoyed? :mad:

Well, you would, wouldn't you? :rotfl:

I think there's still a danger that you'll disturb them at night.

I could buy the spray stuff but that's not very moneysaving and I am confident that a quick blast with a blowtorch wont set fire to the shed.

Personally, I wouldn't even contemplate it. You should be aware that a fully developed colony can contain several thousand wasps. The nectar is in full flow and the colony would have expanded recently. Difficult to know how many wasps may be in the nest, but I would think more than "a few".

I happily handle my honey bee colony, which contains anywhere between 30,000 and 50,000 bees, but I wouldn't touch a wasps nest. The pest control officer at your local council will probably charge about £30 to deal with them.

Are you sure it's a wasp? Could it be a solitary bee? There are very many species of solitary bees and some resemble wasps.

Can you identify it from this this or this?

FirstClassMale

Thank you very much for your insight. The nest is no bigger than an eggcup and if you look directly up into it there is a very small honeycomb at the top.

There are marks looking like snail trails around it on the wood (I havent finished the building yet so haven't painted it) I assume this is where they have got the material to build the nest/byke.

Debt_Free_Chick

FirstClassMale wrote:

Thank you very much for your insight. The nest is no bigger than an eggcup and if you look directly up into it there is a very small honeycomb at the top.

It sounds too small to be a wasps nest. They grow to the size of a football. I guess it could be a nest in its very early stages, but identifying the insect would be your best bet.

It would be a shame to destroy the nest if it's not a wasp - but I'm a bit of a softie when it comes to bees. Hate wasps & hornets though :eek:

FirstClassMale

I looked up your links and, although I wanted it to be a lone bee as I like them too, all the evidence points to the common (or social?) wasp. Those that I saw around it last night looked like wasps and the location being under a canopy and greyish paperlike spherical nest.

On checking my local council website, I found that you are spot on with the cost of disposal at just under thirty quid. I will get my full face visor out and a tea towel over my head and use the blowtorch tonight before the thing gets any bigger.

woodbutcher_2

When i stripped the roof at my house while carrying out building work,i found two nests about the size of tennis balls and they were still being used.They were not happy when i disturbed them and me and the wife had to do a runner.I rang the local council and they came and removed them.He said they were wasp nests and had probably been there a while,attracted by my apple tree.Apparantly they fed on the fallen fruit.I think it cost me about £25.00 pounds at the time.He said that they chew up wood and make nests from the cellulose in it.I found this fascinating because i am a joiner and over the years have been stung on several occasions.When i asked the guy about this,he said it was probably the smell of newly cut timber that attracted them to my vicinity.

Debt_Free_Chick

FirstClassMale wrote:

I will get my full face visor out and a tea towel over my head and use the blowtorch tonight before the thing gets any bigger.

Cover every inch of flesh. Put on gardening gloves or similar and make sure that your sleeves fit over the gloves. Put on thick socks over your trousers - otherwise, they may crawl up any gaps.

Watch any gaps around your neck. If you have a walking jacket with a hood .... put tea towel over your head, then the visor, then put on the jacket, put up the hood and fully close the jacket right up to the neck.

Can't work out if you're brave or stupid, though :rotfl:

Good luck

Doonhamer

It is just the early stage of a wasp nest, probably just the queen building it. It is too early for big swarms of wasps. Just smash it or if you prefer puff it with ant powder

FirstClassMale

Can't work out if you're brave or stupid, though :rotfl:

Good luck [/QUOTE]


No, either can I. It's more like a case of not wanting to spend 30 quid and wait ages for a pest control co to come. In the meantime worrying every time I pass under it. I forgot to pick up the blowtorch from my brother this evening so another day will pass and the colony will grow.

Doonhamer

Just smash it and walk calmly away, don't muck about with blowtorches.

silvercar

When the council guy arrives all dressed up like a spaceman and your standing there with a tea towel over your head you will feel stupid.

Messing with wasps nests to save £30 is madness.