I must admit I'm very sceptical about those hanging-bag wasp nest deterents. Most wasp nests are subterannean, and only a few species (subgenus Dolichovespula) make a paper carton attached to a branch. More sales pitch than animal behaviour, I think.
I took a live male wasp (and several females) along to the natural history club I run at Ivydale School in Nunead. They all peered suspiciously as I clasped it between finger and thumb. There too many children, and they get a bit excited, so I decided to forego the hands-on (or fingers-on) activity. If only for the sake of the poor wasp.
I've yet to hear from the parents, but I think I'm safe in betting that not one of them will have a go at picking up boy wasps off the ivy on their own, and that not one of them will get stung because of my lesson.
But I can be sure that they went away from school less scared, less muddled, more informed and more enthusiastic about wasps than when they came into the classroom that day.
I have had two 'paper' wasps nests in my greenhouse this year. I got stung three times at the beginning of the season, but then they seemed to get used to me and didn't mind me coming near to water and prune the tomatoes. I wonder how intelligent wasps are. I don't mind them at all.
We had lots of wasps in the garden this summer and they certainly clear up lots of aphids making them a vital part of the food chain in any organic wildlife garden IMHO.
Having said that I'm still wary of them but have found that if you leave them alone they generally return the favour...
If you actually want to attract wasps then from this years experience plant some PERSICARIA AMPLEXICAULIS as it was covered in wasps for most of the summer!! The bonus is when it's not covered in wasps it's covered in other pollinators!!...
I had a wasp's nest near the door in my greenhouse and though I had a few buzz round me when I went in, I was never stung. No bug problems either on my tomato os chilli plants.
No problem at all with most insects. Bees, love them, rescued them and have even stroked them, hover flies if that is what they are ? small pleasant insects resembling wasps. Even encountered hornets doing their own thing. Why do wasps have to be a damned aggressive pest, plenty of flowers and things to feed on, but no, they want to buzz around your head, face, and anything you eat, even if it doesn't have any sugar in it. After being stung twice as a child and once as an adult I have learned to gently waft them away and don't flap and wave, but they just persist. I can understand why people are afraid of them.
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Sorry,I regard wasps as a pest and have no qualms of luring them to their death with bait. as needed......rather a dead wasp than a sting.
Last time OH was stung, we had to go to A & E
I must admit I'm very sceptical about those hanging-bag wasp nest deterents. Most wasp nests are subterannean, and only a few species (subgenus Dolichovespula) make a paper carton attached to a branch. More sales pitch than animal behaviour, I think.
I took a live male wasp (and several females) along to the natural history club I run at Ivydale School in Nunead. They all peered suspiciously as I clasped it between finger and thumb. There too many children, and they get a bit excited, so I decided to forego the hands-on (or fingers-on) activity. If only for the sake of the poor wasp.
I've yet to hear from the parents, but I think I'm safe in betting that not one of them will have a go at picking up boy wasps off the ivy on their own, and that not one of them will get stung because of my lesson.
But I can be sure that they went away from school less scared, less muddled, more informed and more enthusiastic about wasps than when they came into the classroom that day.
I have had two 'paper' wasps nests in my greenhouse this year. I got stung three times at the beginning of the season, but then they seemed to get used to me and didn't mind me coming near to water and prune the tomatoes. I wonder how intelligent wasps are. I don't mind them at all.
We had lots of wasps in the garden this summer and they certainly clear up lots of aphids making them a vital part of the food chain in any organic wildlife garden IMHO.
Having said that I'm still wary of them but have found that if you leave them alone they generally return the favour...
If you actually want to attract wasps then from this years experience plant some PERSICARIA AMPLEXICAULIS as it was covered in wasps for most of the summer!! The bonus is when it's not covered in wasps it's covered in other pollinators!!...
http://higgysgardenproject.blogspot.co.uk/
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Higgy
I agree that they should be respected and welcomed, but not handled by kids without close and expert supervision.
I see dozens of people, of every age, every year, stung by wasps and some of the results are stomach turning.
An interesting post though.
I had a wasp's nest near the door in my greenhouse and though I had a few buzz round me when I went in, I was never stung. No bug problems either on my tomato os chilli plants.
No problem at all with most insects. Bees, love them, rescued them and have even stroked them, hover flies if that is what they are ? small pleasant insects resembling wasps. Even encountered hornets doing their own thing. Why do wasps have to be a damned aggressive pest, plenty of flowers and things to feed on, but no, they want to buzz around your head, face, and anything you eat, even if it doesn't have any sugar in it. After being stung twice as a child and once as an adult I have learned to gently waft them away and don't flap and wave, but they just persist. I can understand why people are afraid of them.