Wasps

[Flyfisher]

I'm trying to finish off a roof by painting the dormers before the scaffolding comes down next week and there are a number of wasp nests under the tiles with the attendant wasps buzzing about. I'm not normally bothered by them and I put up with them yesterday while painting. However, I was stung this morning as I walked past one of the nest spots, which has exhausted my patience and goodwill towards them, so they've got to go!

I know the council will come out for £35+vat (per nest) but I'm in a DIY frame of mind (and pocket).

Any suggestions on the best stuff to use?

 

[skier-hughes]

Any suggestions on the best stuff to use?

Your wallet, it's a pig of a job to do properly.

 

[robgil]

i used a spray on wasp killing aerosol on a nest that had to go. you spray it from 5 feet or so away. the nest i killed was becoming a nuisance. the wasps were heading towards the end of their life but they were getting drunk and short tempered on the rotten apples that had fallen from my apple tree.
i would only kill them if they were dangerous. also its worth noting that the council will do it for free if the wasps are becoming a nuisance to the public.

edit = there is a particular time of day to do it , i cant remember if it is early morning or evening but i quick google should tell you what you need to know.

 

[Flyfisher]

i would only kill them if they were dangerous.

Me too. Unfortunately for the wasps, I think the risks of being stung while standing on a ladder perched on eaves-level scaffolding meets that criterion, especially since they now have form and I have a sore neck!

I've just bought some spray (apparently works up to 3m) and some powder. I suspect the spray would be the most effectve but I'm reluctant to lift tiles to expose the nest. I'm not keen on chemical warfare but there are limits.

 

[skier-hughes]

our guy used a spray on a long lance so he could get it right into the heart of the nest.

 

[Flyfisher]

Yes, we had someone do the same thing many years ago at a different house; a sort of fire extinguisher with a long tube. Did the trick but was quite expensive I recall. I suspect they use a more lethal chemical available only on licence.

Anyway, I've used the spray can to put a jet of foaming stuff underneath the pantiles where they were emerging. Not sure how much of the nest got covered but it certainly upset them and I vacated the roof quickly. I'll repeat it this evening and also dust some powder on the tiles. Hopefully that'll do the trick and I can finish painting.

 

[Flyfisher]

The spray stuff seemed to do the trick and the wasps are no more. I feel a bit guilty really. Only a bit though.

Only thing is, it's rather too hot this week to do any painting. Normally it would be terrible weather during Wimbledon fortnight - I blame it on that new-fangled roof they've got.

 

[worms]

I feel a bit guilty really. Only a bit though.

I know what you mean. I sprayed a small wasp's-nest in my shed with water a few weeks ago (this normally does the trick where you have access to the nest itself) and the queen moved a couple of joists over and started again. It worked hard and I could hear it building everytime I went into the shed. I reckoned it was better to let it waste its time and I would spray again before any young wasps emerged rather than moving it on elsewhere and possibly having a full sized nest to deal with in autumn. However, after a week or two it seems to have disappeared. Predator? Accident? Found a better site? I don't know but I kind of miss it!