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Just spotted a nest, maybe 15cm diameter, outside our garage. I’d prefer to leave them to their own devices but the location is too close to where the children play. I’ll have a crack at removing the nest, what’s the worst that can happen? Thinking to knock it down with a stick, set fire to it and run away quickly. Does that sound like a solid plan? Will be done on a cold night so there are less of the wee buggers about.
Based on previous STW threads, yep do all that - go big or go home. Also if I recall doing it half naked helps and use a wheelie bin somewhere along the line.
Why use a professional when you can do it yourself.
what’s the worst that can happen?
I'm copying out this comment just in case you think to edit your OP.
Also - video it.
Nope. Spray it with a wasp killer available from a hardware store and have a clear exit route indoors. Wear protective clothing.
Cougar x 1m. Live stream it.
Protective clothing = running shorts
Make sure you put a protective layer of jam on your face first
This thread should be in the bike forum.
Have a Mexican night for friends, socially distant of course, and use it as a piñata.
Tomorrow night it is. I’ll set up a camera in advance to capture the moment for posterity. Wetsuit, balaclava, face mask should give sufficient protection (I hope).
The problem with destroying a nest is you then start to notice a quite a lot of bored, aimless wasps.
I once had a wasps nest in my workshop and was totally unaware - it was between peices of rock wool insulation I had in a stack. There wasn't a particularly noticeable number of wasps about and I'd been taking slabs of rock wool off the stack all week to work with and did seem to disturb them
I discovered it at 4am while loading a van - picked up the insulation and tore the nest in half. It certainly woke me up.
After that though with no nest to serve - bloody wasps everywhere.
So whats your strategy? Get rid of the nest or get rid of the wasps?
Should the OP have a practice run on a carrot first?
The correct way to do this is to simply hit the nest repeated with a soft, fluffy pillow.
I hate myself for trying to be helpful, but ant powder. Everywhere. All over it. Puff it inside the nest if you can. Then run.
Chris Packham did a piece on Springwatch recently about wasps and how important they are for the natural balance.
Admittedly, they're dicks but don't just kill them all ffs.
Relocate it.
Luckily I caught three nests this year at golf ball stage and managed to take care of them at that point.
Mix petrol with polystyrene to make homemade napalm then pour it on to the nest, light it and run.
Relocate the nest
Relocate the garage?
Should the OP have a practice run on a carrot first?
winner.
The correct way to do this is to simply hit the nest repeated with a soft, fluffy pillow.
Incorrect.
If memory serves me correctly.
The correct use of the pillow (laura ashley for preference) is to gently support the pillow while you remove the nest with a fish slice. You then proceed across the unboarded floor before falling through the hatch. All carried in your protective undies.
The problem with destroying a nest is you then start to notice a quite a lot of bored, aimless wasps.
I have a couple of bored, aimless WASPs upstairs. They are a nuisance, keep nicking the biscuits.
ac505
Member
Wetsuit, balaclava, face mask <snip>
Enough of you and your wife's extra circular activities, concentrate on the wasps...
You need something manly like this:
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Relocate, I know they can be a PITA but they are pretty important ecologically. Turns out we all need wasps.
Ant powder is very effective where you can't get to the nest - e.g. located in a cavity.
A visible nest is easily disposed of with wasp nest destroyer - it covers the nest with foam.
Try to do this after dark as most wasps will be in the nest. Also a glass or two of alcohol might help with the bravery.
As mentioned above, they are important, and I've only ever removed ones that are close to where we are in the garden.
We were removing ivy off the back of our garage and found two nests partially hidden. The foam did a good job, but there were still a few around, and the ivy had to come off, so out came the jet wash for the remainder. Worked quite well, although one dive bomber got me between the eyes.
Enough of you and your wife’s extra circular activities, concentrate on the wasps…
You need something manly like this:
I used to have one of those. What a piece of kit! It was like a hand held jet engine.
All suggestions so far are both amusing and informative, however, the proper method for dealing with wasps nets is to relocate. Very carefully remove the nest in the dark of night (note must not be a moonlit night); wear all black (fabric of your choice); and relocate to the annoying neighbour's garden (or front door step if you feel so inclined) as these creatures are vitally ecologically important. The wasps, not the neighbours...
Assuming you don't mind a few stings and know your not allergic
They can be quite cunning as a hive mind. I had one inside the polystyrene insultation of the playhouse. I took a few taking off the panelling then sprayed but they were pretty smart going around the back and in through the door. This was rushed as Jnr wanted to sleep in the playhouse...
