help wasps taken over the hive

[matty]

Help needed WASPs we came home from 2 weeks away to find the weak hive empty and striped of honey my other hive swarming with wasps the 2 full supers are striped clean and full of wasps. have taken the supers away and closed down the entrance to a few bee space and what bees there left are are putting up a epic battle.
Is there anything else i can do

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Help needed WASPs we came home from 2 weeks away to find the weak hive empty and striped of honey my other hive swarming with wasps the 2 full supers are striped clean and full of wasps. have taken the supers away and closed down the entrance to a few bee space and what bees there left are are putting up a epic battle.
Is there anything else i can do

Find the wasps nest(s) and destroy!
How big an entrance did you leave before going away?

 

[matty]

fully open on the strong one and about 12 bee space on the weak one

 

[Gilberdyke John]

fully open on the strong one and about 12 bee space on the weak one

I ran my 14 x 12s all season with just a 60mm x 8mm entrance (approximately) and the bees had no problem in getting in and out plus stuffing the comb with nectar. I reckon most feral hives run with less than that. A colony has better chance of defending if the entrance doesn't require an army to do it.

 

[pargyle]

Help needed WASPs we came home from 2 weeks away to find the weak hive empty and striped of honey my other hive swarming with wasps the 2 full supers are striped clean and full of wasps. have taken the supers away and closed down the entrance to a few bee space and what bees there left are are putting up a epic battle.
Is there anything else i can do

Reduce entrance to one bee space, put a sheet of glass or perspex in front of the entrance - the bees will find their way in but the wasps will be confused. Of this fails as the hive is too weak can you move the hive somewhere else for a week or two ? Need to move quickly or you will lose the second one ...