Help, wasps!!!!!!

[WrenSpotter]

Hi,

There are 2 wasp nests in the roof of our shed.
We don't really want to get rid of them by killing them.
One nest has been there for around 3 weeks and the other for 1 week.

Will they move on themselves? If so, how long before they will?
Or has anyone got any ideas on how we could get rid of them without killing them?
Will they make any more nests?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated .

[triops]

Hi wrenspotter,

Wasps are wonderful, for all sorts of reasons. However, in your shed, if you need to use the shed, there are problems.
To answer your questions,though:
No, they will not move on. If left, the nest will grow until about September/October, when queens and males will be produced, will fly off and mate, and remaining workers will slowly die off. The fertilised queens will hibernate and each one will start a new nest in the spring, though not in your shed unless you are very lucky. At its height the nest will have several hundred inhabitants.
This nest won't make or encourage other nests. If you can decide to keep the nest you will be rewarded at the end of the year with a paper-made miracle of construction.
Getting rid of them is no problem. Just go to your local garden centre and buy a pack of poison and it will kill them overnight.
However, if you don't want to destroy them it is possible to move them, with a degree of difficulty! Here goes! Find a dry sheltered place for them to go- a shed (somebody else's) or barn, or possibly a hollow tree. Find an easily closed box of appropriate size. Wait until late at night (it must be really dark), put your box under the nest and scrape it into the box. Close the box, QUICKLY and run (or make a strategic retreat). You can now relax and go to bed, if you like. Next day take the box to your chosen location, put it down, and open the previously prepared hole in the box so the wasps can get in and out. Run away! You will have destroyed most of the nest structure because it is so very fragile, but with luck the wasps will repair and reorganise the nest, rescuing unhurt larvae. As long as the queen is unhurt she will carry on laying eggs as usual. I have moved a few nests, only at the very early stages like yours, and I assure you it is possible. Wear hat, gloves, etc., and make sure you and nobody nearby are allergic to stings.
Good luck!
Doc.

[WrenSpotter]

WOW!!!!! Thank you very much triops, I couldn't have asked for a better reply . You are very knowledgeable .

[WrenSpotter]

By the way, the wasps are very docile at the moment, but as time goes on will this change ie are they likely to become more agitated?

[triops]

Hi WrenSpotter,

Wasps are usually docile. Sadly, they will readily sting when they feel threatened, which gives them a bad name. Wasps never sting unprovoked, but sadly many people get stung because somebody else has provoked them, usually by trying to swat them. If you approach a nest slowly, the wasps will warn you by flying close and investigating you.........almost warning you off. Distance will vary day to day. With large numbers and proper summer temperatures, you probably won't be able to go into your shed during July August and September except carefully at night.
Please let me know whatever happens-I'll be intrigued to know!

[WrenSpotter]

Hi triops

We finally decided against moving the wasps to another place because:
1) We were a little worried of moving them, for we didn't want to be stung ect.
2) We discovered 3 other nests in and around the roof of our house.

So we decided that the 3 nests in our house had to be destroyed by our local pest controller and thought as we were getting him in to do those 3, he may as well do the 2 in our shed.

Once again, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us and we will know what to do (if we are brave enough!) if we ever have the odd nest appear, thanks to your advice .