wasps in the attic
robfromsix
Posts: 1
Hi guys & girls - I am a new today member & therefore pls excuse if you think I am asking/making trivial points. I have just this moment spotted wasps entering/leaving a small hole under the eaves of our bungalow. Its right in the rear corner of the bungalow - I haven't yet gone up into the attic to investigate how large/small the problem may be. My immediate thought was "oh my goodness" how are we going to get rid of this problem . But after discussing it with my wife , we remember Monty Don saying that wasps are the Gardeners friend. Therefore the question now is , can the wasps be doing any damage to the fabric of the bungalow ?? - I have already read comments posted by other members & mixed views given haven't yet given me any firm idea of next action.
Any thoughts on what to do next will be appreciated.
Tks in advance - - Rob
Posts
They'll be gone by the end of the summer and will make a new nest next year. They don't use the same one again.
They won't damage the fabric of the house. Block up the hole before next year if you don't want them going in there again
In the sticks near Peterborough
This is a bit of a balancing act as ever. Wasps chew wood to make their nest so can do damage if the colony is very large.
If they are getting into the house or being a nuisance, if anyone in the house reacts badly to stings then I would take action, best to get someone in the powder they "spray" is so effective its worth it. I have dealt with nests myself but it is not easy without the right equipment you have to get scarily close for the sprays to hit the target.
If they are not being a problem do as Nutculet says.
Are you certain they are wasps and not bees?
We had the same problem a while ago. I called council and they sent somebody to investigate who confirmed wasp infestation. Charged me £35 for the treatment. We never had a problem since touch wood.
You can treat the nest yourself, but be warned, they don't appreciate the disturbance and will react accordingly. I would contact the council to see what they charge. Whilst accepting Monty's comment about them being beneficial, I wouldn't want them that close to where I'm living.
We have wasps going in and out of the roof during late summer most years ... usually a different entrance and a different part of the roof each time. We've never had a problem with them and there appears to be no damage to the attic or roof. Just a few small papery nests ... and a healthy garden.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My suggestion would be to have them removed if they become a problem or you need access to the space, wasps may have a place in the garden but I am not too sure about our homes.
It was something much stronger than ant powder they were going to use when we called them out. They took one look at our garden pond which must have been at least 30 feet away and refused to do it because their stuff was so toxic to pond life.