Heeeelp! Wasp advice needed please.....

Astraeus said:
In a similar vein - but let me know if it's a hijack and requires its own thread - what have people found is the best means of keeping wasps away when outside? My girlfriend is petrified of the things and it makes it difficult to eat/sit/play about outside and so I'd love to have a solution.

Has anyone found anything to burn, any sunscreen to wear or anything which these buggers seem particularly unkeen on?
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One thing that seems to work well (even better than Citronella candles IMO) is 1/2 a teaspoon of Greek coffee powder (extremely finely ground "real" coffee) set smouldering. Smells nicer than Citronella as well.
 
Well no activity at all today as far as I can see.

This is annoying. I don't know if there *is* a nest in there or not....

The main thing annoying me at the moment, is that I like to sleep with the window open, almost *need* it some nights :D
But at the moment, I can't for fear of the little buggers getting in....Found one dead on the windowsill the other morning. No idea how it died or what (maybe the cat but she was nowhere near).....
 
Marcel said:
Well no activity at all today as far as I can see.

This is annoying. I don't know if there *is* a nest in there or not....

The main thing annoying me at the moment, is that I like to sleep with the window open, almost *need* it some nights :D
But at the moment, I can't for fear of the little buggers getting in....Found one dead on the windowsill the other morning. No idea how it died or what (maybe the cat but she was nowhere near).....
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I'm inclined to go with the fact that the nest is "elsewhere" and just happens to look
like your frontage
as I said they do get lost occasionally especially the youngster

Insects are attracted to light
they would have either died of starvation or exhaustion ( or both) trying to follow the light
Obviously there was a window in the way

That why you ( nearly) always find dead flies on the window sill rather than just scattered about

As I said though, if you are worried get some "dust" blown into the entrances
and it will kill anything entering or exiting
 
Going a bit off topic I know but it looks like there's only half a black cat in the bottom of the picture!
 
Is this dusting thing something I can do myself? As I might not be dealing with a nest you see...don't want to spend the money calling someone out just to deter the blighters.
 
Marcel said:
Is this dusting thing something I can do myself? As I might not be dealing with a nest you see...don't want to spend the money calling someone out just to deter the blighters.
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'Fraid not "dust" is just a generic term
for Bendiocarb Which is an acutely toxic carbamate insecticide. (0.005% w/w)

Secondly I would never recommend that anyone tackles a wasps or bees nest
without the proper training (I am not being pedantic here you are miles away from me so I am losing nothing, )

You attack a nest they will attack back no question. And there is a lot more of them than you :D)

Having said that IF there is a nest in the weep hole you could try emptying a tin ( spray can) of "Raid"
( available at all good supermarkets and hardware stores :D) into the hole. about a fiver IIRC.

BUT I get loads of calls from people that have tried it and it failed.

IF you try it make sure you are well covered that includes your face

IF they have set up home the "sentries" will be on you before you know whats happened.
Our local council charge a tenner to "look" ( refundable if the work is carried out there and then) Yours maybe the same :shrug:

edit : TBH this has now been on going for nearly 10 days IF there was a nest in there you would be seeing a lot more than
the odd one or three. Again this is something that happens a lot this time of year
lost bees, on a flight path and taking a short detour,
Does you wall get a lot of sun on it? they will also cling to a wall to rest and warm up before continuing
their journey which COULD be a mile away
 
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If it was me, I would leave them alone. If you leave them alone they won't bother you. Wasps I would get rid of, just because they are the chavs of the insect world.
 
It does. Pretty much sunrise to sunset (especially in winter when the angle of the sun is more acute).

Ive not seen any today (although it has been raining alot). I think I'm gonna hold off calling them out for the moment.
 
Marcel said:
Is this dusting thing something I can do myself? As I might not be dealing with a nest you see...don't want to spend the money calling someone out just to deter the blighters.
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You can dust yourself, but the products available to the general public are not as strong as those available to licenced professionals.
Do the dusting after dusk when all the wasps are back in the nest.

I have done it, but found the puffer applicators very inefficient in that they could not deliver enough powder with a strong enough blast.
I have a cylinder vacuum cleaner that can be set to "blow". I put a load of powder (ant killer works too) in the nozzle, then put that against the entrance hole (under a roof tile) then switched on. Worked a treat - powder went in and came out loads of other holes too.
Next day all wasp activity had ceased.

