Wasp nest - what to do?

jemimarose

Think I should have posted this here, and not in problem solving - not sure how to delete! So apologies for the repeat. Below is my post. :-) 

Hello everyone. We've discovered an active wasps nest right by our front door! They've made it in the air vent at ankle height, which actually vents into our bedroom, and we can hear them at night in bed, loudly rustling about with whatever it is they're doing! 

I have two young children (6 and 7) and my husband is sensitive to wasp stings - he gets very itchy. So he wants them to be exterminated. 

But I don't like to kill anything, not even mosquitoes! 

Does anyone have any experience of how disruptive or aggressive they could become? At the moment they are busy going in and out, and not taking any notice of anyone being nearby. But my concern is, that as we come in and out of the door, and it gets later and later in the summer / autumn, that they may become problematic. 

Any advice much appreciated - thank you. 

Humblebea

Move house? I’m absolutely terrified of wasps so I may be a little biased. I think they are okay this time of year but they will get more aggressive later. 

FlyDragon

When I was a teenager I had the attic bedroom and one year there was a wasp's nest in the roofspace.  They were never aggressive, the only times I got stung were if I sat down or got into bed without checking and disturbed one.  I did get about 4 stings that summer though so if your husband reacts badly to them I'd probably call somebody in to deal with it, you don't want the reaction to get worse. 

AnniD

As you say, they are not causing any difficulty the moment but l think later in the Summer you could have problems.
I know l wouldn't feel very comfortable knowing that they were so close, but l appreciate your reluctance to get rid of them. In view of your husband's reaction to wasp stings it may be possible that your children may suffer the same way ? Anaphylactic shock could be a possibility that you may have to consider. 
I would find a local wasp nest remover.

pansyface

Wasps are like any other living thing, they just want a peaceful life. They are not naturally aggressive but they will defend their nest if it is attacked.

That said, we have had a wasp nest every summer somewhere in the garden. Last year it was in the log store where the cat litter tray is housed. Every day, three times a day, I had to lean into the smallish log store to clean out the litter tray. My head was about a foot or so from the nest. No wasp ever bothered me because I didn’t bother them. 

Another year they made their home in the tool shed, just above the lawnmower. Again, I could pull out the lawnmower and they never made so much as a buzz.

The colony will die at the end of the summer. The nest will be abandoned and the queen alone will survive in some quiet spot before starting a new nest next spring.

They really are the gardener’s friend. They bring caterpillars back to the nest to feed the young. They eat aphids. They do all sorts of good things. They will become no more or less aggressive as the summer goes on - they are what they are.

When I was six years old my dad kept bees. The hives were in the garden. I was never stung. I was told that if I left the bees alone that they would leave me alone. And it was true. My brother, it turned out, was severely allergic to bee stings but having discovered that he just took extra care not to disturb them. He’s 80 now. He keeps bees in his own garden now, In Queensland, and sells their honey to a local cooperative. 

Skandi

It's not worth keeping them if there is a risk hubs will have a bad reaction. I have been stung several times for absolutely no reason, once in the middle of my back while lying still sunbathing! each time I get stung the reaction gets worse, last time was a sting on my wrist while walking along the pavement. my entire arm turned red. In my experience wasps get aggressive in late summer when their work is done. We did one year have one in the raised bed by the front door, they would chase anyone who tried to use the door, I suspect that not all wasp nests have the same temperament, just as not all bee hives do.

I do not allow any wasps to live on my property if I find the nests I can see this year I have missed one somewhere as the strawberries are covered in wasps.

jemimarose

Thank you for your comments and thoughts everyone. We may just let them lie for a bit, although I know it is only going to get busier. 

Because they are by the front door, we are only coming and going, rather than spending time there. If it was in the back garden, it would be worse as the children are out there all the time. 

I hate the thought of killing them just because they chose an inconvenient spot. 

I'll sleep on it for a few more nights and make a call next week. 

Ergates

I’d get someone in to remove them. Your local council will have information on their website. That is too near the house for safety. The quicker you do it, the fewer will suffer. Stung 15 times when I accidentally disturbed a nest last year. No fun at all. I also hate killing anything, but wasps too near your home are nothing like the numerous spiders and woodlice I escort out of the house.

jemimarose

Ergates said:

I’d get someone in to remove them. Your local council will have information on their website. That is too near the house for safety. The quicker you do it, the fewer will suffer. Stung 15 times when I accidentally disturbed a nest last year. No fun at all. I also hate killing anything, but wasps too near your home are nothing like the numerous spiders and woodlice I escort out of the house.

Ouch! 15 times! Was that a nest in the ground or one higher up? I fear you might be right. Especially with my children around... 

Ergates

It was in the ground, not near the house. I was digging out some old rhododendron roots, and failed to notice a few wasps popping in and out of a hole nearby. Obviously got too near and they rushed out and they got me before I managed to run out of range.  Very painful, luckily I’m not allergic to stings ( or at least I wasn’t!) I had a few days of itching, but ended up at the Minor Injuries Unit when they started to get worse and spread into big red patches. I was worried I was getting cellulitis, but it responded to old fashioned Piriton. I do check carefully now if I see any activity to make sure I don’t get too close to a nest.

pansyface

Obviously, as I said, wasps will defend their nest and Ergates was mucking about with it (in their view).

They would not have got themselves worked up if the nest had not been approached, the ground shaken up and the safety of their young put at risk.

Wasps hate vibration, by the way.