wasps - so many many wasps!!

[shivvy]

I have been slightly invaded by wasps over the last few days although I can't find a nest.
Has anyone got any idea how to get rid of them?

[B00]

Wow that's spooky, I've just come in from outside and I appear to have nest as well, mine's located under the tiles in my kitchen extention.

I had the same problem a couple of years ago and called the council in to remove it (was in my shed that time), if I remember correctly it cost me about �30 to do it.

[RATTER15]

If you have a nest, it is usually not difficult to find, just follow the wasps, they are usually flying in a strait line in and out of the nest. Follow BOO's advice and get them treated, about �30.00 is right I charge �25.00.

[B00]

you only charge �25? A fiver saving? Right consider yourself booked Ratter, see you at my place at 9am tomorrow morning please :-)

[RATTER15]

No problem, coffee strong black no sugar!!

[Postdog]

I had a nest once in my shed (in the house) and, at night when they weren't so active, just flooded the hole with expanded polystyrene filler. It worked.

[RATTER15]

Yes postdog that does work, they have even brought out a product that works very much in that way for the domestic market, I'm not to keen on recommending people tackle wasps and bees themselves, I have seen the results far to often of people stung to the point they were rushed to hospital by road and air ambulance, but night time is the time to do it.

[RATTER15]

Another thing about tackling a wasp nest yourself, if you cant run away immediately and keep running don't go there!!

Not up a ladder

Not on a roof

Not in a roof void

you will need a very good escape route.

[YvonneM]

My neighbour swears by ant powder if you sprinkle some on a wasp it then takes the powder back to the nest and hopefully destroys the nest Its worth a try

[RATTER15]

YvonneM, lovely idea but sorry, no chance!! if you could get enough powder on a wasp to wipe out a whole nest the wasp would never get off the ground let alone survive long enough to get back to the nest.
Ant powder will work on a wasp nest but needs to be blasted deep into the nest, you will then be surrounded my hundreds if not thousands of very agry wasps.

[shivvy]

Ratter - how far from their nest would wasps travel?
I haven't found the nest but I am surrounded by fields - could it be some distance away?

[RATTER15]

Wasps will travel a good distance, but if you are seeing a lot of wasps in a small area, its usually, because they are feeding on a specific plant, usually a tree or shrub, and can usually be heard and large numbers seen on and around this tree or shrub, if this is not the case you will just have to try and follow the general direction they are flying. Remember to look downwards as well as up, they will nest in bushes trees, compost heaps, holes in the ground, even in a well kept lawn and the holes can be difficult to spot, you need to be looking for wasp activity and they will lead you to the nest.

Good luck

Of course it could just be that you have a large amount of plants/flowers that are attracting them generally, not a lot you can do in that situation I'm afraid.

[happy_face]

If it's a problem that they come whenever you and sit outside then get yourself one of those flower duster spray cans that you can fill up with water. Then spray the wasps with water and they soon dissapear. I've done this for a month and most times they fly off quickly and if not then their wings get wet and they can't fly and if you then have a newspaper handy you can swat them no prblem