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Shan

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 11 12:19 pm Post subject: Wasps
We have quite a few wasp nests and I have thus far been inclined to leave them alone as they do pollinate things - even if they are not prodigious at it.... BUT... I don't want to think that I might be endangering bees.... so... do I kill them or not?

lettucewoman

Joined: 26 Sep 2006
Posts: 7834
Location: Tiptoe in the Forest!!

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 11 7:25 pm Post subject:
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES...EVIL SODS!! Plenty of other things pollinate..my sister and I are highly allergic..a baby wasp stung her on the hip the other day, she ended up with a huge raised red hot patch over 12" square, which was agonising, and is now black.. KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL!! /Rant

12Bore

Joined: 15 Jun 2008
Posts: 9089
Location: Paddling in the Mersey

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 11 8:16 pm Post subject:
Go on, tell us what you really think!

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 11 8:48 pm Post subject:
If your bees are strong & able to defend their homes then I'm a live & let live person. I've had wasp colonies close to bees in the past & when they become a pest I gas them with petrol vapour but generally I try to leave them alone. They not only pollinate but prey on various insects, some beneficial, but probably a lot more non beneficial.

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8670
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 11 9:02 pm Post subject:
until there is over-ripe fruit about, then they just get drunk and irritable

Shan

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 11 10:20 pm Post subject:
Hmmmmmmmmm....

blackcat

Joined: 30 Jun 2011
Posts: 10

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 11 8:14 am Post subject:
Deal with the problem if it becomes a problem. Otherwise, let nature seek her own balance ...

Shan

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 11 9:14 am Post subject:
Yes, that was my initial thought. As long as they don't attempt to sting me, I won't attempt to obliterate them.

lettucewoman

Joined: 26 Sep 2006
Posts: 7834
Location: Tiptoe in the Forest!!

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 11 6:31 pm Post subject:

Shan wrote:

Yes, that was my initial thought. As long as they don't attempt to sting me, I won't attempt to obliterate them.

They will...oh they will...wasps sting for fun...you can see it on their evil little faces...

darkbrowneggs

Joined: 14 Jul 2010
Posts: 663
Location: Worcestershire

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 11 6:36 pm Post subject:
One was sitting on the back of the door handle yesterday and stung me just between the fingers - ouch

Marionb

Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Posts: 5267
Location: Mid-Wales

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 11 6:39 pm Post subject:
I was stung by one last year while I was picking raspberries. I still come out in goosebumps when I look at the raspberries ripening now and remember it... the pain was unbelievable, I didnt know what to do with myself for the next 6 hours

mochasidamo

Joined: 22 Sep 2005
Posts: 615
Location: Montgomery

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 11 11:16 pm Post subject:
Another wasp nest, in the roof this time and won't be the last. At least no Germans this year. Fed up with them eating the oak window frames! So that's one for dealing with at the w/e. 9 yo was finally stung by a bee on her palm on the apiary today. Not a squeak though her eyes welled up for a second. I'd much rather be stung by a bee or two than by nettles. Much less trouble.

Shan

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 11 2:05 pm Post subject:

lettucewoman wrote:

Shan wrote:

Yes, that was my initial thought. As long as they don't attempt to sting me, I won't attempt to obliterate them.

They will...oh they will...wasps sting for fun...you can see it on their evil little faces...

They better behave themselves. I have insect killer if need be!

bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 11 2:22 pm Post subject:
Am I alone in liking wasps - just had a cup of coffee on the garden bench with 3 of them munching away on the wooden bench - lovely

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 11 2:50 pm Post subject:

bernie-woman wrote:

Am I alone in liking wasps - just had a cup of coffee on the garden bench with 3 of them munching away on the wooden bench - lovely

No, I'm happy to see them most of the time and I love to see hornets about. I was just watching a wasp chew on a dried hollow plant stem the other day and it was really making a decent noise.

I do appreciate they can be a problem for bee keepers though and I wouldn't expect anyone who's allergic to their stings to put up with them.

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