When do wasps die off?
Discussion
We are re-wiring a house at the minute, its big and a bit dilapidated and the soffits have holes in them everywhere. There are at least 3 wasps nests dotted round the eaves.
Rentokil came out a couple of weeks ago and he sprayed the nest entrances with some sort of chemical but its not made the slightest bit of difference to them, all the nest entrances are still as busy as ever with them.
Our problem is the only thing left to do is the upstairs lights but that means getting in the loft and as soon as you do they swarm round the light so its a no-go area at the minute and we have other jobs lined up. when will be a realistic time we can go in the loft free of wasps?
Also is the Rentokil failure along the same lines as weed killer whereas you cant actually use chemicals that might be dangerous nowadays and all that happened to the wasps was they got a bit wet.
Rentokil came out a couple of weeks ago and he sprayed the nest entrances with some sort of chemical but its not made the slightest bit of difference to them, all the nest entrances are still as busy as ever with them.
Our problem is the only thing left to do is the upstairs lights but that means getting in the loft and as soon as you do they swarm round the light so its a no-go area at the minute and we have other jobs lined up. when will be a realistic time we can go in the loft free of wasps?
Also is the Rentokil failure along the same lines as weed killer whereas you cant actually use chemicals that might be dangerous nowadays and all that happened to the wasps was they got a bit wet.
Have never used Rentokil, but when I had a wasps nest I had a small local firm come out and the chemical they used killed the f
kers within 24 hours.
They also said if it doesn't work they will retreat it free of charge.
It was a white powder they used.
kers within 24 hours.They also said if it doesn't work they will retreat it free of charge.
It was a white powder they used.
Edited by Stan the Bat on Thursday 7th October 20:35
Edited by Stan the Bat on Thursday 7th October 20:37
Next door neighbour had a very active wasps nest in their flat roof a few weeks ago.
Local firm came out and sprayed lots of a white powder into the entrance using a long lance.
Chap said there might be activity for 2 or 3 days but if there was still activity after a week to give them a ring and they'd come back out and re-treat FOC.
After 2 to 3 HOURS activity dropped off to almost nil and 24 hours later that was the end of it.
He did say that they are attracted to white light - which is why they were tapping on our windows first thing in the morning - & if you want to go looking then put a red filter over the lens.
Apparently when looking for nests in lofts they use the red filter which doesn't provoke a response but the householder, thinking they're being helpful, turn on the white loft light.
After which you're rapidly up to your doodahs in unhappy wasps.
Local firm came out and sprayed lots of a white powder into the entrance using a long lance.
Chap said there might be activity for 2 or 3 days but if there was still activity after a week to give them a ring and they'd come back out and re-treat FOC.
After 2 to 3 HOURS activity dropped off to almost nil and 24 hours later that was the end of it.
He did say that they are attracted to white light - which is why they were tapping on our windows first thing in the morning - & if you want to go looking then put a red filter over the lens.
Apparently when looking for nests in lofts they use the red filter which doesn't provoke a response but the householder, thinking they're being helpful, turn on the white loft light.
After which you're rapidly up to your doodahs in unhappy wasps.
Edited by paintman on Thursday 7th October 20:28
They should be starting to die off now, by the end of the month I'd be surprised if not all gone. A frost accelerates their demise.
I have an old house and get 1 or 2 nests each year. I just avoid them and they avoid me. Wasps are a gardeners friend, unless they are being a real nuisance I'd leave them to their thing. Some people panic and destroy their nests for no good reason. They don't return to the same next each year. Best to block up the holes they are using to gain access if you can.
I have an old house and get 1 or 2 nests each year. I just avoid them and they avoid me. Wasps are a gardeners friend, unless they are being a real nuisance I'd leave them to their thing. Some people panic and destroy their nests for no good reason. They don't return to the same next each year. Best to block up the holes they are using to gain access if you can.
paintman said:
Next door neighbour had a wasps nest in their flat roof a few weeks ago.
Local firm came out and sprayed lots of a white powder into the entrance.
Chap said there might be activity for 2 or 3 days but if there was still activity after a week to give them a ring ad they'd come back out and retreat FOC.
After 2 to 3 HOURS activity dropped off to almost nil and 24 hours later that was the end of it.
He did say that they are attracted to white light - which is why they were tapping on out windows first thing in the morning - & if you want to go looking then put a red filter over the lens.
Apparently when looking for nests in lofts they use the red filter which doesn't provoke a response but the householder, thinking they're being helpful, turn on the white loft light.
After which you're rapidly up to your doodahs in unhappy wasps.
That's what the bloke said to us, he reckoned one of the nests is quite big so it might need two treatments but its like he hasn't even been there. He had an extendable pole with some sort of pump on it but it wasn't white powder, it was some sort of liquid.Local firm came out and sprayed lots of a white powder into the entrance.
Chap said there might be activity for 2 or 3 days but if there was still activity after a week to give them a ring ad they'd come back out and retreat FOC.
After 2 to 3 HOURS activity dropped off to almost nil and 24 hours later that was the end of it.
He did say that they are attracted to white light - which is why they were tapping on out windows first thing in the morning - & if you want to go looking then put a red filter over the lens.
Apparently when looking for nests in lofts they use the red filter which doesn't provoke a response but the householder, thinking they're being helpful, turn on the white loft light.
After which you're rapidly up to your doodahs in unhappy wasps.
Edited by paintman on Thursday 7th October 20:24
It must be bad at this house though, there are loads of dead ones inside the porch (and live ones) a few inside the bedroom windows and loads flying in and out of the nests. I've even encountered a few of them whilst I've been under the sub floor downstairs. The tenant of the house got stung on his toe the other day when he put his shoe on.
MikeStroud said:
They should be starting to die off now, by the end of the month I'd be surprised if not all gone. A frost accelerates their demise.
I have an old house and get 1 or 2 nests each year. I just avoid them and they avoid me. Wasps are a gardeners friend, unless they are being a real nuisance I'd leave them to their thing. Some people panic and destroy their nests for no good reason. They don't return to the same next each year. Best to block up the holes they are using to gain access if you can.
there are more holes than soffits to be fair, the house is falling to pieces. I have an old house and get 1 or 2 nests each year. I just avoid them and they avoid me. Wasps are a gardeners friend, unless they are being a real nuisance I'd leave them to their thing. Some people panic and destroy their nests for no good reason. They don't return to the same next each year. Best to block up the holes they are using to gain access if you can.
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