What is this? (Picture quiz)

[road2ruin]

Having walked into a massive paddy happening in the house (place is a pig sty etc etc) I sought solace in the garage under the pretence of a 'tidy up'. I had a general potter around I found myself actually looking at things that I had never noticed before. Having turned on and off a number of switches without any clue what they actually did/do I came across this in the roof....

Having had a quick Google it appears that we have a wasps nest however could anyone with experience in these things confirm? I don't want to end up calling out a wasp man only to find it's something totally different!!

 

[stevie_r]

certainly looks like it. Unlikely to be occupied so remove it yourself before it becomes reoccupied next year.

 

[USER1999]

Yep, wasp nest.

They will all be dead this time of year, so no worries, chop it out, or leave it.

The queen will be hibernating somewhere, and come spring, will build a golf ball sized starter home, followed by another big nest. Get rid of the starter home early doors, and you're fine.

I have an old nest in my loft that's about two foot by 3 foot high. Hugh great thing. I get about 4 nests every year. Loft is full of the flipping things.

 

[louise_a]

wouldn't think there are any wasps in it, all but the queens die off.

 

[USER1999]

Thy never return to an old nest, they build new ones every time.

 

[stevie_r]

Thy never return to an old nest, they build new ones every time.

Didn't know that, good to know, I always removed them as I was told they could reoccupy them. :thup:

 

[Lump]

Burn it, burn it with fire. Evil little beasties

 

[USER1999]

Burn it, burn it with fire. Evil little beasties

And set your garage on fire?

 

[stevie_r]

In the event of finding one from spring onwards and needing to know if it is occupied, then you might find a ginger step child is useful; or even borrow one.

 

[Lump]

And set your garage on fire?

Its only your garage.... think of the children... won't you just think of the children

 

[sawtooth]

Looks quite interesting, shame to just destroy it.

 

[USER1999]

Looks quite interesting, shame to just destroy it.

They are amazing constructions. I have cut up one of the old ones in the loft, and the perfectly horizontal layers inside are stunning bits of insect architecture. Just wish they would do it somewhere else!

 

[Andy808]

Is it a picture?

On a serious note it's best to get rid of it. It should be empty at this time of year as the large wasps that will be next years have all left and are in hibernation (probably somewhere else in the garage!). If you cut it down carefully, and I mean carefully as they are made of "paper", then you can cut it open and have a look inside as they really are one of the most amazing natural structures out there.

 

[sawtooth]

They are amazing constructions. I have cut up one of the old ones in the loft, and the perfectly horizontal layers inside are stunning bits of insect architecture. Just wish they would do it somewhere else!

I can imagine they look amazing inside. I would be inclined to do similar, cut a cross section through it and put it into glass case.

How long would it take for the wasps to build something like the home pictured above?

 

[Slime]

It'll be empty so get rid of it if you want, or leave it because wasps won't use it again.
As has been said, they'll build a new nest ............................ unless you do the following, and this does work!
In each upper corner of your garage roof nail a plastic orange or yellow coloured ball or even balled up brown paper. Wasps will think the garage is occupied and will leave well alone, weell, they should do anyway. It works in my shed!

Slime.

 

[Khamelion]

Burn it, burn it with fire. Evil little beasties

I would go along with this idea, however at the thought of destroying the garage also, I would remove the offending putrid nest of hate to a remote location, cover in a flammable substance and ignite, then I would dance around it taking long drinks of whiskey from the bottle, shouting burn yer little sods. I know there would be none in there, but I would imagine there was.

Hate the little buggers ever since as a kid I stood on a nest and got stung by the ensuing angry swarm, as I cried in a bath of vinegar and smelling like left over chips, my mam was pulling still live wasps from my hair.

 

[Mattyboy]

UK Wasps build their nests late May or early June. That's the time to keep an eye open for them so that they can be removed before they get too big and proper gear is required.

I had one in a vent last year. If you can't get at the nest, notice them early enough and get the queen as she has to go out to get food etc in the first week or so. Look where the big wasp goes!

Oh, and be carefull!!!!!

 

[Slime]

I would go along with this idea, however at the thought of destroying the garage also, I would remove the offending putrid nest of hate to a remote location, cover in a flammable substance and ignite, then I would dance around it taking long drinks of whiskey from the bottle, shouting burn yer little sods. I know there would be none in there, but I would imagine there was.

Hate the little buggers ever since as a kid I stood on a nest and got stung by the ensuing angry swarm, as I cried in a bath of vinegar and smelling like left over chips, my mam was pulling still live wasps from my hair.

Wasps tend to nest quite high up, whereas bees nest on the ground. Are you sure it was wasps & not bees that got you?
Where was the nest that you stood on?

Slime.

P.S. I have no issue with wasps. They suffer from a very bad press and should get a decent PR man!

 

[Khamelion]

Wasps tend to nest quite high up, whereas bees nest on the ground. Are you sure it was wasps & not bees that got you?
Where was the nest that you stood on?

Slime.

P.S. I have no issue with wasps. They suffer from a very bad press and should get a decent PR man!

It was on the ground and yes I'm sure it was wasps, my mates who was with me would be able to confirm. I can quite vividly remember sitting in the bath with my mam pulling live wasps out my hair.

It was not at all pleasant.

 

[USER1999]

It was on the ground and yes I'm sure it was wasps, my mates who was with me would be able to confirm. I can quite vividly remember sitting in the bath with my mam pulling live wasps out my hair.

It was not at all pleasant.

Perhaps you need to change your aftershave?