Wasp Nest or what please.

[olivercardy]

Hello all. New member here led by a google search into wasp nests.
Further to Roys post I have the same problem. A nest in the roof of my wood built home office.
Will they return next year but another worry is the damage because they make the nest from wood scrapings. If they keep returning and the nest is a large one. will the beams be being weakened?
Thanks for any help in advance.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by olivercardy

Hello all. New member here led by a google search into wasp nests.
Further to Roys post I have the same problem. A nest in the roof of my wood built home office.
Will they return next year but another worry is the damage because they make the nest from wood scrapings. If they keep returning and the nest is a large one. will the beams be being weakened?
Thanks for any help in advance.

No, social wasps with the exception (sometimes) of hornets dont re-use the same nest each year, instead they build a new one in another area. The beams will be fine, the nest weights next to nothing and the wasps take a tiny amount of wood in relation to the size of the beam.

[Jim Ford]

Wasp nests are very fragile. If you want to keep one, spray it with dilute PVA adhesive to strengthen it. Dilute it so it looks like milk and give it several coats, allowing each coat to dry out before applying the next.

Jim

[Brocakat]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

No it should have wasps in at this time of year, this is most likely a nest from a previous year.

I'd agree:- I've disturbed/found Wasp nests in November & with the attendant temperatures, the ( still survivors ) come-out-fighting in a cold-induced stupor & appear to have difficulty in attempting to defend the nest.
A wasp nest under the protective ( from wind , but mainly water ) cover of a layer of shrubberyIvy will last much longer than one exposed to the elements. The insects will have evolved to take advantage of such cover.

[Littlesparrow]

I had Tree Wasps this year in the garden, they were very well behaved and non aggressive, they have now all gone and I assume the new queens will build again next year. If your wasps turn out to be this sort please don't kill them. they are harmless.