Wasps!!!

[alfieblue]

Hi! can anyone enlighten me?!!!

We have had 5-6 large wasps in the house over the last couple of days! Have checked the garden etc but no sign of nest. I have never known wasps to be this active so early! Could they be european or is it to do with climate change?

Will keep dog on lead when out walking in forest, very worried that he will disturb nest as the european wasps stay low to ground.

Has anyone else encountered wasps this early in the year?

Many thanks for any advice/help.

[New Judge]

Yes you're quite right - it is extremely early for wasp activity.

The creatures could in fact be honey bees. They look remarkably like wasps (they are most unlike their "bumble bee" cousins).

Honey bees would be active at this tiime. They tend to "swarm" at this time of year, moving round from place to place as the Queen moves. Eventually they will setlle down in a permanent nesting spot (hopefully not in your loft!) and the stragglers you are seeing will settle down with the rest of their colleagues.

[1234567billy]

had wasps this time last year. discovered they were making nest in my loft. luckily i live in bungalow and found out where they were entering under rooftiles. bought powder on internet and spread on entrance hole. killed and cleared them in 24 hours.

[Aprilis]

You're not the only one alfieblue. We have removed about a dozen wasps from inside our living room and dining room in the last few days.

As I type another bl**dy one has appeared!! That's the third one in an hour. There has to be a nest very close by...eeek!

Last year we had bees coming out of our open fire place constantly. Turns out there's a variety called masonry bees that live in brickwork etc. I don't know how Mr Aprilis got rid of them.

I have no idea what to do about the wasps myself, so I'm waiting to see what advice is given to you.

[Aprilis]

What was that powder you bought on the net Billy?

[1234567billy]

called VAPE

[1234567billy]

VAPE is really a wasp nest destroyer but when i sprayed it on the hole it got on the wasps as they tried to enter and they died.Magic stuff -- really does "what it says on the tin."

[Cetti]

Hi alfieblue!

These large wasps are the queens and are now coming out of hibernation and looking for places to build their nests. At this time of year there's no need to look for nests as there won't be any, so kill the queen and you eliminate further colonies.

We've just killed our third wasp of the morning and 'removed' four yesterday. I found Raid spray works pretty well.

[alfieblue]

Thank you all for your kind advice. I have killed them all, tho I hate doing that. I don't know what purpose the wasp has, but nevertheless I dont like to kill them. But needs must - they appear to be quite aggressive, very large and persistent!!

The honey bees I have no problem with. They do their own thng, fly in and fly out again.They are no threat, rather them than these wasps!!!!

Years ago I had trouble with bees burrowing in through the brickwork!!! Managed to sort it and have had no problem since!! Tho have to say it was a bit worrying at the time!


Have checked around the house, loft etc - no sign of wasp nest - thank goodness! Trouble is, I keep the back door open for doggy to come and go into the garden, plus patio doors - especially if its nice - but - then the wasps come in!!!

We also have problems with adders now nesting in forest!!!
They will keep themselves t o themselves if left alone. Doggy is going to be kept on lead for sometime!!! Notices have been put up telling us to keep dogs on leads else they disturb the nests and may get a bite! Ho hum!!! Such is life in the country!!! Still love it tho - Thanks again to all who replied, appreciate your comments and help.

[Aprilis]

Thanks for that info Billy :-)

Hope your doggy stays safe Alfie!

[alfieblue]

thank you! Hopefully all will be well. He loves his walks but being a cocker spaniel - he is extremely nosey and a true sniffer dog!!! He will have to put up with the lead for a while - tho I don't suppose he will worry - so long as he gets his walkies!!! have a good bank holiday weekend - will keep you al posted if the wasp thing gets totally out of hand!!!

[hammerman]

As per Cetti's post...they're queens looking for a nest. I think most of the workers and soldier wasps are killed off in winter

[alfieblue]

thank you hammerman! They are mega huge - don't mind them outside but when they come indoors!!!! Oh dear!!!! I panic which then sends the dog off on one!!! Must stay more controlled!!! Im afraid they just scare me!!! Was badly stung when younger which doesn't help.

[alfieblue]

oh!!! Im struggling here!!! Just listening for the dreaded buzzing sound!!! Cant believe this, at this time of year. I try my best to wap them out, they are so aggressive and angry tho!!!

[Aprilis]

Thankfully the ones I'm getting aren't those huge ones. They just look like the usual type and they definitely aren't honey bees, we know what they look like. It does seem rather early for them to be around and they aren't queens. Looks like we must have a queen who's already established a nest, probably in the loft. Mr Aprilis will have to get his ladder out and take a look.

I reckon I'll be getting some of that VAPE stuff Billy mentioned. I don't really like to kill the individual ones, I get Mr Apes to remove them from the house, but a NEST! Not in my house matey.

Last year I was taking some washing off the line and throwing it over my shoulder. A bee fell out of my washing and down my cleavage. Little blighter stung me right between the you-know-whats!!! I'd never been stung before and was quite surprised that it didn't hurt anywhere near as much as I'd expected.

[China Doll]

You are a lot kinder to your dog than I am! Both the dog and (in their hayday, they're a bit old now) the cats are trained to get rid of any form of bug. :c)

[alfieblue]

Love my dog, he is my little pal!

Aprilis - sorry to hear about bee sting. Though yes, bee stings somehow dont seem as nasty as wasp stings. Wasps always seem so aggessive, whereas bees just get on with their buzzz-iness!!!! Sorry for that!!! Quite like bees, but hate wasps, and as for hornets!!!!! Mega awful!!!

[taliesin238]

We have had a couple of huge ones and suspected that these big ones could only have been adult (may be wrong there) but it is very wierd!!!!