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wasps in my polytunnel

Ray 3Ray 3 Posts: 26
in Problem solving

hi,

Ithink i might have a problem in my tunnel.Just this afternoon i noticed there was  maybe a hundred or so wasps in my tunnel,all congregated at one end up at the roof of it.They all seem to be young wasps and they did not bother me (nor i them i might add)whilst i was doing my daily chores in tunnel but i want rid of them asap.There is no sign of any nest in or around the tunnel as far as i can see.WIll they damage my crops in tunnel,i have a super crop of toms starting to ripe and was wondering if the wasps will attack  and eat them.

What do i do?

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,737

    Are you sure they were wasps and not hoverflies?

    I've never heard of wasps attacking tomatoes - they will go for soft/damaged sweet fruit a bit later in the season but usually orchard fruit, not what you'd have in your polytunnel.

    However they will attack and eat any aphids they find - I'd leave the door open and let them come and go as they please - wasps are the gardener's friendsimage


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Ray 3Ray 3 Posts: 26

    Thanks dovefromabove.On closer inspection i think they are indeed hoverflies,smaller antennae and body.Are they friend or foe to the gardener?

  • Ray 3Ray 3 Posts: 26

    Thanks jo.i was going to put up a cider bottle or two in the tunnel but i guess theres no need to now.By the way,...monsanto?

  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,665

    I'd like to see a few more wasps about to take the caterpillars off my cabbages.

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,044

    I think I can count on one hand the number of wasp and ladybirds I've seen all summer. 

    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,737

    We've had a recent influx of ladybirds - they're all over the runner beans and I came indoors yesterday with several on me - I had to go outside again and release them.

    We have several  wasps around - have had all summer - there's a lot of old trees around here - I wonder if they provide good nest sites ...?


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    Wasps love dead wood for making paper for their nests Dove and I expect those old trees have lots of suitable 'wasp paper mines'. image

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,665

    We have had loads of ladybirds all summer but few wasps, I noticed an allotment plot next to mine had a nest last summer, at first I was alarmed but they didn't cause me any problems with the added advantage that my brassicas didn't have many caterpillars on them.

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