Tag: wasp

Wasp nest in the vegetable patch

Last year, we had a couple of wasp nests – one in the orchard and another in the bottom field.  We were lucky.  A very nice badger came along and dug both of them up and then ate the lavae.  This year we have a wasp nest in the vegetable patch.  Given that the have a couple of months to go before they reach the end of the season, we decided that we had to get rid of it.  Otherwise, someone (me, Jo or the dog) are going to get stung.  Jo got stung last year and she isn’t that keen to be stung again.

Given that it is a vegetable patch we weren’t that keen on using pesticides here, however, we are assured that the chemicals breakdown as soon as they are exposed to sunlight.  Even so, I don’t think that we will be planting anything at this end of the vegetable patch this year.

Jo's idea was to whack the wasp's nest with a mattock and then run as fast as you can!  I think the only thing that this approach would guarantee would be some pissed off wasps.  Alternatively, you can get someone suitably attired to spray them with chemicals.  I'll vote for the man with the can!

Jo’s idea was to whack the wasp’s nest with a mattock and then run as fast as you can! I think the only thing that this approach would guarantee would be some pissed off wasps. Alternatively, you can get someone suitably attired to spray them with chemicals. I’ll vote for the man with the can!

Not quite sure what is going on here, but it looks like the insecticide might being having an effect!

Not quite sure what is going on here, but it looks like the insecticide might being having an effect!

Badger digs out wasps nest

We have had a wasp nest in the bottom field for the past couple of months.  It is a hole a couple of inches across in the grass.  I suspect that they used a old rabbit hole that was in the bank.

About a week ago, it looked as if something had tried to dig it out.  A couple of days later, the wasp nest was completely decimated.  This looks like the work of a badger.  Apparently, they dig into the wasp nest and eat the larvae.  There are still some wasps loitering around the nest, but I suspect that they will disappear in the next few weeks as the weather turns colder.

There used to be just a small 2 inch wide hole where the wasps when in and out.  Then one morning this massive hole appeared.  Apparently, it is the work of badgers who dig out the nest to eat the larvae.

There used to be just a small 2 inch wide hole where the wasps when in and out. Then one morning this massive hole appeared. Apparently, it is the work of badgers who dig out the nest to eat the larvae.

There are still plenty of wasps in here, so I don't want to get too close.  The cold weather will kill them off in the next few weeks.

There are still plenty of wasps in here, so I don’t want to get too close. The cold weather will kill them off in the next few weeks.

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