In previous places with no fire risk I have just doused it in spray then set fire to it.
The one in the eaves above the door was also a pain. TBH they left you alone if you left them alone but visitors used to get buzzed.
I just blocked the entrance/exit with gripfill and they presumably found another way in/out until a hornet seems to have found the same way and got very fat. The abandoned nest is still in the eaves.
We had a next under our deck last year. Bought a tin of something from B&Q which said a few sprays into the nest should solve the problem. Obviously emptied the entire can under the deck. Did the job though...
I used to have one of those. What a piece of kit! It was like a hand held jet engine.
Indeed. I picked one up recently via a socially distanced eBay transaction from some (other) four eyed t**t in Durham... It was only £30 and runs on Jet A1 or whatever the heating uses (kerosene). Bring on the wasps.... 👍
A visible nest is easily disposed of with wasp nest destroyer – it covers the nest with foam.Try to do this after dark as most wasps will be in the nest....
My grandfather found a wasps nest once and did exactly this, off to the hardware store that morning and back with a big can of foam spray thing. He then completely failed to read any of the instructions, popped outside (this being middle of the day) and ended up with a cloud of pissed-off wasps and a wall covered in foam where he'd failed to extend the spraying thing to target the nest properly.
If only YouTube had been around in those days.
Here's my protective kit the last time I tried to sort out a nest...
Here’s my protective kit the last time I tried to sort out a nest…
What did you use the Peppa Pig space hopper for?
What did you use the Peppa Pig space hopper for?
I didn't have a soft, fluffy pillow.
Serious answer, wasp powder.
Squirt a load around entrance, proceed to retreat, hastily.
I didn’t have a soft, fluffy pillow.
I've heard that placing a pillow over a wasps next and saying quietly "be still my friends, this will be over soon" works quite well...
I almost feel sorry for the wee guys; they're so busy building their death nest. It's really interesting watching them, there appears to be a number of dead larvae scattered on the car beneath. As wasps have no morals, I thought they would eat their own but it looks like they are ejecting the weak and the dead... Also looked like one wasp went for a pee whilst hanging from the entrance, haven't seen that before!
Options are to leave then for a bit to see if we can get along, however at some point they will be terminated, so best do it now, or let them do their bit for the environment a little longer. We'll see.
I don't get the hate. I've been stung once and have no issues with them.
Only as annoying as other flying stuff and very important for a healthy environment.
Best have a professional remove it, as if it goes wrong you could be badly stung, or try burning it and burn down your shed/garage/house.
I have seen on you tube people attaching a wire to a motor and using that to dramatically reduce the numbers in the nest.
I love mammals, insects are a different kettle of fish 😆
Oh look, this will appear to some with creative talents.
every spring I end up on wasp nest hunt in my sheds. Normally manage to get them just as they're being built and either relocate, if queeny isn't home, or my less preferred option. GT85, then dispose.
I'm on the leave them to it.
I got stung quite recently holy shit its nippy but in the grand scheme if things total non issue. I let them land on me and walk around/drink my drink/chew bits off my ham sandwich and i've been stung once in the last 25 years or more (as far as i can remember)
People should be stung more often so the learn its not a bloody disaster and they stop being so pathetic around them.
I don’t mind the sting. It’s just that they’re basically annoying ****s. Bees buzz about you in slow motion, bumbling along merrily. Wasps are up in your face acting like dicks, a bit like the topless, fat, pasty white supremacist type (or Liam Gallagher) dancing around in front of you flailing about, but at the end of the day with nothing to back it up. For this alone they deserve no mercy. Chav Insect Bastards! 😀
That's Christmas sorted then (heads off to Ebay).
2.4m plastic coated metal garden cane thing, with each end drilled out (essentially a 2.4m long hollow shaft).
Cover one end with cling film, and duct-tape it on well.
Pour in wasp killer (permethrin).
Cover other end with cling film, secured with duct-tape.
Ensure adequate safety precautions and easy exit available if required.
Insert one end of cane into nest, ideally through opening.
Insert airline trigger gun nozzle into other end.
Pull trigger.
Run off (optional).
All wasps will be dead within a few minutes.
Sweep up dead wasps.
I was fully home-brewed PPE'd up, and it was 100% unnecessary.
EDIT: A flame-throwing drone would be a hazard in my garage.
I can recommend ALCOHOL PPE - certainly makes you braver.