Oh no!Wasps near our pond.

[Madame Mucksprout]

Hi, We have a little wildlife pond - teeming with frogs and newts and tadpoles and all sorts.

BUT weve found a wasps nest right next to the pond. They cant stay (our little one is only 5), but how can we get rid of them without damaging the pod and its residents (chemicals?)

We cant quite get to the nest to grab it out as its down a hole in a rock (I think this was where a pump may have been sited at some point). Poking at it with a stick is just producing loads of angry wasps who dont actually leave......


Any ideas gratefully recieed.

[mothhawk]

Are you quite sure they are wasps, MM? wasps usually build above ground, in trees, or wherever there's some wood to use as a base for their nest which is chewed up wood pulp. I'm rather surprised to hear you have a nest in a hole in a rock. Sounds more like bees.

[Zelenina]

For two years in a row I had a small nest of wasps inside an old metal enamel can, shaped like a small milk churn, that just happened to be located beside the main path through my garden. I must've passed within inches of it many times before I even noticed they were there. And I've moved it a couple of times I'm sure, without thinking about the wasps. And they definitely are wasps. And they never attacked me or caused any trouble at all.

So unless your wasps are unusually aggressive, maybe you could just teach your child that they are there and that they could sting, and to be careful not to aggravate them with sticks or anything else. I think a 5-year-old is capable of learning that. And they are an important part of nature after all, along with all the pond creatures.

The main problem with wasps is when they come after human food, and they can come from anywhere to do that, they don't have to be nesting in your garden. I'm actually a bit disappointed that my wasps haven't returned this year.

[veggiechicken]

Poking at it with a stick is just producing loads of angry wasps who dont actually leave......

Not surprised they're angry! Interfering with a wasp or bee nest is guaranteed to provoke them.

If you're certain its wasps and you need access to the nest area, then you need professional advice on how to treat them. Sorry that's no help.

[Containergardener]

Mum used to get them under rockery stones , she has very free draining sandy soil so easy I guess to nest build in.
Get rid asap or get someone in to do it.

[vixylix]

We had them under paving stones when I was younger. Definitely call in a professional

[cheops]

I can't help thinking that if wasps could write they would post - OH NO. HUMANS NEAR OUR NEST.
I tend to agree with Zelenina - use this as an opportunity to teach your child that we should help these wasps - maybe even that we could put ourselves out for the sake of the wasps and let them enjoy the locality of your pond for a change whilst we take a step back for a few months. Do you really want to teach your child that we must destroy anything in nature that inconveniences us?
I hope no one feels I'm preaching - in the end you must decide your best option and we all should respect that.

[MarkPelican]

At this time of year, if you leave them alone they should be fine (in fact they will hunt greenfly). Later on they will look for sugary things to eat.

Put up a fence and teach your youngsters to respect the wasps?