You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
So, we have a wasp's nest the size of a beach ball in the garage loft. This is on one side of the house, but there's no communication between it and the house, and it's in under the eaves - the wasps are getting in and out at a gap in the fascia which is near the front door though. This is a recurring theme.
They don't seem to be causing much trouble as such, and no-one has been stung (yet). Should I just leave them be or should I get the council exterminator to get rid? Also, is there any point in trying to block up their access (presumably in the autumn when they've died off) to stop it coming back next year?
They won't re-use the nest, so you can destroy it once they've vacated. If it's easy to block up the access, then go for it once it's dormant. That'll be from October when it starts to get a lot cooler.
If they are not causing you any problems at the moment I would leave them. When the winter comes I would block where they are getting in the garage and remove the nest. Hopefully they then won't return. For balance we had a nest near our garage and provided you didn't forget and walk close to the nest the wasps were fine. When we forgot they were there and got to close they did sting us.
There's a shortage of polinators so if you can please leave them in place.
If they are causing bother leave them alone.
As others have said, they won't come back next year.
Wasps are more important than people realise. More so that this lovely government didn't ban the pesticides that are killing the bees.
We have the wasps this year back behind a soffit by the back door. Other than the fact that they keep getting in the house, they really are not a bother and should all disappear in September or so. I plan on new soffits this year anyway, so will block up when I can.
Thanks all, this was along the lines of what I was thinking. Any thoughts on what to use to block their way in? Silicone sealant from the inside?
As others have said, they'll all be dead inside of two months.
There's a semi-recent Infinite Monkey Cage podcast all about bees and wasps, it's well worth a listen.
Any thoughts on what to use to block their way in?
I used stainless steel wire wool, maintains ventilation and doesn't rot and stain the soffit. You can wedge it in quite easily without any additional stuff needed
Cheapest source I found is motor racing suppliers (for exhaust silencers)
There’s a semi-recent Infinite Monkey Cage podcast all about bees and wasps, it’s well worth a listen.
Oooh - I'll dig that out. Sounds ideal for inflicting on the kids listening to on the drive to grandparents next weekend.
My wee boy got his first wasp sting. I've turned his fear into curiosity and he now knows the wasp was scared of him and is really a friend.
Humble brag of my parenting win 😁
Back to the OP. Just leave them be.
Go into loft with just a pair of swimming trunks on and hit it as hard as you can with a cricket bat.
As others have said, they won’t come back next year.
They will, just not to the same nest. We host them every year in the loft but because the chimney needed work their tenancy had to be curtailed in November.
It'll stay that way until I've finished the exterior painting when the wire wool can be pulled out as I go around with the paintbrush