Nest Update: Gardeners are an inquisitive lot and I just couldn't help myself. I gave the nest a little poke after not seeing any stingers around. Figuring it was abandoned I poked some more and out came the cell of wasp maggots. With the damage done I figured I'd scoop it up and get some photos to share.
It's unlikely these will survive without the colony, although I found details on how to feed wasp babies if that's your thing. No thank you! I also made a couple calls to area specialists but haven't heard back on whether this can be salvaged for science as suggested by Grace, who has a guy that can sometimes sell them for venom and such.
These little buggers were also hanging out on the side gate. They'd been on the side of the house yesterday and I washed them away but mama apparently relocated. That's a lot of bugs for squeamish types like myself!
10 comments:
Be careful!
In my neck of the woods annoying wasps/yellow jackets/hornets are way too plentiful. Thankfully there is a guy who will come and remove the nest for free and use the bees for manufacturing venom antidote or something. Maybe you can check with your local university Extension Service to see if you've got a similar guy there. Good luck.
Grace has an excellent idea. Please be careful.
Yes! Please be careful. I've seen some yellow jackets, or at least that's what I think they are, going into my compost pile. I know they make their nests in the ground, so I believe that is what they are. Not a good place for them seeing is how I disturb the pile often :). I've never been stung by anything and I'm not so sure I'd like to find out how it feels!
Darla: For sure. I'm passing the removal duty over to my husband. I don't deal with stingers.
Grace: That's a good idea. I'll see if the spouse wants to leave it to the professionals.
Mildred: Will do!
Tessa: In your compost pile! Yeesh. I just found a hosta coming out of mine ... much better!
I've been knocking down nests on our front porch and they keep rebuilding. We have problems with them every year making nests in everything.
I hope you can get rid of it soon.
Catherine: I just updated with the results. I feel a bit guilty disturbing it but a mother must protect her young, right?
You really have to be very careful...
COOL!!!!! So neat to see those!
Yeah, angry stinging insects have their place in nature but are not too great around kids. Yellow jackets can be pretty vicious, my mom's been swarmed on and stung repeatedly, they're the only insect she's afraid of! Good luck keeping the pests at bay. Wonder why they picked the coffee bags to build their nest in?!
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