Questions & answers about wasp nests
Chris asked:
Hi Paul, Unfortunately, you don't server my area, otherwise I would have called you already. A few weeks ago I noticed a 'white noise/cracking' sound from near my velux window on my landing. Shortly after I noticed insects flying in and out. As we have bee hives nearby, I did think they could be bees. The noise has got very loud recently and seemed to come from across the whole ceiling. I called my landlord who came to hear the noise for himself. He tapped the ceiling and his hand went straight through into a nest -- of wasps. He had beekeeping equipment and was able (after much flapping and palaver) to tape up the hole in the ceiling to the nest and inject a small amount of wasp destroyer. The trouble is, I am worried that the wasps will chew through the ceiling. He is due to kill the nest or have someone kill it shortly, but considering how thin the ceiling was -- can they chew their way into the house through the ceiling? Could the weight of the nest make the ceiling collapse or is that unlikely? The sheer thought that an enormous nest falls through the ceiling fills me with dread! Sorry for the vagueness of information -- as I said, I'd have you round here today if you covered this region. Great site by the way, I've learnt loads! :)
Paul Sweet replied:
Hi Chris, yes wasps can chew through plasterboard ceilings, it happens all the time. They have chewed the plasterboard to make room to expand their nest, but have only chewed it to the paint, in essence, leaving a thin layer of plasterboard paper and paint. The nest is unlikely to fall through as it will be attached to the roof structure above. I would advise reinforcing the plasterboard with thick cardboard and duct tape until the nest can be treated. I hope this helps.
jonno asked:
I sprayed a wasp nest about 4 weeks ago under the tiles that are next to a cuboard, but now I have this real bad smell, what could it be ? is it that the wasps have started to die and how long will the smell last for as I cannot get to the area I sprayed. kind regards jonno
Tony asked:
We have a cottage in Brittany which is often empty. There is a chimney with a flue from a wood burner. Hornets enter the chimney stack and are attracted to the light in the living room, entering the room at night and we want to prevent this. Would a fine mesh cover for the chimney pot prevent them? Are these available commercially?
Paul Sweet replied:
Hi Tony, a mesh cap on your flu will solve the problem. But you will probably need to remove it when you fire up your wood burner in the autumn. You do not need any commercially produced product. Simply fashion something from a fine insect mesh to stop them until the nest naturally dies off. Sometimes simple solutions work best. Regards Paul