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| Wasp nest on porch |
Was at the farm and happened to look up above the front door on the porch and saw this giant nest. Haven't taken care of it yet because we don't have any wasp spray.
So then I was going to gather some rosemary from our corner planter to bring back into town and as I reached toward it to snip a few pieces, I saw this!
So my conundrum is that of course even if I get wasp spray, I can't spray it into the rosemary without making it permanently inedible. Any suggestions? Something natural that won't hurt the rosemary?
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| Wasp nest in rosemary bush |
You could probably, very carefully, trap the nest that's in the rosemary with a jar and lid. Maybe after dusk, when I believe they are less active? One of you trap it between jar and lid, and the other stands by with scissors to snip off the rosemary branch. Then you can use the hornet and wasp spray to kill the other ones. That's what I'd do.
ReplyDeleteWell come on down! LOL! Thats' a good idea, I'll see how brave I am. I have tons of jars, no problem there.
DeleteI would spray the ones in the rosemary with pam cooking spray, then run!!
ReplyDeletePam? Hmm, never heard of that, thanks, I have that!
Deleteyikes! i don't know but be very very careful!
ReplyDeleteWill definitely do that. They make me nervous just walking under them., ha.
DeleteGo the Home Depot or Lowes and buy a wasp trap. Much safer for you.
ReplyDeleteHairspray stiffens them right quick. So does spray paint.
ReplyDeleteAlso, citrus oil is toxic to insects.
DeleteI do have a glass wasp jar that I got years ago. Not sure if that's like a wasp trap from the store?
DeleteHairspray is a good idea too, at least for the one on the ceiling of the porch.
let us know what happens, YIKES!!!!
ReplyDeleteUpdate after I "do the deed", ha.
DeleteI was thinking of hairspray. that's what I use on scorpions. You could use WD40. You would probably want to do it at night. Whatever you do, don't spray with water!
ReplyDeleteWD40? That stuff works on everything, ha. Ooh, scorpions. I have yet to see one out there but 2nd Family tells us that they are there. Yikes, now THOSE scare me. Must get some hairspray. Do they still make 'AquaNet?" I worked with a lady once that sprayed that on her hair constantly.
DeleteYes they do. I spray my hair with it regularly (not constantly, though) :-D
DeleteI don't think they make AquaNet...at least I haven't seen it.
DeleteYes, they do. I use it daily, bought some just last week.
Delete1st Man - i wish i was closer because i could come and remove the nests for you - my father taught me how when i was child. the best i can say, other than the other advice that has been submitted, is to spray them down with soap and water - half soap and half water solution. it's awful because the soap makes them stick to whatever they are on....and the sun will bake them to the soap. then you just hose them down with a hose after a few hours. being soaped will make them stick to where they are, the sun will bake them and then after you hose them down they will already be dead from dehydration. i hate giving this advice, i would normally move them. but if they are on your porch, more will be coming. i am so sorry.
ReplyDeleteyour friend,
kymber
Remove them? While inhabited? Yikes! I do in a way feel bad about killing them but they are just too mean...and too close tot he front door, ha.
DeleteWD 40 should work on the nest above the door, and soap and water spray on the ones on the rosemary or I like the PAM idea too. Then get some traps set out for the rest of summer. Take care.
ReplyDeleteWD40 I have, as well as PAM. I'll see how it goes. :-)
Deleteholy crap...that gave me the heebie jeebies... Let us know how it turns out and do be careful!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, i walked back and forth under them for two weekends in a row before I noticed them, then it freaked me out every time I walked under them after that, ha.
Deletehaha
DeleteInteresting looking wasp. We don't have this type up north. I think I have identified it as a paper wasp P. exclamans. Check out the info on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polistes_exclamans
ReplyDeleteMost amazing is the use of satellite nests to insure the success of the colony. This is also dangerous, because when one satellite nest is attacked the wasps can communicate with other satellite nests and they will come to rescue. Be careful.
Wow, that's an awesome ID, thanks. Definitely looks like them. And the nest up above with a smaller one nearby in the rosemary, that's a satellite. Wow. Very smart of them, dangerous for us, ha. Thank you!!!
DeleteOne thing I know is, during the day they r very active AWAY from the nest. You can then move the nest, destroy it. When they come back, poof, no nest. At night they gather on the nest, so not a good time to do it unless you aim to kill them also. Then around dusk is better
ReplyDeleteThanks for that info, I didn't know that, I'm learning a lot. We have 10 acres, why can't they go to a tree somewhere? Ha. Thanks again!
DeleteMy cousins had horses/barn when we were growing up. The rafters were FULL of empty wasp nests like you have on the porch ceiling. Kill the wasps but leave the nest. Apparently its prime real estate. As for the one in the rosemary, I'm with Annie*s Granny; glass jar/lid on a cool evening.
ReplyDeleteYou know, someone else said that once, I forgot about that. Leaving the nests somehow discourages others from nesting there? Cool, thank you!
DeleteThere is an old wives tale if you paint the porch ceiling light blue it discourages the nest building because it is supposed to resemble the open sky. Or maybe it is the smell of paint, lol. At least it would look pretty.
Deletehttp://voices.yahoo.com/does-painting-porch-ceiling-blue-keep-spiders-2300691.html
Another vote for Annie's Granny advice for the nest on the rosemary, make sure it's after dark and cool, well, as cool as we get in Texas in August!
ReplyDeleteHa, I know that's right, it was HOT HOT yesterday and today, even at night, ha. Will let you know how it goes.
Delete