wasps nests

[daphers]

We have had a couple of wasps nests in our attic this year, which unfortunately my husband has had to destroy as they were getting in over the door. A bit dangerous with small grandchildren about. When he was in the attic he noticed about a dozen tiny nests, from minute to the size of a tennis ball, which all appeared to be unused. Why is that please? Do the queens start to build and decide they aren't satisfied, or have we got a collection of queens up there, but only some breed? Could somebody shed a light on the subject? Thanks.

[Paul mabbott]

You might have two (or more) types of wasps - the small ball-shaped nests are not produced by common wasps. I have a similar series in my garden shed - small dangling colonies which vary, year on year, from golf-ball to cricket-ball sizes. Although they're there year after year, I've never seen a wasp in the shed .... one day I'll investigate!

Originally Posted by daphers

We have had a couple of wasps nests in our attic this year, which unfortunately my husband has had to destroy as they were getting in over the door. A bit dangerous with small grandchildren about. When he was in the attic he noticed about a dozen tiny nests, from minute to the size of a tennis ball, which all appeared to be unused. Why is that please? Do the queens start to build and decide they aren't satisfied, or have we got a collection of queens up there, but only some breed? Could somebody shed a light on the subject? Thanks.

[declan duffy]

Hi and good evening to you all.
Look's like you could have a growing colony of wasps nest in your house golf ball size's nest could be this years offspring off last years colony. COMMON WASPS are more like to have colony's to keep predators away like us. You see uk is haveing a very hot summer this year and that's climate change you see wasps like and need heat and this summer was hot. In the uk this year we was temperatures up to 80sto90% in some parts of the uk.
need more more help call Declan. good night.

[eucera]

The small mini-nests are failed "Queen nests", founded in the spring by emerging queens. There are probably several year's worth of failures in your roof space. The Queen nests could belong to several species but the most likely are Vespula vulgaris (Nest a pale beige colour) or V. germanica (nest greyish)

[daphers]

Thanks for that Eucera. I did wonder if that was the possible cause, but that was just a guess on my part. Nice to know they are failed nests. Would hate to think they all going to breed!!!

[Wild-Woman]

Linked to wasp nests. I watched this wasp yesterday on numerous occasions flying to and fro to our garden fence nibbling off mouth size amounts of wood pulp to make it's nest. I could actually hear the tiny scraping sounds it made as it's mandibles opened and closed. Fascinating really. Just wish they'd choose non-house spots to build sometimes.

Not sure but this MAY have been a median wasp.

[eucera]

You pic is certainly Dolichovespula media ("Median wasp" is such a dreadful and lazy name for the thing). I should be very interested in full data on this one as there is a suggestion 9unsupported I think) that these have declined in the last 5 years.

Cheers, Stuart