Is it a wasp nest in my loft?

Oliya

Hi, we have a very shallow loft in our house so we very rarely go up there. The other day I went up and noticed this huge nest. I assume it’s a wasp nest? Any advice on what to do with it? Will it get even bigger next year if I just leave it?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!:)

Dovefromabove

Isn’t it beautiful?! 😃 

Yes, it’s a wasps’ nest … all the new queens will have moved on and last year’s wasps will have died so it won’t be used again. 

Fairygirl

Gorgeous aren't they?
I had a 'not quite so lovely' one in the box I made for overwintering bees, after they commandeered the hog house. The wasps moved in instead. 
As @Dovefromabove says, it won't be re used. 

If you have young children/grandchildren or neighbouring children,  it can be worth removing to let them see. 

Dovefromabove

When you think about it, it was wasps who taught humans how to make paper … 🙏 

Fairygirl

I know I've mentioned it on the forum before, but on a quiet day in summer, I love seeing and hearing them scrape and collect little bits of timber from the fence. 
Simple pleasures 
I had one of those huge wood wasps in a previous garden one year. Beautiful things. Never seen one since unfortunately.

Oliya

@Dovefromabove
@Fairygirl

Thank you for information. It does look rather beautiful, doesn’t it?
I’m very relieved I don’t need to do anything about it as it is located in the part of the loft, which is pretty much inaccessible…

Nollie

Shame it’s not accessible to remove, they are wonderfully decorative things.

This one, discovered in autumn, was an active Asian hornet’s nest and I had thoughts of turning it into a lampshade. However, the beekeepers we called in had to spray pretty noxious poison before it was safe to remove and that plus cleaning out all those dead bodies rather put me off.

Oliya

@Nollie
It is very beautiful!
I may ask the builders to remove our nest and give it to us when we re-insulate the loft, if the nest is still there and intact…

Fairygirl

That would be a nice thing to do @Oliya. It's a lovely example   

Not sure I'd want mine as an indoor feature either @Nollie. It was a bit manky with the hay etc from the box it was in   
Wee wasp still in there too. I had another one quite close by as well, but they were nesting in below a shrub and accessing it from the other side of the fence, where my car is.  


I had another one quite close by as well, but they were nesting in below a shrub and accessing it from the other side of the fence, where my car is.  

bcpathome

Yes ,they are really clever creatures,but only use the nest once ………bit of a waste really .

Joyce Goldenlily

I have had several in various lofts over the years but last year I had one in a nesting box, it filled the box and spread out from the entry hole. They are works of art.