Wasps nest in garden.

[esbo]

I found a wasps nest on the edge of my compost heap, I say I found it but the truth is they found me when one of the little bar stewards stung me!!

I was pulling up some long grass when I got stung, apparently through my gardening glove, from the outside through the material (half is plastic/rubber, the front half).

Was a really bad sting too really really hurt, I though I had anaphylactic shock or whatever it is called, didn't feel too good.

It only seems to be a small nest though I see the odd wasp around. But I am wondering what to do, ie should I try to 'take it out' military speaking in a final battle for supremacy (which I might lose lol) or just leave it?

Normally they are no problem unless I am threatening their existence as when I was rooting around their nest. But I am worried the nest might get bigger with lots more wasps and become a real problem.

All I see is the wasps disappearing into a pile of sticks which were too big for the compost heap, so I threw them to the side and that is where the nest is.

What happens in winter to the wasps, would that be a better time to tackle it?

And any ideas on a safe way of dealing with it?

[esbo]

I notice you can get anti wasp foam and powder so I will keep and eye out for that, will try the pound store first being a bit of a skinflint.

I have also read only the queen survives the winter and then builds a nest elsewhere.

So I may leave it.


They may be bees not wasps I would add.

[mothhawk]

Well, first you need to identify if they are wasps or bees, you can do that by looking at images on google. Wasps have a definite "waist", almost as if their top half (thorax) is barely joined to their bottom half (abdomen), distinct black and yellow stripes, and don't look furry (some bees don't look furry either though) whereas most bees are fairly thick waisted.

If they are not in your way or likely to present a problem sting-wise to you, neighbours, children or pets, I would leave them alone. They are great caterpillar hunters - that is what their young brood is fed on, so they will diligently search among your veg for all they can find. Only the new young queens overwinter and they will build in a new place next year.

The worker wasps may be a nuisance in autumn, when they have finished rearing the brood, and have nothing to do except hang around until the frosts kill them off, but a couple of sticky, jammy water filled jam jars will dispose of them.

[veggiechicken]

I agree with MH. I would leave them be, just avoid that bit of ground. If you put a bucket, box or bin over the nest site, leaving an exit hole on the side away from where you get to your compost bin, they would have to leave the nest in that direction. Do it after dark, when they'll all be tucked up in their little beds!

[snohare]

Wasps are generally more irritable than bees, and if nesting underground will be susceptible to annoyance by vibration - eg. banging in posts - whereas the bees that live underground are usually very mild-tempered.
If it is subterranean wasps, you can always try drowning them with a hose - from what I've seen they don't get aggressive about water entering the nest, they are too busy wishing they had taken swimming lessons !
Most important though is that you had an adverse reaction to the sting. You need to go see a doctor and get tested to see if you are now prone to anaphylactic shock from either bee or wasp stings - this time it might have been mild, next time you would run the serious risk of death !
In which case, for peace of mind you may need to carry an Epipen kit...lovely idea, them.

[PyreneesPlot]

Most important though is that you had an adverse reaction to the sting. You need to go see a doctor and get tested to see if you are now prone to anaphylactic shock from either bee or wasp stings - this time it might have been mild, next time you would run the serious risk of death !
In which case, for peace of mind you may need to carry an Epipen kit...lovely idea, them.

Ah good - just coming back to post this, too. The second reaction may be MUCH worse as I know from experience. Luckily for me it is just aspirin and family and they are unlikely to attack
Now where did I leave that epipen?

[esbo]

Well, first you need to identify if they are wasps or bees, you can do that by looking at images on google. Wasps have a definite "waist", almost as if their top half (thorax) is barely joined to their bottom half (abdomen), distinct black and yellow stripes, and don't look furry (some bees don't look furry either though) whereas most bees are fairly thick waisted.

If they are not in your way or likely to present a problem sting-wise to you, neighbours, children or pets, I would leave them alone. They are great caterpillar hunters - that is what their young brood is fed on, so they will diligently search among your veg for all they can find. Only the new young queens overwinter and they will build in a new place next year.

The worker wasps may be a nuisance in autumn, when they have finished rearing the brood, and have nothing to do except hang around until the frosts kill them off, but a couple of sticky, jammy water filled jam jars will dispose of them.

Thanks for that, I have had a look on google images but I am still not sure.

Unfortunate they don't tend to hang around long enough to get a good look and neither do I.
Actually though I am a bit fortunate (depending on how you look at it) in that the nest is close to my patio doors so I can look out from behind the safety of the glass, but I am still unsure.

It could be this bee



Or this wasp, but it says German wasp. Obviously I can't seem them this close!!!





I notice bees tend to have thicker black legs but wasps are longer yellow ones.

They are not really problem apart from when I was pulling up grass around their nest and got stung they are normally just very keen in getting on with their own business, so they are quick in and out of the nest and then away, they don't fly around the nest or hang about there


Only slight problem is I want some compost but I have everything planted really.

They didn't leave a stinger in me so that may mean they are wasps. Also the same one may have stung me more than once on the finger, bit hard to tell. But I do know it hurt and it seemed to have more than just a localised effect.

