Where are the wasps?

[jenkinsbrynmair]

plenty of wasps around here - and appearing at the usual time of year, when I do the August extraction.

 

[Erichalfbee]

None here yet
Clearers under two supers a colony. Will do the rest later in the week. I have two supers clearing off the hive drawing a little attention

 

[Paulypaul]

European hornets are eating the few wasps I'm seeing.

 

[ericbeaumont]

one or two recently that were clearly collecting wood pulp. It does seem quite odd at this time of year

Wood pulping is a major clue to this.

Why so late in the season, Karol?

 

[Karol]

Why so late in the season, Karol?

March, April and May had pesistent rain (nearly consistently 200% above average over the whole three months) and June although dry was cold (circa 1.5°C below average).

Wasps find it hard to hunting in the rain or to pulp wood. Preferrentially ground dwelling Germanica struggles with saturated ground. Cold weather compresses the flying day into a shorter duration. Conditions have not been conducive to nest founding or growth.

 

[holmbee]

Very few wasps this year - a few appeared in the last fortnight. Euro hornets have also reappeared now that my apples and plums are ripening.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Very few wasps this year - a few appeared in the last fortnight. Euro hornets have also reappeared now that my apples and plums are ripening.

Wasps are starting to become evident around me now.

 

[Spikedog]

'Where are the Wasps?' .... They are all over here in my aperary .... from zero to nuisance and there I was feeling sympaty for them ... that has evaporated somewhat as never had so many probing the hives and still pulping to boot.

 

[Penninetrader]

'Where are the Wasps?' .... They are all over here in my aperary .... from zero to nuisance and there I was feeling sympaty for them ... that has evaporated somewhat as never had so many probing the hives and still pulping to boot.

Nest hunt

 

[jeff33]

They are all in my garden, shed, garage , apiaries just waiting to pounce as soon as supers are out of the van, I extract or open the hives...

 

[Gilberdyke John]

They are all in my garden, shed, garage , apiaries just waiting to pounce as soon as supers are out of the van, I extract or open the hives...

I'm currently running honey from extractor to bucket through two stage strainer. Continuously killing inquisitive intruders.

 

[jeff33]

I'm currently running honey from extractor to bucket through two stage strainer. Continuously killing inquisitive intruders.

I had to put a veil on to go in the bee shed, probably 50 in there!

 

[The Poot]

My wasp traps are filling faster than the supers…..

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

My wasp traps

wasp attractors you mean, surely

 

[The Poot]

wasp attractors you mean, surely

Yes, you’re partially right. I once tried traps without attractant and they didn’t work.
Now I use an attractant and do much better.
Placing the wasp attractors at the furthest point on my land, away from the hives, I successfully attract wasps to the traps and relieve the hives of at least some of the problem.

 

[Moobee]

Still only seen a couple around the hives and they’re ignoring my yummy jam & beer concoction. The slugs though are committing suicide on a nightly basis.