Forum home› Wildlife gardening
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Wasp nest - what to do?

jemimarosejemimarose Posts: 23
in Wildlife gardening
Think I should have posted this here, and not in problem solving - not sure how to delete! So apologies for the repeat. Below is my post. :-) 

Hello everyone. We've discovered an active wasps nest right by our front door! They've made it in the air vent at ankle height, which actually vents into our bedroom, and we can hear them at night in bed, loudly rustling about with whatever it is they're doing! 

I have two young children (6 and 7) and my husband is sensitive to wasp stings - he gets very itchy. So he wants them to be exterminated. 

But I don't like to kill anything, not even mosquitoes! 

Does anyone have any experience of how disruptive or aggressive they could become? At the moment they are busy going in and out, and not taking any notice of anyone being nearby. But my concern is, that as we come in and out of the door, and it gets later and later in the summer / autumn, that they may become problematic. 

Any advice much appreciated - thank you. 
«134

Posts

  • HumblebeaHumblebea Posts: 38
    Move house? I’m absolutely terrified of wasps so I may be a little biased. I think they are okay this time of year but they will get more aggressive later. 
  • FlyDragonFlyDragon Posts: 834
    When I was a teenager I had the attic bedroom and one year there was a wasp's nest in the roofspace.  They were never aggressive, the only times I got stung were if I sat down or got into bed without checking and disturbed one.  I did get about 4 stings that summer though so if your husband reacts badly to them I'd probably call somebody in to deal with it, you don't want the reaction to get worse. 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    edited July 2021
    As you say, they are not causing any difficulty the moment but l think later in the Summer you could have problems.
    I know l wouldn't feel very comfortable knowing that they were so close, but l appreciate your reluctance to get rid of them. In view of your husband's reaction to wasp stings it may be possible that your children may suffer the same way ? Anaphylactic shock could be a possibility that you may have to consider. 
    I would find a local wasp nest remover.
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    It's not worth keeping them if there is a risk hubs will have a bad reaction. I have been stung several times for absolutely no reason, once in the middle of my back while lying still sunbathing! each time I get stung the reaction gets worse, last time was a sting on my wrist while walking along the pavement. my entire arm turned red. In my experience wasps get aggressive in late summer when their work is done. We did one year have one in the raised bed by the front door, they would chase anyone who tried to use the door, I suspect that not all wasp nests have the same temperament, just as not all bee hives do.

    I do not allow any wasps to live on my property if I find the nests I can see this year I have missed one somewhere as the strawberries are covered in wasps.
  • jemimarosejemimarose Posts: 23
    Thank you for your comments and thoughts everyone. We may just let them lie for a bit, although I know it is only going to get busier. 

    Because they are by the front door, we are only coming and going, rather than spending time there. If it was in the back garden, it would be worse as the children are out there all the time. 

    I hate the thought of killing them just because they chose an inconvenient spot. 

    I'll sleep on it for a few more nights and make a call next week. 


  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    I’d get someone in to remove them. Your local council will have information on their website. That is too near the house for safety. The quicker you do it, the fewer will suffer. Stung 15 times when I accidentally disturbed a nest last year. No fun at all. I also hate killing anything, but wasps too near your home are nothing like the numerous spiders and woodlice I escort out of the house.
  • jemimarosejemimarose Posts: 23
    Ergates said:
    I’d get someone in to remove them. Your local council will have information on their website. That is too near the house for safety. The quicker you do it, the fewer will suffer. Stung 15 times when I accidentally disturbed a nest last year. No fun at all. I also hate killing anything, but wasps too near your home are nothing like the numerous spiders and woodlice I escort out of the house.
    Ouch! 15 times! Was that a nest in the ground or one higher up? I fear you might be right. Especially with my children around... 
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    It was in the ground, not near the house. I was digging out some old rhododendron roots, and failed to notice a few wasps popping in and out of a hole nearby. Obviously got too near and they rushed out and they got me before I managed to run out of range.  Very painful, luckily I’m not allergic to stings ( or at least I wasn’t!) I had a few days of itching, but ended up at the Minor Injuries Unit when they started to get worse and spread into big red patches. I was worried I was getting cellulitis, but it responded to old fashioned Piriton. I do check carefully now if I see any activity to make sure I don’t get too close to a nest.
  • jemimarosejemimarose Posts: 23
    edited July 2021
    That's when my husband got stung - and daughter too, blackberry picking and stumbled right atop a wasp nest in the ground. They were really aggressive. I suppose the difference with this one is we know exactly where it is and how to avoid it... 
  • parkgatemanparkgateman Posts: 50
    we had a wasps nest last year in a bird nesting box at the bottom of our garden. We had no problems at all . Live and let live .
Sign In or Register to comment.