Wasp tunnels and mating queens

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Do224

Field Bee
Joined
May 27, 2020
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Location
Cumbria
Hive Type
National
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.
 
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.
 
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!
 
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…
 
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.
 
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?
 
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
 

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