The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Bees & Beekeeping => Topic started by: waddy on October 03, 2013, 11:07:24 am

Title: Dealing with wasps
Post by: waddy on October 03, 2013, 11:07:24 am
Not exactly bees although as we are wanting bees next year it is important we deal with this. We have a very active wasps nest in a grassy bank near where we want to plant fruit trees and potentially where we may want to site the bees. What is the best way of dealing with these? Would ant powder work? Advice much appreciated!


Helen  :bee: :bee: :bee:
Title: Re: Dealing with wasps
Post by: Fleecewife on October 03, 2013, 11:26:34 am
Wasps don't tend to come back to the same nest each year, so once they've died off in the autumn they will build somewhere else next year.
 
The wasps and (bumble) bees here have running battles throughout the summer, with the wasps attacking the bees as they emerge from their ground nests.   I believe that hive bees are better organised to repel the wasps and other enemies.
 
I can't help with how to destroy a wasps nest as I like having some around for pest control, so we leave them be.
Title: Re: Dealing with wasps
Post by: roddycm on October 03, 2013, 11:38:04 am
Burn the nest, pour fire lighter fluid on and in the hole and chuck a match. Do it quickly so you don't get stung! I always burn them, make sure you destroy the nest so they don't have any reserves!
Title: Re: Dealing with wasps
Post by: shygirl on October 03, 2013, 12:59:40 pm
we called out a professional wasp man once and all he did was put the nest in a blackbin bag, then spray into the bag with flyspray. easy!

our wasps do change nests each year but still stay in the area. ours have gradually gone down the driveway, and nest in the mud, but wev also had them in any shed they can find. this year we moved the sheds and we found a nest in my daughters trainer which was left in the stable.  :roflanim:   needless to say - we lobbed it into the tree and ran.  :innocent:
Title: Re: Dealing with wasps
Post by: P6te on October 03, 2013, 09:26:41 pm
If the nest is in a grassy bank with a single main entrance its straight forward, wait until its dusk and all wasps are at home and pour about half a pint of petrol in the hole ... the fumes will kill all wasps.  If you really want to be sure leave half an hour and then from a safe distance set fire to it.

Pete
Title: Re: Dealing with wasps
Post by: HesterF on October 03, 2013, 10:47:16 pm
We bought some spray-in stuff for wasps nests last year although as it was buried deep, it wasn't all that successful. Believe it's better if you can get to more of the nest. And, yes, they moved over the winter. Hive bees can defend against wasps (which only want to rob their honey) but you can make it easier for them by reducing the hive entrance to a really small size. Best about August when the wasps are most active and the summer nectar flow is slowing for the bees. I guess at this time of the year, they're all getting less active (reminds me, mouse guard now needed on hives),

H
Title: Re: Dealing with wasps
Post by: shygirl on October 07, 2013, 09:41:39 am
I was stung by a tiny wasp the other day, under the armpit,ouch. And the kitten was stung in the face.
We only kill them if they are a hazard and have nested too close too the house.
Title: Re: Dealing with wasps
Post by: cloddopper on October 10, 2013, 12:31:02 pm
In the day time mark the entrance of the nest with two bamboo canes putting onedown  a foot either side & pointing to the entrance  .
Go back when its well dark and pour a kettle or two of boiling water down into the hole
 The boiling water will cook the nest and the entrance area there ar no escapees to speak of .

 Don't do the boiling water in the daytime as some  wasps will still be out and about and you'll end upsetting them .  They don't go to bed till about an hour after sunset or till the temp drops to around 47 oF