Wasps

[Kerry L]

Just a short note to say please look out. The wasps here are coming in the windows virtually all the time - closing them in this heat isn't an option. We have to fight them off in the kitchen mainly, and for those with children - please check their rooms at night, especially the bedding, as they seem to hide in that if they can't escape. Also be careful when getting out of bed in the morning in case they are on the floor - I trod on one and it was quite painful, I know it isn't easy if you're half asleep! The wasps are being a pain much earlier than usual here, I have looked but can't see a nest anywhere. I have tried citronella candles, but they still come in. Anyone got any ideas how to beat the nuisances?

[Ronnie]

Hi Kerry

We are also starting to get a load of wasps which are a real nuisance especially as I get an alergic reaction to their sting. I only know a really old method which my Gran used many years ago. She used a jam jar with a little jam still in the bottom, filled in with water. Holes were made in the lid and then this was put back on the jam jar. The whole thing was stood outside on the window ledge. The wasps are attracted to the sugary smell, climb in and drown. I know it's not very nice but it did work!!! I've not seen this method used for years but if they get a real pest I may have to resort to it!! Apart from from sprays which I don't like using I do not know any other method. My 2 youngest grandchildren hate them as they have both been stung in the past. Hope you can beat them!!!

[optrex]

I must admit all year I've hardly seen a wasp. At home I think the count is currently at 2, whilst being out is probably around the 4 or 5 mark.

[Kerry L]

Hi Optrex and Ronnie
After the initial flurry of wasps, we have had a little break and I was lulled into a false sense of security. I put some apple out for the blackbirds, and the wasps dived on it in a matter of seconds - I had to get a bamboo cane, spear it and put it into the shrubs at the bottom of the garden. The wasps continued to buzz around the area where the apple had been, so I had to tip a bucket of water over the path, and that worked, but the wasps have returned indoors as the weather is warming up again. I remember my dad used to do the jam jar trick, so I think we may have another go (not much jam being eaten at the moment). I don't think I shall be moving to Tamworth to flee from them just yet - Optrex, you can breathe a sigh of relief!
I have been stung quite a few times in recent years, so I am concerned that I may build up a weakness - allergies are our speciality, unfortunately. Mozzie bites end up the size of dinner plates, so antihistamine tablets and creams fill the cupboard. My Canadian cousin is now allergic to wasps and has to carry a syringe and antidote everywhere (and certificate to confirm the condition regarding travelling on planes - good job she wasn't travelling here today, airport security etc.).
The only other infestation that we have here are flea beetles, in their thousands, all over the washing and any plant related to cabbages. They have devastated the calabrese and cauliflowers in the garden, but while they are not eating other plants, they are still all over them and anything else and me too, in my clothes and hair - yuk!
Regards, Kerry

[Uncle Phil]

I know this may be a bit late in the season, but here’s couple of things I’ve picked up along the way about wasps... Let me just say that I’m allergic to them, and one sting is enough to hospitalise me if I haven’t got my “stuff” with me.

The first thing I learned about most folk in this country, is that a very high percentage can’t tell the difference between a bee, a wasp, a hornet and a hoverfly! Ultimately, any bad experience anyone has with a black and yellow stingy thing - it’s usually wasps that get the blame. The only member of the stinging family that an average Joe can, more often than not, correctly identify, is the big fat cuddly Bumble Bee (for obvious reasons). It’s my experience that everything else usually gets called a wasp... Mainly coz the folk you ask were running around wildly whilst trying to identify it J

For example – many people mention that a sting is left behind - Now, this could easily BE a wasp and I obviously cannot say that it wasn't and be positive about it but, I'd bet money that it was a bee!! Wasps very rarely leave their stings in for a few reasons.....
1) It’s hard for them to do so - their sting is smooth (not serrated like a bee’s) and don’t often get stuck in us, therefore they are built for multiple stings I.E easy withdrawal.
2) Wasps NEED their stings to survive - They use their stings to kill their prey that they require for food (in the first part of the summer anyway) - bees don’t need their stings for food at all - theirs is purely for defence, and that’s why I’d guess it was a bee and not a wasp if it left it’s sting behind.

