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I've discovered a wasp nest in our bird box (birds don't use it).
Should I leave it until the end of the summer? Burn it with fire? Ignore it?
Good knows how many are in there but I'd imagine it can fit a fair few.
I'd just leave it. Let them be, they won't use it next year, but maybe the Wrens or Robins will find it. Circle of life and all that?
Just leave it, wasps are just as important as blue tits.
Just leave it unless they are really causing you trouble.
As others have said, just leave it, they'll all pack their bags and move out by the end of summer.
There are some interesting and amusing facts about wasps (and bees) in this edition of the Infinite Monkey Cage
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001np29?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
Thanks
It's quite close to the washing line and raspberry canes so we might have to interact with them at some point
https://twitter.com/vizcomic/status/851083531195367424
I had one I had to get rid of. Busy nest and we have young kids etc. Used that foam in a can to smother the birdbox. Then chucked it all in the bin.
No kids or pets here so I'll leave them alone.
If they start to become a problem I'll nuke them from orbit.
I’m allergic to wasp and bee stings but still leave nests alone if I can. They’re a very useful part of the ecosystem, they carry off lots of grubs and caterpillars to feed the larvae. The time to be careful with them is later in the year when the queen has no further use for the workers so they get very confused and can be angry. Good luck!
Option 2.
Last few years we've had wasp nests in our eaves. Just left them and they busily carried on without bothering us until late autumn when they got drowsy and started coming in the house. Then I laid on one last Oct in bed and wished them all dead.
🤣🤣🤣. They do have the ability to cause acute pain! Bit like someone stubbing a cigarette on your skin.
We had our bird box taken over by Tree Bumblebees this year. They seem to keep themselves to themselves, pretty quiet tenants, have only had a moan when I hit the post holding the bird box with the lawn mower.
Still not paid rent on time yet though.
A wasp's nest is a thing of absolute beauty. The construction of it takes hours and is something to behold.
They’re a very useful part of the ecosystem, they carry off lots of grubs and caterpillars to feed the larvae
They're also hugely important pollinators
They do have the ability to cause acute pain! Bit like someone stubbing a cigarette on your skin.
I invite you to peruse the Schmitt Insect Bite Pain Index
Where do bastid massive Spanish horseflies sit on the scale?
I invite you to peruse the Schmitt Insect Bite Pain Index
I got bitten by a (thankfully lone) bullet ant that I tried to swat off my hand when it fell on me whilst in Costa Rica.
By.
God.
We had our bird box taken over by Tree Bumblebees this year. They seem to keep themselves to themselves, pretty quiet tenants, have only had a moan when I hit the post holding the bird box with the lawn mower.
Bumblebees are lovely! I’ve picked up quite a few that have fallen onto paths, or got indoors and couldn’t find their way out. Just letting them climb onto my hand and put them somewhere safe, like some flowers, or let them fly away. I’ve got two bird boxes at the bottom of the garden, which the birds don’t seem to be bothered with, it would be nice if bumblebees took it on.
I love wasps and all stingy buzzy things.
Let them crawl all over to make a point to all the panicking people around me.
I remember being stung quite young and thinking (while greeting) 5minutes after, getting stung wasn't bad enough to justify worrying about it.
I’ve got two bird boxes at the bottom of the garden, which the birds don’t seem to be bothered with, it would be nice if bumblebees took it on.
Build them a home!
Alternatively, here is a design to build a suitable nesting site in case you want to give it a go.What you needA flowerpot (> 20cm in diameter), a piece of slate/tile and a bit of tube or pipe.InstructionsSink the upturned flower pot into the ground and use the slate/tile to cover any drainage holes to keep the rain out.Run a hose or pipe underground to the pot, leaving a prominent entrance. Be sure to make drainage holes in the pipe.Finally, fill with a generous handful of nesting material, such as old bedding from a pet mouse, guinea pig, etc.
I would poke a stick in there and see how quickly it takes you to run away 😂
If they are doing no harm I would leave alone. We had one in our roof, the noise at night was incredible ie it would wake you up, so they had to go !
The're actually quite important for keeping pests in check. I would personally leave it if its out the way and doesn't pose a threat to kids / pets etc.