Jules. Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 We have a willow tree half way down our garden, & in the last couple of weeks we have seen loads of wasps in it, just flying among the leaves & resting in it. Also we have a wooden bench underneath it & the wasps are walking on it It's a worry as we have two children who play in the garden, & we also use the willow to hang my wonderful Mexican hammock from on a sunny day like today will be We have looked in the tree & can't see anything, but the foliage is very lush at the moment. We are wanting to cut down some of the higher branches using my wonderful extendable tree lobbers as the tree has really grown this year (wonder why) but are scared to do so in case we disturb a nest. I thought I would ask you all for good ideas for a home-made wasp trap to see if I can get the numbers down that are hanging around the tree, or if you could recommend a trap I can buy. I bought a flitrap recently & that is doing well now after my initial doubts, & I can see that the same company also sells a wasp trap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 You can get those glass wasp traps with a hole in the bottom, which are fantastic.You fill it with something sweet & sticky, & they get stuck in the jar. BUT - apparantly this time of year they need protein rather than sugar, so you need to bait them with sausage. Sounds a bit odd, but a pal of mine is a pest removals expert, & thats what he says Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 How ever many you trap, you will always find that there are more in the tree. Sounds like you might have a nest there, so I wouldn't advise doing any lopping until the cold has killed them off, or you'll get stung to high heaven Wasps will walk on wooden things, especialy if they are chipped or rotten - they chew up the wood into a pulp to build their wonderful nests with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted August 23, 2007 Author Share Posted August 23, 2007 You can get those glass wasp traps with a hole in the bottom, which are fantastic.You fill it with something sweet & sticky, & they get stuck in the jar. BUT - apparantly this time of year they need protein rather than sugar, so you need to bait them with sausage. Sounds a bit odd, but a pal of mine is a pest removals expert, & thats what he says Thanks Cinnamon, any idea if I can get one of those traps from say a DIY shop? Claret- I did lop down about a third of the tree a couple of weeks ago when I was on holiday- I do enjoy using the choppers We won't be going near it now though until all the leaves have gone & we can be sure that the waspies are dead, & maybe then we will be able to see the nest, urgh. I see what you mean about the wasps walking on the bench, earlier this year we had alot of them hanging around the composter, & I thought I might have had a nest in it, but advice from this forum suggested that the wasps were after the wood inside the composter, & we have no wasps near it now I like the idea of using sausage as bait- is that cooked or raw i'll have to put it well out of reach of my cat Jethro, he is anyone's for a sausage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Good luck Jules. The wasps are particularly vicious around plum time - they get drunk eating all the soft fruit available and get dead stroppy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted August 23, 2007 Author Share Posted August 23, 2007 I have just phoned the pest control department at my local council.They will come out & give advice for free but charge £40 for removal of a nest.I have booked them to come next wednesday morning as that is the earliest they can come out. They said the wasps are attracted to the sap in the tree, so there may not be a nest in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 It won't be far though Jules. We had loads of wasps last year and I hunted for the nest. I only found it when doing some lopping in the autumn - 10ft up in a massive laurel hedge It was beautiful and empty, so Rosie took it into school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 I have got one of those wasp catcher things, and it has something sweet in it, all i have caught in the past month is a fly!!!!, Guess i will have to wash it out and give them a bit of sausage ..... pamper them completely xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 No no no! What you need is one of those electric fly bats for zapping them with. They're great & really get the blighters! We like to zap them & keep them on the bat sizzling & sparking a bit - just to make sure they are finished. Not keen on the singeing smell tho. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 I've gto a small UV zapper int he kitchen, I turn it on at night so that any flies are drawn to the bright bulb and are zapped. It's quite therapeutic listening to them fry then emptying out the tray afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Awwwwwwwww, you lot are soooo cruel But it does sound like good fun x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