Anyway - I know that just a few weeks ago, a beach full of people ran off screaming that there were millions of wasps attacking. Again, it was just a swarm of hoverflies, and it’s THEM that most people are noticing more of this year.

Here are some tips anyway:
Wasps are in two modes - first half summer and second half summer. Unfortunately, we are nearly past the 2nd half, but this is where the wasps are on a sugar trip. They are actually drunk with sugar and this is where the aggression comes from. Anyway, if you find that they are "dive-bombing" you, this is probably because you are in their flight path to and from their nest (this can be enough of a reason for drunk wasps to attack you by the way).
The way to beat them is not to defeat them but, by giving them what they want! SUGAR!!! Bear with me...

Sit for a minute and look for their flight path - you will see it eventually: they USUALLY fly north TO their nest, and south FROM their nest. But don’t bet yer sensitive bits on that coz I’ve known them to do just the opposite. But anyhow, I can usually spot their flight path within 30 seconds. Anyway - once you clock it (and this is the hairy bit for all we needlephobes) get some jam, treacle, thick double cream, marmalade or similar (no honey or Marmite!!) and place it on a (preferably) white saucer. Stand in their flight path with the saucer until AT LEAST 6 wasps are investigating the saucer (don’t worry, the wont sting you while you are holding that bank of sugary gold) but, don’t wait for more than 6 as it can get a bit hairy for anyone not used to them.

Take the saucer and slowly walk towards their nest to a point at least where it means they wouldn't come as far as your garden and lay the saucer on the ground. Move away fairly quickly.

The wasps that eat from there will soon head back and tell all the other wasps that they have found a fandabbydozy source of sugar and will only go there from their nest and will NOT venture any further than that saucer. This basically wipes out an entire nest from coming anywhere near you. This is how you can "share" your local area (not to mention your bbq) with the wasps instead of the usual battle that commences with them, waving hands and swatting here and spraying there - phew, its too hot to be fighting them - Just like kids - give them what they want to shut them up and get them out your hair (literally) for a good while.

TIP CONTINUED.
Make sure you use an old unwanted saucer, as you must now consider it lost, as retrieving it is not the best idea if it’s feeding a large nest. However, now the wasps have the general location of the jam, you won’t even need to go back there to top it up... simply put some jam on a spoon and lob it in the general direction of the saucer - no need to hit it. Like I say, the general direction is good enough - they'll find it :) and you can keep them away indefinitely.

TIP FURTHER:
Wasps have THE best smell of all the stingy things - this is why they were probably attracted to your feet J so, see that jam you left out on the BBQ or garden tea table? - DONT leave it lying about willy nilly - dont let it get messy round the lid, always close the lid and take it back indoors asap (and ideally, put it in the fridge).

SIDENOTE - They are also very attracted to NHS hearing aids (I’m not joking) so be careful of standing in their flight path if you have one of these!!

.... And if you have one of those neighbours with yobbos that drink and sing and talk loudly to all hours in the morning....DON'T lob jam into their garden now eh? muuuhaaahaaaaa!!! ;-)

EVERY year, you hear people saying that they are particularly bad this year but, the fact is they are total pests and if you have a nest near you - it will seem like that whether its true or not.

Cheers - good luck

[Kerry L]

