Wasps in Runner Bean Trench!

pendulum

Hi.
I dug a trench in the clay soil of my garden two weeks ago to get ready for the runner beans. I was going to fill it with some compost and leaf mould before planting the runner beans out in a couple of weeks. If this sounds wrong it's because I'm a beginner!

Anyway, there have been a lot of wasps around it lately which I put down to them being interested in the freshly dug soil (duh!) but I have just noticed circular holes in the wall of the trench and the wasps are coming in and out

The thought of an underground wasps nest makes my blood go cold because I hate wasps. Can anyone recommend how to get rid of this or is it one for the professionals?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

pendulum wrote: »

Hi.
I dug a trench in the clay soil of my garden two weeks ago to get ready for the runner beans. I was going to fill it with some compost and leaf mould before planting the runner beans out in a couple of weeks. If this sounds wrong it's because I'm a beginner!

Anyway, there have been a lot of wasps around it lately which I put down to them being interested in the freshly dug soil (duh!) but I have just noticed circular holes in the wall of the trench and the wasps are coming in and out

The thought of an underground wasps nest makes my blood go cold because I hate wasps. Can anyone recommend how to get rid of this or is it one for the professionals?

Not meaning to insult you, but they aren't necessarily wasps. You could have totally harmless hoverflies that look like wasps there.

If you could bear to get close enough to get a photo, we might be able to reassure you (or confirm your fears )

But if they are wasps - I would definitely get a professional to deal with it (if sticking a hosepipe in the trench and running away didn't solve it). Angry wasps aren't my idea of fun either.

pendulum

I've had another look and they do look like wasps to me. They are quite big bodied and never seem to hover in the same place like a hoverfly. There are about 6 holes now. I will try and get a picture later on.

themull1

Get some wasp nest killer powder and !!!!!! it down each hole, the wasps will carry it into the nest and it will destroy them.

TonyMMM

themull1 wrote: »

Get some wasp nest killer powder and !!!!!! it down each hole, the wasps will carry it into the nest and it will destroy them.

Agreed - then just fill the trenches with compost, which will help block up the holes...they will get the message and leave.

tubbee2

Are you sure they are wasps and not some sort of bee - I ask because we have a variety of different bees around but I've only seen one wasp so far this year - a queen recently out of hibernation and it would be unusual for a number of queen wasps to be together.

Could you possibly photograph them and post?

tb2

moneysaverboy

again like others have said are you sure these are wasps? We've had mortar bees doing similar in our garden before, and they have a similar shape to wasps but are darker, and until you get quite close it can be hard to tell exactly what you're dealing with. You could try ringing your local council and find out if they have a service - a friend of mine has had to call them to remove a bees nest from her garden. It is going to be moved to a new location (it's currently in her lawnmower of all places, right in front of her shed door), I think it's costing her about £35 to have it moved.

pendulum

Thanks for all the replies. I did manage to get a pic and a small vid. After looking at them I do now think they are bees and not wasps




The above pic shows the holes they are going in to. On the opposite wall of the trench is more holes so there are actually around 12 or so holes now.

Here is a link to a video showing them going in and out
http://ccgi.pendulum.plus.com/beevid.AVI (but bee warned, it's a large download at 30mb... ;))

So what's my next move? I am over my worm and spider phobias now but still scared of anything that can sting and don't feel I can work while they're there

pendulum

They are persistent! I flooded the trench yesterday evening with the garden hose but they just dug higher access holes. It didn't work. Dad bought some wasp killer and applied it which wasn't the best idea as 1) that didn't work and 2) I'm now worried about growing anything in that trench as it says keep away from good stuffs and don't contaminate the water course.

I had a half hearted attempt at mixing sugar / potassium nitrate to smoke them out, but now I'm off to B&Q / Homebase to try and get some proper bee killing powder because they're just so determined to stay.

If that doesn't work its over to the pro's.

[Deleted User]

watch out, the wasps are certainly on the prowl looking for nest sites. Dh found one yesterday in the bottom of his rucksack in the (wooden) garage.

He has made some wasp traps and distroyed the little nest. It had cells and eggs in it so was in the nick of time

Lotus-eater

If you are sure they are bees, then they will be a native uk bee and these hardly ever sting. So you needn't worry about them.

If you can possibly leave them a bit of space, they will pay you back by pollinating your plants.

Kittie, they are not wasps, they are bees according to the OP.