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Wasp Blower

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Re: Wasp Blower

#31

Post by unregistereddev »

Skwid wrote: post #23

I see a lot of advice being given in these comments, and I find it a little alarming that my own preference hasn't got a mention. Just leave them be? I've had plenty of wasp nests in sheds, roof spaces, garages etc and never had a problem peacefully coexisting with them. Almost everyone I've spoken to about it shares this sentiment, and generally wouldn't do anything about it unless it was in an especially risky loca…

Part of the difference might be our obsession with sugary foods and drink. There are several different kinds of wasps here. Paper wasps and mud daubers are not all that aggressive and you can ignore them, unless you have a sugary drink outside. Then they will fly unnoticed into your soda can and you have a surprise next time you take a sip. If you stay calm and spit out the wasp quickly enough, they probably won't sting you. If you panic (like kids tend to do), they will sting the inside of your mouth.

The other part might come from having different types of wasps. The ones in the article look like yellowjackets, which are extremely aggressive. They also tend to nest in holes in the ground. Yellowjackets are bad news because if you accidentally step close to their nest they will swarm you, often getting multiple stings in even if you are quick to run away.

Re: Wasp Blower

#32

Post by foobarian »

jagged-chisel wrote: post #20
hagbard_c wrote: post #16

I tend to use a shop vacuum to get rid of undesirable wasp nests. Fill the tank with a few litres of water so the victims have something to drown in, point the tube at the nest entry or whatever entry the wasps use and switch it on for an hour or so. As soon as there is some disturbance most of the resident wasps will exit the nest to defend it so you'll get the resident population in only a few minutes. Keep the vac…

If you forget the water at first, you can always vacuum it in later

I just waited a week.

Re: Wasp Blower

#33

Post by knappa »

blincoln wrote: post #28
Skwid wrote: post #23

I see a lot of advice being given in these comments, and I find it a little alarming that my own preference hasn't got a mention. Just leave them be? I've had plenty of wasp nests in sheds, roof spaces, garages etc and never had a problem peacefully coexisting with them. Almost everyone I've spoken to about it shares this sentiment, and generally wouldn't do anything about it unless it was in an especially risky loca…

Maybe you have friendlier wasps in the UK, but the common ones in the US (yellowjackets, mud daubers, etc.) are generally very aggressive, and trying to coexist with them will end badly sooner or later. I'm vegetarian because of personal ethics. I safely capture and release spiders I find in the house. I use live traps for mice and rats, and release them in the woods. But most wasps here are on my "nip the problem in…

I don't know, but I've never had trouble with mud daubers.

Re: Wasp Blower

#34

Post by blincoln »

foobarian wrote: post #19

Similar story, had a nest in the walls of a bay window bump. Too far up the side to spray effectively, but they had one weakness: there was a clear entrance spot. So I duct taped a pool vacuum hose next to it and ran it into the garage attached to a shop vac. Left it running for a day, problem solved. It was fun listening to the "ka-thunk" sound when each insect got sucked in. I think for next time I'll make some kin…

I've used a shop vac as a first step, but if it's the only step, won't the queen survive and make more wasps? Unless you left it running for so long the queen starved to death, I mean.

My current approach is to wait until after dark, then fill up the nest entrance with spray foam (while wearing a beekeeper suit, just to be safe). I don't think that would work for walls, though - they'd probably find another way out.

Re: Wasp Blower

#36

Post by cindyllm »

exasperaited wrote: post #12

Vigilance and attentiveness is definitely better here; early in the year you are looking for a handful of wasps spending more time near any one part of the facade of your house than normal. Pick a warm day in mid-spring, go round the property and note where wasps are going. You can safely use a spray to pick them off late in the evening, and if you get there early enough, depending on the species, one of those wasps…

[dead]

Re: Wasp Blower

#37

Post by ssharp »

Skwid wrote: post #23

I see a lot of advice being given in these comments, and I find it a little alarming that my own preference hasn't got a mention. Just leave them be? I've had plenty of wasp nests in sheds, roof spaces, garages etc and never had a problem peacefully coexisting with them. Almost everyone I've spoken to about it shares this sentiment, and generally wouldn't do anything about it unless it was in an especially risky loca…

Where I live, bald-faced hornets and yellowjackets are very aggressive. Yellowjackets will also build nests inside of structures, in the ground, etc. where it's sometimes very difficult to even know they are there until it's too late.

This is much different than honey bees and other types of wasps who are much less likely to attack just by being near them.

Re: Wasp Blower

#38

Post by the_sleaze_ »

Tepix wrote: post #29
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #6

This summer, we had a white-faced hornet nest, in a bush, a few feet from our front door, so it had to go. Normally, hornets are great. They are nowhere near as aggressive as yellowjackets (unless you mess with the nest), and they eat yellowjackets, so you either have hornets or yellowjackets, but not both (but they also eat bees, so people who want to encourage pollinators, need to discourage them). But that low on…

Why didn't he just move it to another place? Hornets are a threatened species.

Which hornets are threatened?

The only hornets news I hear is that they're invasive and killing pollinators.

Re: Wasp Blower

#39

Post by genuineresponse »

Wasps in a high traffic area are definitely bad, but if the nest is somewhere not too in the way I'd encourage folks to leave it be. Wasps are predators, and they eat a lot of the bugs that damage gardens. Yes, they are also assholes, do you have to strike a balance, but they can be really beneficial.

Obviously, if you've got young kids around or the wasps are being aggressive, take care of the humans first, but understanding them a bit can really reduce the conflict with them.

Re: Wasp Blower

#40

Post by anhner »

Skwid wrote: post #23

I see a lot of advice being given in these comments, and I find it a little alarming that my own preference hasn't got a mention. Just leave them be? I've had plenty of wasp nests in sheds, roof spaces, garages etc and never had a problem peacefully coexisting with them. Almost everyone I've spoken to about it shares this sentiment, and generally wouldn't do anything about it unless it was in an especially risky loca…

European here, more than once I have been stuck by a yellow jacket for the simple crime of staying outside, minding my own business. My father was very badly stung because he accidentally disturbed a (hidden) nest. So I hate them with a passion. They also kill honeybees if you want another reason.
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