Questions & answers about wasp nests
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
geoff asked:
When I open my patio doors at night and the light is on, the kitchen rapidly fills with European Hornets, they appear quickly. I cannot find a nest at this stage but haven't looked in the loft space - bit scared to be honest. Can I or you do anything about this, its really scary on these warm summer evenings.
Paul Sweet replied:
Hi Geoff, you have a nest close by "in sight" of your patio doors. Take a good look at your roof from outside; you are looking for traffic to and from one spot. If nothing is visible, start looking at your neighbour's roofs. Hornets are nocturnal and fly at night, so will be attracted to your lights. If you find where the nest is, we can certainly arrange to sort them out for you. Regards Paul
Sam asked:
Hi, I have found a golf ball sized paper like lantern hanging in a holly bush in our garden. I am sure it is a wasp nest as when I first saw it I was pruning the bush and must of disturbed her as she came out buzzing about and then went back in. How should we remove this before it becomes a real problem?
Paul Sweet replied:
Hi Sam, it will be a European wasp or what we call a German wasp. You could try to knock the nest off and hope that the queen moves on, or have it treated which will kill the queen and that will be the end of it. Knocking the nest off the bush at this early stage might work, but often they keep on building the nest in a new position.
Sam replied:
Hi Paul, many thanks. I spent a bit of time watching the queen coming and going and what appears to be building on today, fascinating stuff but she is a formidable looking stinger and I dont want her offspring hanging out in the garden all summer, especially not with kids and footballs! Trouble is as the nest is in a holly bush am a trifle concerned that I may not be able to knock it off and run without being chased! I am going to wait until she leaves on a trip out and knock it down a bit and then try and capture in a jar - I say me but think I'll pass it on to the husband!!!