Wasps! Everywhere!
Discussion
So me an' the missus go to the greenhouse to pick the grapes last night, and the place was full of wasps. Every bunch was completely covered in the darn things, there must've been hundreds.
Since they'd already decimated the plums last week, we weren't about to let them be. So I grabbed an oily rag from the garage, liberally sprinkled with some more 3-in-1 and set it smouldering to get some smoke. Then we advanced bunch-by-bunch, me smoking the buggers off whilst the missus came in behind with the cutters.
Despite only wearing t-shirts, and being surrounded / landed on by loads of them, the smoke seemed to work really well at making them a bit dopey. Not a fantasticaly pleasant experience though.
I've never seen the like though, not in any previous year. Anyone else had this problem, or would it be because a nest is nearby or something?
Since they'd already decimated the plums last week, we weren't about to let them be. So I grabbed an oily rag from the garage, liberally sprinkled with some more 3-in-1 and set it smouldering to get some smoke. Then we advanced bunch-by-bunch, me smoking the buggers off whilst the missus came in behind with the cutters.
Despite only wearing t-shirts, and being surrounded / landed on by loads of them, the smoke seemed to work really well at making them a bit dopey. Not a fantasticaly pleasant experience though.
I've never seen the like though, not in any previous year. Anyone else had this problem, or would it be because a nest is nearby or something?
Doubtful at this time of the year,nests are made earlier on,they are just looking for the fruit.
Although too late for this year,because the little devils have had a field day on my Plum Trees,I have made a wasp trap and fastened it to one of the trees,must be about a 100 wasps in it within a week.
Take a 2 Litre plastic Drinks Bottle,cut the top off just where it starts to reduce in diameter,turn this bit upside down and shove into the bottom section,put something sweet in the bottom and mix with water,I used some out of date honey although jam or any sugary soft drink will do.
The wasps can find their way in to the bottom but struggle to get out again and end up drowning in the bottom.
Until next years Plum time I don't know how effective this will be,I believe if the worker wasps die the Queen keeps producing more to compensate for the loss.
Although too late for this year,because the little devils have had a field day on my Plum Trees,I have made a wasp trap and fastened it to one of the trees,must be about a 100 wasps in it within a week.
Take a 2 Litre plastic Drinks Bottle,cut the top off just where it starts to reduce in diameter,turn this bit upside down and shove into the bottom section,put something sweet in the bottom and mix with water,I used some out of date honey although jam or any sugary soft drink will do.
The wasps can find their way in to the bottom but struggle to get out again and end up drowning in the bottom.
Until next years Plum time I don't know how effective this will be,I believe if the worker wasps die the Queen keeps producing more to compensate for the loss.
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