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Wasp Blower

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Re: Wasp Blower

#51

Post by tmerc »

blincoln wrote: post #34
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.

My first time having yellow jackets in my wall, I sprayed poison in the entrance. They found a new way to leave the nest that was into my kitchen. That's when I stopped using poison.

Re: Wasp Blower

#52

Post by jonbiggums22 »

LtdJorge wrote: post #8

For people that don’t know, regular wasps always leave in the face of danger to the nest. If you have the typical small nest, the easiest thing you can do is hit it fast with a broom or similar. They will all disappear in seconds. I’ve seen my dad do it a lot of times with his bare hands, never got stung. But if you pass by the nest enough times, you’ll be. Another good solution is fire. A blow torch with a wide flam…

I once saw a video of a crazy dude take care of a wasp nest by putting a plastic grocery bag over it and detaching the nest in one smooth motion, then tying it shut and throwing it in the trash. He didn't get stung because the nest was tied up before the wasps even knew they were under attack.

Re: Wasp Blower

#53

Post by jonbiggums22 »

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…

This is good advice but I find they can build a nest quite fast once they get going. I've found a golf ball sized nest built onto the inside of a garage door that I'd only opened that morning.

Re: Wasp Blower

#54

Post by opwieurposiu »

genuineresponse wrote: post #39

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 unde…

When we were kids we used to catch wasps in a plastic cup, put them in the freezer until they were anesthetized, and then tie a little leash on them with sewing thread.

Then you chase your friends around the neighborhood with your personal attack wasp. Good times.

Re: Wasp Blower

#55

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

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.

Not white-faced hornets[0]. They are everywhere on the East Coast USA.

They aren't actually real hornets. They are just big yellowjackets.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolichovespula_maculata

Re: Wasp Blower

#56

Post by doph »

genuineresponse wrote: post #39

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 unde…

Very much this. After multiple very painful stings, I have a zero tolerance policy for nests on the house, but I am very grateful when they show up in the garden. Wasps are more effective at controlling garden pests than any chemical means I've tried. Plus they seem to be the only pollinators of my passionfruit.

Re: Wasp Blower

#57

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

hocuspocus wrote: post #44
the_sleaze_ wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

European hornets are protected in several European countries. The low population is also a reason we have too many wasps. That said even though they're not particularly aggressive, I don't know anyone who would just leave a nest on their property.

I think that some southern US households like to encourage them, as long as they aren't in an area where humans can disturb them.

They kill all kinds of nasty bugs, and are pretty standoffish (as long as you don't get near the nest).

Piss them off, however, and your life will experience whole new vistas of pain.

Re: Wasp Blower

#58

Post by hocuspocus »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #57
hocuspocus wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

European hornets are protected in several European countries. The low population is also a reason we have too many wasps. That said even though they're not particularly aggressive, I don't know anyone who would just leave a nest on their property.

I think that some southern US households like to encourage them, as long as they aren't in an area where humans can disturb them. They kill all kinds of nasty bugs, and are pretty standoffish (as long as you don't get near the nest). Piss them off, however, and your life will experience whole new vistas of pain.

Right, by European standards even if you live in a detached house with a backyard, any location is probably going to be too close, as you probably don't want to be bothered when you eat outside or have people over for a barbecue.

Obviously if you live on a farm, it might be different, especially if you have fruit trees, which should keep them busy.

Re: Wasp Blower

#59

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

hocuspocus wrote: post #58
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that some southern US households like to encourage them, as long as they aren't in an area where humans can disturb them. They kill all kinds of nasty bugs, and are pretty standoffish (as long as you don't get near the nest). Piss them off, however, and your life will experience whole new vistas of pain.

Right, by European standards even if you live in a detached house with a backyard, any location is probably going to be too close, as you probably don't want to be bothered when you eat outside or have people over for a barbecue. Obviously if you live on a farm, it might be different, especially if you have fruit trees, which should keep them busy.

Around here, they usually set up, high in a tree. You often can’t see the nest, until fall.

Yellowjackets, on the other hand, dig holes; often quite near houses. They are also quite aggressive. You can easily disturb their nests.

Also, I don’t think hornet stings are as venomous as yellowjacket stings (they probably don’t need to be). Being swarmed by yellowjackets really sucks.

I’d pick hornets over yellowjackets, any day.

Re: Wasp Blower

#60

Post by kragen »

doph wrote: post #56
genuineresponse wrote: post #39

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 unde…

Very much this. After multiple very painful stings, I have a zero tolerance policy for nests on the house, but I am very grateful when they show up in the garden. Wasps are more effective at controlling garden pests than any chemical means I've tried. Plus they seem to be the only pollinators of my passionfruit.

Around here the passion flowers are mostly pollinated by a species of bumblebee with an almost-all-black abdomen and beautiful violet wings. So far they haven't stung me, although I'm sure they could, and it would be very painful. I haven't tried capturing them.
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