Wasps in dalek compost
Mateo74
Posts: 6
Hello all
I've seen posts about getting rid of the wasps nest but they're a lot about daring escapades or use of harsh substances that I don't want anywhere near my veg patch. I don't mind the wasps as such and have left them alone but it's been a while since I could get anywhere near the bin to use it or clear up the fallen leaves around it. The bin is behind our shed area, where there is a narrow path between the bin and shed. I don't want to use chemicals but would like to know whether they will naturally go away in the cold months, so I can wait it out, or will they hibernate and be there again in the spring. Will I also need to dispose of a abandoned nest? The bin is full of leaves of leaf mould, but I've not been able to get to it for a long time now. I'd actually like to get to the bin, clear it out, get rid of it and not get stung in the process!
Posts
Hi
Wasps' nests die off in the winter - new queens will have left to hibernate elsewhere and then start new nests in the spring. The rest of the wasps live for the summer only.
Empty your bin carefully when the weather has turned really cold - a wasps' nest is a marvellous thing of wonder - a feat of engineering.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
... but the wasps will be gone... or in there, dead...? Also, do I need to wait for a deep cold for a prolonged number of weeks?
Last edited: 09 November 2016 09:52:51
Are there any wasps going in and out of the compost bin? If not, it's over. There may be a few dead ones around but most will have died elsewhere.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
There were wasps only a few days ago. We had a 0-5c in the last week (I'm near Newhaven/Eastbourne). Would you recommend just keeping an eye on movement during the day, to see if they're gone?
Watch as the sun goes down for wasps returning to the nest at the end of the day - that's the time to spot them if there are any there. If you're anxious about it you could wait until December - that should be safe enough.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks!
I'd wait a bit until there's been a long spell of cold weather. We have a wasps nest in our larder roof and there are still a small number of wasps going in and out. They do presumably get some warmth from the house though.
Thanks, I'll keep an eye out as it gets colder!
I noticed a lone wasp flying around the entrance for a few days and then eventually no more. Watching me get close to the bin with a broom was a sight to see. Slowly knocked it over and then knocked the leaves over. No sign of wasps, though when I go to the bottom where the nest was, there was tonnes of bugs. The wasps nest was not as I'd imagined. It was a very flat section, with perfect holes but very small.
Beautiful engineering
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.