Wasp Problem

[Beefriendly]

No need to make or buy one if you have any of the smaller rapid feeders to hand. So assuming you have now finished feeding....fill with jam/lager/cider vinegar etc.
Do put the lid on overnight to stop moths getting in.
This high efficiency trap had only been out for about 8 hours...

 

[joshcowin]

A orange carton just left open slightly works wonders too.

 

[Richard60]

Thanks!!!!!

 

[Gwr]

Couple of wasps flew into our house last weekend.

In all the many, many years I’ve lived up here we’ve never seen a wasp around this area until this year and then then we got hammered with the little blighters.

Luckily I’d already reduced the enterences by the time I saw them this autum but they still were trying their luck in gettting into the hives, which was interesting to see as they were then dragged out of the hives by the bees which is helped as my hives have been packed with bees this year and are strong.

I didn’t put any wasp traps out as i didn’t have any to hand but the garden shed worked wonders as it was full of them after they got in and then kept trying to get out via the glass windows.

 

[SWEET]

Both my hives are being visited by wasps. I think it has just started and I can still see both colonies in the hive. I have numerous wasp traps and had restricted access to the hive.

Last night I closed the hives totally to stop the wasps going in. What should I do, keep the hive closed or open it up again????

Same here, lots attacking after i'd removed the block and added a mouse guard, so i've locked the entrance down to a few bee widths (and about an inch depth) and added a porch using a plastic milk carton pinned to the front, bees now defending and wasps not gaining easy access.

There is a thread on here regards making a simple porch from plastic etc, works really well (cut a rectangle out of milk carton, pin to hive using 3 map pins).

 

[enrico]

Same here, lots attacking after i'd removed the block and added a mouse guard, so i've locked the entrance down to a few bee widths (and about an inch depth) and added a porch using a plastic milk carton pinned to the front, bees now defending and wasps not gaining easy access.

There is a thread on here regards making a simple porch from plastic etc, works really well (cut a rectangle out of milk carton, pin to hive using 3 map pins).

This worked for me
https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=43013
Will use them on all my hives next year
E

 

[SWEET]

This worked for me
https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=43013
Will use them on all my hives next year
E

Brill, thanks for that.

 

[Ian123]

Wasps still active and on the ivy here, expect to see them active till the end of this month as in previous years. I don’t like the idea of sticking supers under the brood as your just moving the cluster away from the front door and making access for them easy

 

[Dostie]

This worked for me
Will use them on all my hives next year
E

How many hives did you test it on this year, Enrico?

 

[Millet]

Make some of these tunnel entrances and the problem will be fixed..they also double up as mouse guards and I leave them in all year round.

 

[citrus]

so bees enter the gap and have to turn left or right down a tunnel to gain access ?

 

[Millet]

so bees enter the gap and have to turn left or right down a tunnel to gain access ?

Left/right or up... the thing is with tunnels the wasps have to fight there way through the bees which they loose 99% of the time...normal entrance blocks allow the wasps to enter the hive and go straight up on the outside frame which usually has few bees on it..with the tunnel entrances (if they manage to get passed the bees) the wasps have to stick there heads up three frames into the hive which usually have brood in them which means they are also full of bees.. and as we know it bees will be fairly aggressive around the brood nest as far as wasps are concerned.

 

[philipm]

Need some hard frost as there are still wasps around ,Bees are still bringing in whats left of the ivy so I suppose they are active enough to keep any wasp out.

 

[Millet]

Need some hard frost as there are still wasps around ,Bees are still bringing in whats left of the ivy so I suppose they are active enough to keep any wasp out.

We have had several good frosts now and the wasp population has been zero for a couple of weeks now...it is the first time for as long as i can remember that i have seen none on the ivy at this time of the year.

 

[Ian123]

still on the ivy down my way

 

[Beefriendly]

And here....only a couple of minor frosts to date. Nothing to do them any serious damage.

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

And here.
I have a queen wasp snoozing in my garage. I was going to squish it but found I just couldn't do it. Grown quite attached to her as she keeps "coming to" and shifting position a bit before nodding off again.
I'll take her out into the fields in the Spring...

 

[Bryang]

Haven't seen a wasp here for over 2 weeks. Had some heavy frosts here end of October, had ice on my water barrels that lasted for 2 days.

 

[enrico]

How many hives did you test it on this year, Enrico?

One that was being hammered by wasps and it stopped them immediately, and the hive next to it in case the wasps moved there instead but they didn't. I am going to make permenant ones for the front of all my hives this winter that I can just slip the front sliding bit onto if needed.
E

 

[monarda]

December tomorrow and my hives are still be visited by the odd wasp, whats the latest date that anyone has seen these little devils in SE England ?