Wasps - to treat it not?

[1Bee]

I like wasps. I know that's odd! They're fascinating builders and I would usually happily co-exist.

But I have a 2yo and 5yo and we have a nest hanging over the back door. It's up high on the rafter of the overhanging roof we have there, 8 - 10 feet off the ground. Our backyard is walled, and the wasps are currently flying high, well over head height. It's about 5 inches across, but growing daily!

Votes please for leaving it (which is what I'd do without the kids), treating ourselves or calling in exterminators (£62).

[Potstubsdustbins]

With the children in the equation I would go for the exterminators.

[lottieguy]

Hi Ya, a shame about the wasps as they are very useful at times. I have seen them carry off caterpillars so have a lot of time for them. In your situation with the children I would agree potstubsdustbins and say you will have to move them on. Sorry but you can't risk it.

[1Bee]

Thanks. That's what I was thinking, but just wanted to chat it through with folks with similar interests.

[veggiechicken]

Could you get rid of the kids instead?
Only joking I agree with the others - with children around you can't risk it and, as the weather gets hotter, the more active the wasps will be. They always seem to build their nests in the wrong places. I had one in a porch one year and had to use the back door for months until they left their nest

[bario1]

The wasps will get more and more aggressive as the summer goes on, and then they'll start eating all the rotting fruit lying around and get drunk and then they'll wake up with terrible hangovers and you don't want to be around when that happens, trust me.

[planetologist]

If you know a beekeeper you could borrow their suit and gloves and do it yourself. You might even be able to move them rather than kill them. An exterminator would probably use poison, but we're turning our whole biosphere into a poisoned place already.

[mothhawk]

Definitely I agree you need to deal with it if you and the children are using that area.

If you know a beekeeper you could borrow their suit and gloves and do it yourself. You might even be able to move them rather than kill them. An exterminator would probably use poison, but we're turning our whole biosphere into a poisoned place already.

I wouldn't risk that myself. Beesuits give fair protection, but they are not sting proof by any means and while bees can only sting once, wasps can and will sting repeatedly if they are really roused, and I think defending their home would come into that category. It's a job for someone with proper insurance who knows what they are doing and has the correct equipment, whether moving them or destroying them.

[SaraJH]

Personally, I'd go for the professional exterminators.

[Containergardener]

Not worth the risk.
I know I hate wasps but ..if one of them little uns got stung and reacted badly , would be side with waspy.