Thanks all for this
I think I can see where they’ve been rasping and also where the nest is most
likely to be..
Not between walls but in a box like overhang with plenty of space.
I’ll focus in protection of hive with especially next month with some goodies
they will like.
Rh
Sent from my iPhone
On 23 Jul 2021, at 23:37, Barbara Elizabeth Robinson <liz20swan@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
This is the first year that I've not seen wasps getting their wood from our
side gate and wooden framed greenhouse. The damage they cause is very
superficial as Paul has said - it just looks like little vertical streaks
On Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 22:27 Oxnatbees <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I don't think anyone on this list knows, Rhiannon, but here is a suggestion.
Go into the shed in a quiet part of the day and listen. Specifically, listen
for a rasping sound like someone lightly pulling their fingernails across
the grain of some rough wood.
This is wasps chomping wood. I have heard it once on a sunny day, from an
old fence (ie a softwood which had been weathered a few days). Peering over
the fence I found a wasp repeatedly doing a movement like pulling its jaws
along the wood. The wood was marked with scratches over a few square inches.
I think from reading about it, it was dislodging wood fibres which it then
pulps up and carries back to the nest to extend the walls. They return to
spots which are easy to strip. 2 years later the scratch marks were only a
couple of mm deep.
It's possible they will mine wood elsewhere, easier to extract, then fly it
to the shed rather than attempt to disassemble the shed's new wood (which
may well be treated with some nasty tasting preservative).
Paul
On Fri, 23 Jul 2021 at 19:16, Rh <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thanks for all wasp diversion suggestions
Fascinating stuff.
Will put into action though I’ve not noticed any attack just yet I’ll be
wary and now well prepared
Do they do damage to shed structure at all? Does anyone know?
Sent from my iPhone
On 23 Jul 2021, at 19:10, jan benson <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:Mark
😂😂 good one. If you happen to be a shareholder, please tell them its the
packaging that is in demand…not the chocolate!
New idea: we could start influencing wine futures on the basis of useful
corks!
Jan Benson
On 23 Jul 2021, at 5:59 PM, Mark Sandham <marksandham63@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Mondelez's share price went up 1.72% today (Toblerone manufacturer). No
doubt due to this discussion, and increased demand for triangular tubes -
OxNatBees must have a wider reach than I'd realised!
Mark
On Fri, Jul 23, 2021 at 4:50 PM jan benson <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
no only open at one end, the furthest from the opening.Here’s my effort
from last summer…my husband waterproofed it with tape, but you then
attached double-sided velcro to the opening side, to attach to the hive
below the hive entrance. Not sure about Warre hive, but if its a similar
entrance, why not. The bees immediately got the hang of it.
<image1.jpeg>
Jan Benson
On 23 Jul 2021, at 3:21 PM, Barbara Elizabeth Robinson
<liz20swan@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi - the Toblerone trick sounds great. Is the 'tube' open at the other
end or not? So open at both ends or just the end near the entrance hole?
Presumably this will work ok on the Warre hive opening too?
On Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 13:28 jan benson <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
i cant speak highly enough about the Toblerone amendment, as devised
by Paul!
So you get a large bar of Toblerone, not a small one, and make a hole
on one side of the triangle, same size as hive hole right near the end
of the box..(er this assumes you have round entry holes). Attack
double sided velcro to the same side, below the hole. Cut out other
end of box. You now should have a sort of periscope affair, cut it to
be about 6” long. At night attach to one hive entrance, ensuring the
opening hole fits over the entrance hole. Block other holes with
corks. (Wear a suit as guard bees might be on hand!) The bees somehow
work out how to come and go up the tunnel, but its apparently too
complicated for wasps.
Next, take a litre fizz bottle, cut in half and invert the top bit so
spout in upside down in the base. Fill with cider, and a drop of Fairy
Liquid. Leave about 3metres from hive. This will attract wasps.
Next, try not to be sick on a combination of the open wine and
Toblerone chocolate.
Paul, I hope I haven't missed anything.
Jan Benson
On 23 Jul 2021, at 12:41 PM, Rh <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:Thanks Barbara
I was concerned about this too as very close to my TBH but no signs
of attack yet.
Any suggestions about how best to protect?
Thank you so much
Rh
Sent from my iPhone
On 23 Jul 2021, at 11:40, Barbara Elizabeth Robinson
<liz20swan@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
We had wasps on several occasions - no damage to property but killed
off a weak small colony of bees. Wasps all died when autumn/ cold
On Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 11:05 Rhiannon Evans
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi I have heard a (very) loud humming whilst in my garden building
and investigating last night saw wasps/bees flying in and out of a
space near the guttering.
Their flight l and shape look more wasp than bee to me...
They are just too high to see which they are and I am concerned
about any damage to the building and roof...but do not want to harm
them....
I had the shed/ building re- roofed last year and it has thin
wooden and panel walls with some insulation.
I think they have been there a couple of weeks at least as heard
faint humming but thought they must be in a nearby tree...!
Any thoughts or suggestions folks?
What damage can they do?
Thanks very much
( rather anxiously)
Rh
