wasps

I'm wondering if anyone has had experience in dealing with wasp nests around their homes. We have one in front and one in back. In front they're going into a hole in the brick, and in back (the much busier one) into a gap in the roof tiles. I've done a bit of reading, and it seems that one option is to simply leave them be, considering that they're beneficial, will die off in late fall, and the nests are not re-used next year. The other view is that stings could become more likely in late summer and that they can be killed with either off the shelf products or by way of exterminators.

Advice and experience, anyone?

thanks

RH

We have them all around the nursery school where I work. It's part of a working farm, so, I don't know if that has anything to do with it. It's awful!

I hope other posters have advice on how to deal with them, because me and all of my work mates are terrified of them, and I don't even want to think about what would happen if a child with an allergy to the sting happened to be stung!

I haven't lived here long enough to know what to do. My MiL says that you shouldn't go around in yellow clothes, because they'll be attracted to it, but, wasps don't seem to avoid it, they just go where they want, regardless of colours it seems!

If they're wasps rather than bees you can get them removed by the council, they smoke then take the nest away. It does cost money, but I think it's less than £100, my mother had them living in the roof above her bed when I was still living at home.

I've googled for my council, they charge £40 for a wasp nest removal.

http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/environment/pest_control/types_of_pest/wasps/

There's a pdf about it here -
http://www.ealing.gov.uk/ealing3/export/sites/ealingweb/services/environment/pest_control/types_of_pest/_docs/254.11_wasp.pdf

If they're wasps rather than bees you can get them removed by the council, they smoke then take the nest away. It does cost money, but I think it's less than £100,

Thanks, cheesebisuit - I hadn't thought of the council. According to the web site, mine charges £52 for removal. Also good to know that they deal with rats for free.

Thanks, cheesebisuit - I hadn't thought of the council. According to the web site, mine charges £52 for removal. Also good to know that they deal with rats for free.

£52 and you don't have to deal with them yourself, bargain imo. I hate the idea of just making them angry so they attack me with the stuff you can buy in hardware stores!

To the first poster.

I would get the one in the roof tiles professionally seen to - by the council probably - if the wasps are bothering you at that height.  Otherwise you could just leave it.  It is true, they will abandon the nest in mid October and won't return next year although they may set up a new nest nearby.

The one in the hole in the brick wall.  Is that at a fairly low height?  That you could reach without ladders.  If so, you could deal with it yourself.  Buy a can of the wasp killer foam stuff, not the spray, that's pretty useless.  Then put on protective clothing - just make sure as much of you is covered as possible, gardening gloves, wellies ... hat/hood.  Go out at dusk, the nest is quieter and the wasps are going to bed.  Never do this in the middle of the day.  Spray the entrance to the nest and then stand back.  They will come rushing out and there will be a lot of activity.  In a few minutes when it quietens down spray again, and repeat this for as long as you can bear.  Then do it again the following day, and so on, until you see no activity in the nest.  I've done this a number of times, we always get a nest somewhere in the garden every year.  So far I haven't been stung and am terrified of being stung because my father was allergic and I have asthma.

All the best.

I don't even want to think about what would happen if a child with an allergy to the sting happened to be stung!

Are you trained to use epi-pens? I'm asking because my DH had to be trained to use them when he was a support worker.

Thanks to everyone for the advice. The council is coming tomorrow morning to take care of both nests. It was an extra £10 for the second nest.

RH

Just to add, I'd go for companies that are registered with the British Pest Control Association

http://www.bpca.org.uk/

Are you trained to use epi-pens? I'm asking because my DH had to be trained to use them when he was a support worker.

Yeah, we trained with those during our first aid course a couple of weeks ago. I was just thinking of the aftermath in general.