Wasp Nest - Advice Please

[BilboWaggins]

Yesterday I discovered a very small wasp nest in our garden

It is about 4" across, 1½" high at present.

I am very happy to have a nest in the garden, wasps can get through a huge number of flies, caterpillars and other insects and are pollinators too. Trouble is, they have decided to build right in front of the Log Store adjacent to where a shed will shortly be built. I think it's fairly certain that someone with a size 12 builders' boot will stand on it in it's current location.

Disturbingly, searching on Google for "move wasp nest" brings up almost nothing but links on how to kill them and that is the last thing I want to do.

If I move quick (before it gets any bigger), can I move it? I'd only be taking it about 10 feet, in sight of where it currently is, but somewhere it will be safe for the season.

[BilboWaggins]

Trying (and failing) to get a picture included. Link to image is here,
sorryPicasa Web Albums - Bilbo Waggins - Misc_ Garden_...

[Flummery]

I'd have a go Bilbo. Wear thick gloves though!

PS - saw the pic on your blog!

[smallblueplanet]

As Flum says, give it a go, especially if its going to cause a problem where it is. Maybe put a shovel underneath it and move soil at the same time? Do it quickly before it gets bigger and wear long sleeves, long trousers, gloves etc. Good luck.

[BilboWaggins]

Thanks Manda, we are thinking along exactly the same lines. It will be easy to get a spade underneath - they have built this on an old bit of carpet we put down in front of the log store 'cos it was a mud bath.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Timing wise, as soon as poss (obviously), but I think you ought to do it late evening when they are all home asleep for the night.

Does that sound sensible?

[Madasafish]

Late evening. overalls, hat, gloves, scarf round neck (I use a full balaclava), eye protection, route cleared in case you have to run and you will , bottle of brandy at the ready... and a face mask.

Are all minimum precautions I use when dealing with wasps..

(but I prefer gin as I cannot stand brandy)

[eye1der]

well done for treating these much misunderstood insects the way you are, i hope the transplant works, not sure how the wasps navigate to and from the nest, i know with bee hives its up to 3 feet or over 3 miles or they get confused and lost but good on you for trying.

steve.

[burnie]

Can we see the pictures as I'd like to know what the record is for the number of stings in one attack,I gave up and ran in doors after 3 .

[NOG]

I would strongly recommend leaving it well alone or distroying it now....In no circumstnce would I recommend moving it. As a bee will die when it stings..they will only sting in defenceof the hive or unless provoked.

Wasps can sting nine times before they run out of venom...then they can retreat and recharge their venom. So multiply the number of Wasps in the nest by 9.

[BilboWaggins]

The deed is done

Thank you all (I think!). The deed is done and the nest was moved quickly and without a single problem. No wasps came at me or gave any indication that they were threatened by my actions (I am sure that talking to them and explaining what I was doing helped ... does that belong in the "funny" thread )

Took all of Madasafish's advice, except the brandy!

Sorry NOG, would not be able to destroy it. They actually chose a sensible place - from a wasps point of view - next to an almost limitless supply of dried dead wood to make their nest from, and as I don't have any plum trees for them to mess with in the autumn, we don't see them as a problem.

OH insisted on taking photos and being far closer than I would have liked (because he wasn't dressed up like a bank robber) and I will pop some pictures on my blog later or tomorrow - not having much success putting them here!

[NOG]

You are a better man than I.....

[BilboWaggins]

You are a better man than I.....

<<LOL>>, well NOG, for a start, I'm not a man . . . . .

Laugh all you like but I am quite sure that talking to the nest and letting them know what I was going to do played a part. Also, I was not scared, afraid or worried about what I was doing, and therefore giving off no pheromones or whatever it is that animals can sense which humans cannot.

Of course, they could all decide to desert the nest now that I have moved it and rebuild it somewhere really inconvenient!

[smallblueplanet]

Nice one Bilbo.

[BilboWaggins]

Nice one Bilbo.

Thanks hon