Wasp tunnels and mating queens

[Do224]

I have a five frame nuc that’s being a little bit harassed by wasps. I’ve narrowed the entrance right down and they’re fending the majority off, but I did see one or two getting inside. There’s a couple of dozen dead wasps outside the entrance so I’m not sure if the ones that are getting in are getting killed by the bees and then dropped outside…

There’s a pretty good amount of bees in the nuc, pretty much filling the box but they are in the process of re-queening. I checked a couple of days ago and the queen has emerged but no sign of eggs yet.

If I create a wasp tunnel entrance using conduit as per @enrico’s method will it hinder a new queen getting mated? I don’t feel like it would but thought I’d check before I install it. The current entrance is the round hole variety which I’ve got partly closed off as I mentioned.

 

[Redcap]

I think the bigger risk is a sustained attack by the wasps. Adding a conduit will help give an extra layer of protection. The bees soon work out their new entrance/exit route. In your shoes, I'd add that protection.

 

[Ian123]

Get some bottle traps out in the area and I mean several. You’ll at least reduce foraging wasps in the vicinity, it works for me!

 

[Do224]

Get some bottle traps out in the area and I mean several. You’ll at least reduce foraging wasps in the vicinity, it works for me!

I was deliberating doing that but the wasps aren’t too numerous at the moment and I was worried that traps might attract more…

 

[Erichalfbee]

I was deliberating doing that but the wasps aren’t too numerous at the moment and I was worried that traps might attract more…

They might but if you make sure not a single wasp can get out and that you can empty them once daily it won’t matter.

 

[Karol]

Get some bottle traps out in the area and I mean several. You’ll at least reduce foraging wasps in the vicinity, it works for me!

Around nucs or around healthy robust hives?

 

[Do224]

They might but if you make sure not a single wasp can get out and that you can empty them once daily it won’t matter.

I keep my bees a few miles from home. I check in as regularly as I can but not always as often as I’d like