Dear Uncle Phil
I had a great laugh at your posting. I like the idea of the saucer - perhaps I'll summon up courage one day - I pick up enormous spiders no problemo, but then they haven't bitten me - yet! Perhaps a drip tray for flower pots would do instead of a saucer, for those who's saucers are in constant use (what's a saucer? we use mugs!) Also it is a shame to drown the wasps after a jam feast - after all, they do rid the garden of unwanted pests and it seems rather ungrateful after the good that they do. I am quite happy when they come into the greenhouse with me, they know exactly where the door is, and pick a few stray flys and buzz off back to their nests. The problems occur when they stray where they shouldn't!
I love hornets - they have a meaty buzz a bit like a Harley bike. This spring my daughter called me into her bedroom because their was a big thing on her bed and she was frightened. Turned out to be a queen hornet - what a whopper she was too. No worries, she flew onto the window and I unlocked it with her close to my hand and then Her Highness flew out. They are not agressive unless provoked.
I also have seen people panic when hover flies come close, it is fun to watch the expression on their faces when you pick them up. Their wings are different, as are their heads and eyes, those that buzz make a different sound entirely. There are some fluffy ones that look like bees and some look like honey bees (apparently their larvae feed on those pests that kill off the honey bees and they tidy up the debris at the bottom of the hive too). As a child at the beach, I always used to rescue drowning hover flies and bring them back to dry out. Now they are my garden pals, and help me get rid of aphids.
I agree that there are a lot of people who cannot tell the difference between the species. My son called me to get rid of a wasp in his bedroom - it was a honey bee! After 16 years of showing him the differences, he still can't tell what they are.:( My daughter is the opposite - the more creepy crawlies she can find the better. At the moment we have an elephant hawkmoth caterpillar in the kitchen munching happily on fuschia leaves. However, she screamed her head off the other day when a spider fell out of her jumper that she had left screwed up on the floor! It wasn't very big . . . ;)
I haven't seen many wasps lately - even on the apples in the garden. I have seen hornets - they are usually attracted to the ivy flowers at the bottom of the garden. I shall watch the flight paths next time I hang out the washing, I assume the same path applies to hornets too.
Goodnight all, and thanks again for the laugh!
Kerry

[panda123]

So if i catch next doors cat and coat it in jam the wasps will have a new best friend :-) how tempting..........
But seriously thanks for the tip. So simple easily overlooked.

[Littleted]

Wow good idea that about the jam saucer!! I have a funny story about a wasps nest. Every summer we go to a static caravan on holiday and this year we were up and went to bed, only to be kept awake by a dreadful munching noise all night. We kept getting up checking for mice, rats, rabbits(!!!!! - there are lots at the site!!!!) - all sorts - both inside and outside. Couldn't understand it at all - drove us crazy!!! The next day we went out in daylight to see wasps going in and out of the air vent!!! they'd made a nest in the caravan casing!!!!!! What a nightmare!!!!!

[Uncle Phil]

Wow good idea that about the jam saucer!! I have a funny story about a wasps nest. Every summer we go to a static caravan on holiday and this year we were up and went to bed, only to be kept awake by a dreadful munching noise all night. We kept getting up checking for mice, rats, rabbits(!!!!! - there are lots at the site!!!!) - all sorts - both inside and outside. Couldn't understand it at all - drove us crazy!!! The next day we went out in daylight to see wasps going in and out of the air vent!!! they'd made a nest in the caravan casing!!!!!! What a nightmare!!!!!

The tip about the saucer is particularly good for campsites, as wasps tend to be quite plentifull because of all the stuff left lying around. If you do the jam trick and put it in a field in the direction of the nest, you'll have (hopefully..!!) a wasp free camping holiday. Just remember to top it up, that's all :rolleyes:

[Jabber]

I must admit all year I've hardly seen a wasp. At home I think the count is currently at 2, whilst being out is probably around the 4 or 5 mark.

I must agree with you I haven't seen many wasps at all this year, they have been noticably absent from the whole area where I live.

[Jenny]

I've also hardly seen wasps and the midgies have been conspicuously low in number this year (thankfully!)

Uncle Phil, as a fellow allergic, loved your posting. Confess in past have collected rotting fruit (coz I didn't get to it first) in strategic places away from my rat run but you've added a new dimension to the issue. Many thanks.

PS and slightly off topic, has your GP prescribed anti histamines - I'm a carer and very allergic - hospitalized several times, once on life support - and our GPs have decided that I must take them during much of the threatening months - but then our hospital is over three hours away (or a helicoper flight!) What annoys me is that, unlike many other life-threatening issues , there is no standard system for medical alerts. I also cannot have anti tetanus injections but there's no standard system to cover this problem either.