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Wasp nest - what to do?

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  • Fairygirl said:

    Indeed they are @jemimarose  :)
    I had bees nesting in the hog house last year, so made a purpose built 'box' for them. The wasps moved in instead  ;)
    There was still a few in there when I took the pic [early October] but all gone a few weeks later. 
    I had another nest under a shrub in a raised bed, which they accessed from the other side of the fence it's against. I might have a dig around in there at some point to see what it's like. 
    Wow, that is amazing! I will take a photo of the nest we have. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    There's still a few wasps visible in that pic, but I was just checking it to see so that I could clear the box out, as I hadn't really seen any going in and out for a few days. They don't really bother me at all so I'm never too worried about having a look. Different if you have an allergy etc. 
    It did cause a slight problem earlier in the year when I had to replace a fence post, and I had to work up against the other nest, as well as round at the end where that one above was, so they were all getting a bit hacked off with me  :D  
    Always fascinating watching them go in and out though, no matter how often you see them.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Fairygirl said:
    There's still a few wasps visible in that pic, but I was just checking it to see so that I could clear the box out, as I hadn't really seen any going in and out for a few days. They don't really bother me at all so I'm never too worried about having a look. Different if you have an allergy etc. 
    It did cause a slight problem earlier in the year when I had to replace a fence post, and I had to work up against the other nest, as well as round at the end where that one above was, so they were all getting a bit hacked off with me  :D  
    Always fascinating watching them go in and out though, no matter how often you see them.  :)
    These pictures show the vent they made their nest in! I took the vent off so I could photograph the actual nest - I don't even know how they got in and out! The vent goes rather a long way back into our bedroom, so it must be pretty big in there!   
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    A beautiful piece of engineering @jemimarose :)
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Thanks for letting us know.
  • Wow! That is absolutely beautiful 🤩 

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





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Beautiful aren't they. It's surprising how tiny a hole they can get through, and the size of the nest just depends on the amount of wasps - and the amount of room they have to expand into.
    They can be pretty big - the one in my pic is about a foot long. Yours will be similar @jemimarose :)

    Just because this was mentioned again, I went and took a look at the nest in the box, but I can't see any sign of any queen overwintering - unless she's really buried in the hay. 
    I had some tiny wasps laying eggs in the 'lock' of my gas meter box door a few years ago. I don't think any of them made it to hatching though. Quite bizarre. Not the best site for them!  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    The paper is lovely to work with - if you have any arty friend that might like an ex-nest. I have some in a draw for collaging with.
  • Or a school might like it for a Nature Table 😊 

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





  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    That really is beautiful. Maybe it's because I haven't had dinner yet.... but I'm thinking your nest looks like an elegant piped cream or ice cream dessert. A Bombe Alaska perhaps😁😋

    Well done for tolerating your visitors for a few months. They were clearly very happy there. Our wasp nest will still be in the porch roof space. It's completely inaccessible to humans unless you lift the tiles and roofing felt. The access hole is no longer there (new soffits last year) and I also believe the old nest acts as a deterrent to any new residents.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
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