Clean Up After Yourself!

[j. pierce]

I usually have to ward of a couple of small wasps nests this time of year. Find the nests on the porch while they're still little nubbins, go out in the late evening/early morning while the buggers are still sleeping, and take a long piece of wood and smash the nests.

Well, I was out on the porch having a smoke this afternoon before going to work, and realized I have at least three nests being built on my porch, within a three or four foot area. More than I usually see this time of year, that's for certain. Well, I watched 'em go about their business (at least they aren't angry and ready to sting this time of year, but I like to keep my distance between me and them) and watched as they went chewing at the sawdust and woodshavings on my porch from where I had neglected to clean up my woodworking mess this weekend. It seems my fellow craftsmen also enjoy working with mahogany!

In relating this tale to a coworker, he told me he habitually made the same mistake, and something about the sawdust and shavings around his outdoor work area had attracted carpenter ants.

So I guess cleaning up isn't just for looking nice, it's also a bit of pest deterrent!

Sun shines and warms up that side of the building first, but I'm hoping they aren't buzzing about when I get home from work this morning (night shift, fun) so I can take care of these. Otherwise, I know I won't be able to get to them while they're not buzzing around for a few days, and they seem to be building fast! Either way, I'm going to be cleaning that porch tomorrow!

[Guitarfrenzy]

Someone had told me one time that detergent mixed with warm water if sprayed on the nest will kill them all. I've never tried it though. You might want to research it some more before you try it, because I don't want to be liable for any harm done by the wasp.. lol

Good luck on your WMD (wasp mass destruction)!!!

[GuitarGuy]

Someone had told me one time that detergent mixed with warm water if sprayed on the nest will kill them all. I've never tried it though. You might want to research it some more before you try it, because I don't want to be liable for any harm done by the wasp.. lol

Good luck on your WMD (wasp mass destruction)!!!

WD40 Works as well, It'll take them out in mid air and kill them if they get enough on them.

[Racer X]

Well, at least they will no longer squeek.

[rsguitar]

Well, at least they will no longer squeek.

Yea I HATE WHEN THEY FLY BY WITH SQUEEKY WINGS!!!!!!

Hahahaha

Great one Racer X

Mike

[j. pierce]

Well, I smashed 4 budding nests with a neck blank. (The scarf-jointed headstock turned out to be just the right angle to flatten them against the eaves of the porch.) There where two more small ones I didn't get because they were already up and buzzing around when I got home from work. My roomate says he'll take care of those tonight, under the cover of darkness.

They leave the wood of the porch itself alone (possibly because it's pressure treated?) but watching them again today, they were definitely chewing on the sawdust I hadn't cleaned up. (Vaccuumed the last of that today before work) From what I've read, I guess they chew up cellulose from wood fibers and mix it with their spit to make their papery nest things, and I guess my mess made the perfect building materials for them.

[Southpa]

A mahogany wasp nest... cool. I remember years ago I helped a buddy deal with a wasp nest in his shed. Quick and easy. We just ran in, knocked it onto the floor with a broom, slapped a 5-gallon bucket over it and ran out. He left the bucket there for about a month. He said it smelled pretty bad when he finally lifted it.

[Doeringer]

How much do you want for the bee swatter neck?

[azn_guitarist]

cant you just use a can of deodarant and a zippo lighter, im sure that would take care of all your wasp problems