Referring back to the wasp problem - I am unable to use my back garden at the moment because of the wasps. They are all over a large tree and a bush underneath. Hover flies are also there. Wasps are also on the lawn and on the paths (one climbed onto my foot this afternoon! Horrid!) Any advice on how to get them to go away?
Hover flies are harmless, but sounds like the wasps have a bike in the tree or bush. Maybe you should get a professional in to get rid of it, specially if they are making life miserable. My neighbour has one and wont do a thing about it. My apple tree is getting eaten and its not nice for me and the kids.
We have an extremely active wasps nest in a flower planter, I have never seen so much activity. Can anyone tell me if they are likely to die off and will it be safe to dig over the soil once the activity has ceased. I know they are very good at keeping other pests at bay but it is almost impossible to do work near by for fear of disturbing them in a big way and being attacked.
Reply to Debbie Wasp nest activity very much depends on the precise location. Many years ago I found a queen wasp 'hibernating' in August, indicating that the home nest that she emerged from would be in decline then. Elsewhere wasp nests can be active into October. What ever time they cease, they all die off except the mated queens, which then hide until founding new nests from scratch next spring.
We have just had to get in the pest control after finding wasp after wasp emerging from somewhere inside the house. He couldn't find the nest and says he's never known this so late after so many cold snaps. It's now November 17th and my wife killed around 50 or more today. We live in Northumberland. Any thoughts?
Have just got in from walking the dog (6am Oct 3rd - still dark) and have found the back door teaming with wasps crawling upwards. Husband says 5 dived into the bathroom when he opened a window. It has been very hot this past weekend in the Midlands, but I've never seen so many wasps appear active at this time of year - they seem very sleepy. Is it the surprising weather conditions making them swarm? Are they attracted to the lights?
Reply to Clarelady Not sure what's going on. There are lots of wasps still about, a mixture of workers still foraging (rather late for them, perhaps the brood season has been extended by warm weather) and the new sexual generation of males and queens. Wasps are not particularly attracted to lights, but when the queens have mated, they look for hibernation quarters, often indoors, in lofts, in sheds etc. The males and new queens do not return to the old nest, so it is they you may have congregating after their party yesterday.
Can anyone help. We seem to have a mole in our garden for the first time. We noticed a heap of soil about two weeks ago. It's getting worse! Can anything be done or do you have to wait until they move on!!!
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Wasp nest activity very much depends on the precise location. Many years ago I found a queen wasp 'hibernating' in August, indicating that the home nest that she emerged from would be in decline then. Elsewhere wasp nests can be active into October. What ever time they cease, they all die off except the mated queens, which then hide until founding new nests from scratch next spring.
He couldn't find the nest and says he's never known this so late after so many cold snaps.
It's now November 17th and my wife killed around 50 or more today.
We live in Northumberland.
Any thoughts?
Not sure what's going on. There are lots of wasps still about, a mixture of workers still foraging (rather late for them, perhaps the brood season has been extended by warm weather) and the new sexual generation of males and queens. Wasps are not particularly attracted to lights, but when the queens have mated, they look for hibernation quarters, often indoors, in lofts, in sheds etc. The males and new queens do not return to the old nest, so it is they you may have congregating after their party yesterday.