Anyhow they are generally placid and I will have little need to be near them in the autumn and I think a strategically place pot of jam should do the trick if necessary but I will leave then *bee* otherwise If they move on every year it should be no problem.

[veggiechicken]

I've just been stung a couple of times too - whilst weeding I think they were small bees, very dark ones, they were certainly angry and noisy at being disturbed. They stung the back of both my hands, through gloves and a couple followed me up to the house.
I'll keep the dogs away from there and take a different route to the raspberries Otherwise, I'll leave them to get on with their lives

[esbo]

I agree with MH. I would leave them be, just avoid that bit of ground. If you put a bucket, box or bin over the nest site, leaving an exit hole on the side away from where you get to your compost bin, they would have to leave the nest in that direction. Do it after dark, when they'll all be tucked up in their little beds!

Due to the location that would not make much difference, when I go out the patio door there is a fence to the left and they are between the fence and the door opening, it is about 5 feet to the fence
the nest is about 1/2 way between about feet from the wall of the house. But I can watch from inside to see when it looks 'all clear'. But they are very quick in and out you would hardly know they were there and they feel safe being low down. So they covering it might make them hang around more or come closer to the house or generally annoy them!

I did actually get some mosquito and insect repellent because they have been giving me bites resulting in very itchy spots which can be as annoying as a sting!! Probably not gonna stop a wasp but then wasps don't feed on human blood so usually leave you alone unless you threaten them. (which is why they stung me lol).

[esbo]

Wasps are generally more irritable than bees, and if nesting underground will be susceptible to annoyance by vibration - eg. banging in posts - whereas the bees that live underground are usually very mild-tempered.
If it is subterranean wasps, you can always try drowning them with a hose - from what I've seen they don't get aggressive about water entering the nest, they are too busy wishing they had taken swimming lessons !
Most important though is that you had an adverse reaction to the sting. You need to go see a doctor and get tested to see if you are now prone to anaphylactic shock from either bee or wasp stings - this time it might have been mild, next time you would run the serious risk of death !
In which case, for peace of mind you may need to carry an Epipen kit...lovely idea, them.

Thanks for that, I was a bit worried about that. But I thought I might be better able to cope after having survived once!!! I am not sure if I was effected or not might have been my imagination, will look into epipens. I'm not far from the local A&E fortunately!!!

[esbo]

I've just been stung a couple of times too - whilst weeding I think they were small bees, very dark ones, they were certainly angry and noisy at being disturbed. They stung the back of both my hands, through gloves and a couple followed me up to the house.
I'll keep the dogs away from there and take a different route to the raspberries Otherwise, I'll leave them to get on with their lives

Yea I was stun through my gloves, through the material part, but I also have some big red gloves of a heavy duty nature which I think should be sting proof.
I was thinking about an 'anti wasp' out fit ant they could be part of it, ie big red thick rubber gloves, big black boots, soldier type boots, waterproof trousers over my jeans, waterproof shower jacket with hood + hat and then a coat over that, some eye protecting goggles and scarves wrapped all over my face, then I could take the wasps on in a showdown fight. But I think best to leave them alone.

I had considered dumping a big pile of grass cutting on the entrance but all the grass is cut and it's wet now. I don[t think they would get through a couple of feet of grass cuttings.

I have noticed the cats do not seem to hang around there so much now maybe the wasps gave them a reminder to stay away too!!

[veggiechicken]

I still have my bee suit, veil and gloves
No gaps - that's the main thing!! Bees crawl upwards so make sure they can't get into your jeans at the ankle Same goes for your wrists and neck!!
I've just taken some antihistamine tablets (best before 2004!) May be worth you keeping some of those handy - just in case.

[esbo]

I still have my bee suit, veil and gloves
No gaps - that's the main thing!! Bees crawl upwards so make sure they can't get into your jeans at the ankle Same goes for your wrists and neck!!
I've just taken some antihistamine tablets (best before 2004!) May be worth you keeping some of those handy - just in case.

Yes I remember the days when we were kids and there was a wasps nest in he next garden which a bunch of us tried to take on all wrapped up wielding sticks with flame soaked rags on the end.
One of them got into my trousers and stung me on the thigh some how. I think it crawled up my leg cos it flew out then I took my trousers down

Yes I will see what I can get in in the way of medication etc.., starting at the pound shop!!
But they seem very peaceful in nature at the moment just so long as they do not feel their nest is threatened, and I was practically pulling up grass by the entrance when I was stung. I'd have done the same in their position!!

[snohare]

I'd have done the same in their position!!

Yes, sounds like you were miss beehiving ....

big red thick rubber gloves, big black boots, soldier type boots, waterproof trousers over my jeans, waterproof shower jacket with hood + hat and then a coat over that, some eye protecting goggles and scarves wrapped all over my face, then I could take the wasps on in a showdown fight.

I'm tempted to encourage you to go get 'em, just so that we can see a picture of you in that get-up. It certainly sounds like it would be a viral video on YouTube...