Wasps wasps wasps!!!!

[Radio]

@Vulcan: Like what? As far as I know they're just a menace. They're known to attack bee hives to get the honey.

This time of year they're trying to fatten up for the winter. When they're coming around they're looking to eat you not sting you. If they have to subdue you with a sting or 2 they will.

I've found the traps with some apple juice in them are pretty effective.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Radio

@Vulcan: Like what? As far as I know they're just a menace. They're known to attack bee hives to get the honey.

This time of year they're trying to fatten up for the winter. When they're coming around they're looking to eat you not sting you. If they have to subdue you with a sting or 2 they will.

I've found the traps with some apple juice in them are pretty effective.

Most wasp species are predators. Their function is in the control of many other insect species. They are actually very effective parasitoids, and because of this efficiency they have been used for decades as biological control agents. Many crop pests including hornworms and scale insects which cost millions of dollars in loss annulally are controled by wasps. Without these predators, tomatoes, oranges, tobacco, and many other important crops would be so scarce that the price of them would skyrocket.
Their method of efficiency is that they will lay one egg on the back of a caterpillar, and throught the process of polyembrony, the egg multiplies itself, producing hundreds of larvae. These larvae hatch, kill the caterpillar, and pupate. Once development is compltete, the newly formed wasps will emerge and go out in search of their own caterpillar to deposit eggs on. After a year, there are millions of these wasps and they are naturally able to control the number of potentially devastating pest species.
In nature, most moths and beetles have some species of wasp that is their specific parasitoid. Without these parasitoids, longhorn beetles would reduce the forest to sawdust and caterpillars would strip every leaf off of every plant they can find. Wasps act to control theri numbers, and keep a balance between the pests and the hosts.

Certain wasps, like yellow jackets (the ones by the picnic table) are actually pollinators and ensure the survival of many plant species, just like their very close relatives, the bees.

Maybe not the best source but I've read similar reports.

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question...7092945AAQ3r6P

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by vulcan

maybe not the best source but i've read similar reports.

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question...7092945aaq3r6p

nimby

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

I've read in a number of places that those fake wasp nests aren't effective as wasps aren't all that territorial.

http://www.scienceworld.ca/do-fake-w...sts-fool-wasps

We were camping in BC a couple weeks ago, and would get lots of wasps when cooking bacon and the like on a cookstove. We put up one of those fake nests and they wouldn't come near the cookstove anymore. Just my personal observation but they work.

[Flamesoholic]

Here's a question. I have something digging holes and channels in a rotting 2by4 on my deck. I've seen one flying insect go in the tunnel but only one. It seemed kind of big to be a wasp but I'm not sure.
Can any say for sure if we have carpenter bees here in Calgary? If this is a carpenter bee then I want to just leave it alone until the fall/winter when we could tear up the rotted piece, but if its wasps moving in then I want them gone now.
It seems strange to me that I can see 2 tunnels in the wood but have only ever seen one bug. It also seems like a rather small place to build if they are planning a nest but again I have no idea about these things. Would wasps build in just one piece of wood?
I know no one can say for sure without seeing it for themselves, but any opinions or guesses would be welcome.

[Dion]

Giant Asian wasp

[psicodude]

There isn't enough money in the world that could talk me into holding that thing in my hand. I don't care if it's dead.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Just realized this was a bump thread. Lol hopefully they are gone by now.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

Bump.
I have a crap load of wasps in my backyard. Having a 4 year old that wants to use her swing set and I want to sit on the deck and enjoy a beer, this is a problem.

Here's the scenario:

At the beginning of the summer I put up one of those fake wasps nests. About 3 weeks ago I noticed a bunch of wasps on the back fence chewing away. Thought nothing of it. Couple of days later, I noticed they are chewing on the side fence (Our fences aren't treated... we were going to stain them this year)
A week after that, I noticed a bunch flying around a branch right beside the fake nest. Two days ago see a big swarm flying around a bush about 10 feet away from the tree. Took a closer look and found a nest.

Got the "Nest Killing" outfit on and whacked the crap out of the bush with a broom, destroying the nest. (I hope my neighbours weren't watching...) Put the fake nest beside where the real nest used to be.

Today they are still flying around the bush and the fences.
Is an exterminator going to be any help? The nest is gone. Or are they going to rebuild. Is there some kind of smell that would deter them? When I stain my fence, will that stop them from eating my fence?

I want my back yard back!

Next time, do it at night and use a bag. All or Most of the wasps will be in the nest, put the bag over the nest and knock it off into the bag then seal it up ASAP.

[zarrell]

Originally Posted by Flamesoholic

Here's a question. I have something digging holes and channels in a rotting 2by4 on my deck. I've seen one flying insect go in the tunnel but only one. It seemed kind of big to be a wasp but I'm not sure.
Can any say for sure if we have carpenter bees here in Calgary? If this is a carpenter bee then I want to just leave it alone until the fall/winter when we could tear up the rotted piece, but if its wasps moving in then I want them gone now.
It seems strange to me that I can see 2 tunnels in the wood but have only ever seen one bug. It also seems like a rather small place to build if they are planning a nest but again I have no idea about these things. Would wasps build in just one piece of wood?
I know no one can say for sure without seeing it for themselves, but any opinions or guesses would be welcome.

A corner of my deck is rotted and I noticed it was growing faster than rot really should. Then one day I spotted the birds in the backyard pecking at it. Looks like they were using the bits of wood to make a nest.

[nik-]

Disturbing lack of white anglo-saxon protestants.

[TheSutterDynasty]

Relevant and horrifying.

Spoiler!

(Smaller version)

[Mazrim]

Guess I'm not sleeping tonight. Thanks for posting!

[polak]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Maybe not the best source but I've read similar reports.

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question...7092945AAQ3r6P

Nope don't care. Kill them all.

I'm going to run for prime minister on the sole platform of wasp extinction and I will win every election forever.

[jeffman]

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

Relevant and horrifying.

Spoiler!

(Smaller version)

Is that the berserker of wasps?

[keratosis]

He is pissed!

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Dion

Giant Asian wasp

Ladies and Gentlemen I give you one of this planets few apex predators.

[TSXCman]

I am.on the kootenay lake and.have a.monster amoubt of.wasps here.

Today we loaded 7 pop bottle style traps woth water and a drop of soap. Theb a string with some leftover meat tied and.dangling in the middle. Instant success! Tons of dead wasps

[keratosis]

Did they bite you on the typing finger?

[TSXCman]

Originally Posted by keratosis

Did they bite you on the typing finger?

Yep
Having some.andoid keyboard issues tho