Michaela. I really can't believe a bag-like thing hanging in a tree will disuade wasps. Most are not aerial nesters anyway, they make their carton nests in holes in the ground.
Weedinator. The traps kill. There is no use collecting live wasps and then letting them go later.
In the early spring I set out wasp traps filled part way with orange pop. This works well in getting the queen's, last year had no wasps at all. Under no circumstances do I in any way encourage them to stay, and do everthing in my power to keep them away. Two years ago I was stung and it was almost my last, highly allergic, with two epi-pens now everwhere I go.I know they are a part of our landscape, but just not in my yard.
It's so nice to find some pro-wasp comments for a change - the internet is awash with methods of eradicating them. A queen built her nest in one of our bird boxes this year which I've been following with great interest. At first I was annoyed that they'd prevented us the wonder of baby birds in the garden but I'm a live and let live kind of guy and also have a soft spot for bugs (unless they are devouring my plants). I can get up really close (like within inches of the entrance) without causing stir now, although I do keep one eye on them when I mow the lawn as there's something about the lawnmower (perhaps it's hum) that can get them agitated. We have several hanging baskets in our garden. The three nearest the wasps nest are completely free of greenfly and are thriving, while the others (while are thriving too) are doing slightly less well and have small pockets of greenfly. We have barbecues and they are no bother to us at all. I'll take the advice from here and put out some jam for them nearer the end of the season.
I have a nest of wasp like insect it seems to like my cranebill, they are not very large, when I approach the nest, they fly out in great numbers, I have become very fond of them, I can work around them. Kate Bradbury thought they could be a bumblebee, but they are too small.
Reply to Jules Meat is meat to a wasp, whether it comes in the form of insect prey or is pilfered from sandwiches. You should always be wary of wasps visiting your food, though, because they will also visit carrion and may be traipsing bacteria and other germs over your plate.
At present I am pleased to say I have hundreds of wasps in my garden due to windfall pears. As I don't like pears I'm perfectly happy to let the wasps stuff themselves silly - much better way of recycling fallen fruit as wasps can make short work of an entire pear! There can be two dozen or more wasps per pear and they barely take any notice if I lift and move a fruit onto the grass! I have not been stung (yet) since the wasps appear to be inebriated. (I'm sure I can hear drunken singing!)However, my cat is not amused and thinks I've gone mad harbouring such winged irritants.
I tried to leave this comment already but no luck. Last year one of my customers nearly lost her son due to a wasp sting. Please can you put the link up if people would like to read it, many thanks <a title="Wasp Nest Removal In Surrey" href="http://www.waspnestssurrey.co.uk/apps/blog/wasp-stings-can-be-fatal-1" target="_blank">Wasp Nest Removal Surrey</a>
Posts
Michaela. I really can't believe a bag-like thing hanging in a tree will disuade wasps. Most are not aerial nesters anyway, they make their carton nests in holes in the ground.
Weedinator. The traps kill. There is no use collecting live wasps and then letting them go later.
Simon. Nunhead Bug Hunt was exhausting, but as good fun as ever. Thanks for the plug. The book is available from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Extreme-Insects-Richard-Jones/dp/0007310773/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306160128&sr=8-1 and lots of other bookshops.
A queen built her nest in one of our bird boxes this year which I've been following with great interest. At first I was annoyed that they'd prevented us the wonder of baby birds in the garden but I'm a live and let live kind of guy and also have a soft spot for bugs (unless they are devouring my plants). I can get up really close (like within inches of the entrance) without causing stir now, although I do keep one eye on them when I mow the lawn as there's something about the lawnmower (perhaps it's hum) that can get them agitated.
We have several hanging baskets in our garden. The three nearest the wasps nest are completely free of greenfly and are thriving, while the others (while are thriving too) are doing slightly less well and have small pockets of greenfly.
We have barbecues and they are no bother to us at all. I'll take the advice from here and put out some jam for them nearer the end of the season.
Meat is meat to a wasp, whether it comes in the form of insect prey or is pilfered from sandwiches. You should always be wary of wasps visiting your food, though, because they will also visit carrion and may be traipsing bacteria and other germs over your plate.
Many thanks and keep up the good work!
I tried to leave this comment already but no luck. Last year one of my customers nearly lost her son due to a wasp sting. Please can you put the link up if people would like to read it, many thanks
<a title="Wasp Nest Removal In Surrey" href="http://www.waspnestssurrey.co.uk/apps/blog/wasp-stings-can-be-fatal-1" target="_blank">Wasp Nest Removal Surrey</a>