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wasp setting up home in my greenhouse. HELP!!!!

gillian328gillian328 Posts: 9
in Problem solving
hi everyone, after spending a fair amount of time in and around my greenhouse today I have been noticing what looks like a large wasp continually buzzing around the roof, kept gently encouraging it out the window but keeps returning to the same spot. I don't want to destroy it but given the amount of pleasure and destressing my garden and greenhouse are giving me at the moment (staff nurse) I don't want to be evicted by a wasps nest. Any suggestions how to encourage it to pick a different spot to build a nest? Many Thanks
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Posts

  • Andy19Andy19 Posts: 671
    Hi first of all what a great job you and all NHS staff are doing in these difficult times. It might not be building a nest  but if it is roll up a couple sheet of newspaper tight then light paper for a few seconds just to get a little smoke that will do the job.
  • PurplerainPurplerain Posts: 1,053
    They do build lovely golf balls in sheds and greenhouses but if you take a broom handle, some wasp spray and run for it you should be able to get rid of your uninvited guests.
    SW Scotland
  • gillian328gillian328 Posts: 9
    Thanks Andy19 and purplerain for your suggestions. I never thought of smoke, what will that do to the wasp? purplerain your idea made me laugh, a very robust plan. work is tougher than I have ever experienced at the moment but I have lots to be thankful for, my garden is one of them.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Wasp nests can be a lot bigger than a golf ball.  I wasn't using the greenhouse last year but in late Summer was a lot of wasp activity and it became dangerous for me to go anywhere near the greenhouse.  Our neighbours also have young children so it had to be dealt with.  Got in specialist to destroy the nest, which had actually been excavated in the floor of the greenhouse under some boards.  The nest was nearly a foot in diameter.
  • gillian328gillian328 Posts: 9
    oh my goodness, didn't realise they could get that big. I really would like to be evicting just the one wasp, better see what I can do in the morning. Thanks for the info KT53
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    I don't think smoke will work. It works on bees because they've evolved to respond to it by filling their honey stomach with honey from the hive, they get full then sleepy. Wasps don't behave the same, and if you agitate a wasp it will release pheromones that call all the other wasps to attack you like Pearl Harbor.

    Always best to get a professional in for these kind of things...
  • gillian328gillian328 Posts: 9
    Ah I see, thanks strelitzia32. I was trying to avoid exterminators, if there was any way of encouraging the wasp to pick another site to build a nest. I'm not overly concerned by sharing my garden with all manor of minibeasts but if it's going to stop me being able to use my greenhouse full of seedlings then I may have no choice. 
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I had one in the bathroom the other day, the little bleeder wouldn't leave. I think it was scouting for paper or wood, to make nesting materials. I swatted it in the end I'm sorry to say!

    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    I'd be inclined to do what Willdb did......
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2020
    While it’s still just one queen wasp making a brood chamber to start a colony I would knock it down with a broom and put it outside. She’ll move on and make another nest elsewhere. I’ve done it several times. Not a problem. 

    But as far as I can see she’s not started building yet ... she’s simply prospecting for a suitable spot ... if you’re in and out of the greenhouse frequently it’s unlikely that she’ll think that’s a bit suitable place. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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