Try to avoid being up a ladder when you let them have it in case you need to retreat sharpish.
 
I don't think I'll be doing it myself.

I had a feeling the 'powder' available to me wouldn't be as strong as available to a council type chap.

So tbh I'd rather pay the money for someone to come do it and guarantee satisfaction (ooer missus), than me waste money on innefective stuff.
(I do the same with flea stuff for the cat...the Bob Martin stuff is crap, we get Spot On from the vet).

However, I haven't seen a one for a few days now (its been raining a bit, bit today was nice and sunny...stlll nothing).
Maybe the nest isn't there, or theyve taken a break? I don't know.

I'm still just watching and waiting.
 
Just keep one eye on them but as I said in the past its unlikely that the have set up home
you would be seeing a lot more if they had.
 
Marcel said:
I don't think I'll be doing it myself.

I had a feeling the 'powder' available to me wouldn't be as strong as available to a council type chap.

So tbh I'd rather pay the money for someone to come do it and guarantee satisfaction (ooer missus), than me waste money on innefective stuff.
(I do the same with flea stuff for the cat...the Bob Martin stuff is crap, we get Spot On from the vet).

However, I haven't seen a one for a few days now (its been raining a bit, bit today was nice and sunny...stlll nothing).
Maybe the nest isn't there, or theyve taken a break? I don't know.

I'm still just watching and waiting.
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I had the council treat one on my roof a few years ago. Think it cost me £25, but there would no no further charge no matter how often the council had to come back.
Not all the private wasp wallahs will do that.
 
arclight said:
I had the council treat one on my roof a few years ago. Think it cost me £25, but there would no no further charge no matter how often the council had to come back.
Not all the private wasp wallahs will do that.
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I think you will find that the prices have risen a bit since then ( £40-£50 is average)
though our local council charge half price if you are on any type of benefits.
( I did our locals wasps for them the past 2 years as they sub it out)
Any pest control company worth their salt will "guarantee" to destroy
a nest
 
Marcel said:
Maybe the nest isn't there, or theyve taken a break? I don't know.I'm still just watching and waiting.
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They're still in there...........watching............waiting...........breeding:eek::eek:
 
Cobra said:
I think you will find that the prices have risen a bit since then ( £40-£50 is average)
though our local council charge half price if you are on any type of benefits.
( I did our locals wasps for them the past 2 years as they sub it out)
Any pest control company worth their salt will "guarantee" to destroy
a nest
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Just checked my council's website:-
Wasps & Bees £20 + VAT.

I try to use council services because they invoice for payment afterwards. At least that is the theory. Sometimes they make a hash of things and you get the service for nothing.
That's probably part of the reason council tax is so high.
 
crusher said:
They're still in there...........watching............waiting...........breeding:eek::eek:
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Yes, and by the end of the summer there will be hundreds more. That's the time when they get that dopey irritable way and sting anything immediately on landing.
 
Not seen any for quite a few days now :shrug:
 
Marcel said:
Not seen any for quite a few days now :shrug:
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...............just lulling you into a false sense of security.........before they strike!!!
 
arclight said:
Just checked my council's website:-
Wasps & Bees £20 + VAT.
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Thats pretty cool :thumbs:
Ours is ( last year) £40 domestic, £80+ business ( and £ 20 for those on benefits)

Marcel said:
Not seen any for quite a few days now :shrug:
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I refer my leaned friend to the posts which suggest
1) advanced party ( got ****ed off and left)
2) "young" bees getting disorientated
3) flight path and just resting up
4) the painful bit my consultation fee :D


As I have said on a few occasions the activity hasn't increased and has diminished if anything so nothing to worry about....
"It" happens alot around early April through May
just swat the odd intruder or spray in with "fly killer" ( and its a fallacy that
all its mates will come and attack you, they only do that when the commune (nest) is under threat))
 
/grabs can of RAID just incase.

I could do with changing the LNB on the dish which I've been wary to do :p
Also need to attach the wiring to the wall too, which requires hammering.

Think I might wait until winter though, just incase lol
 
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