Wasps and white UPVC roofline fascia boards.

[Xenophon PCDGS]

August has arrived and it must be wasp nest-building season as quite a number of properties local to me have wasps flying in and out under the fascia boards. Have any other website members had this problem recently?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Not recently, but a few years ago, the then property I had, suffered from the issue. Had to get the local council to do the necessary. Relatively expensive but they did sort out the problem by applying some chemical or other.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Not being au fait with wasps, how long do the wasp drones who do all the coming and going on nest-building duties actually live for and are there more that will take over the task if the first ones die off?

 

[route101]

I had them in wall cavity once. Had to scoosh something in the cavity. I think they die off in the winter apart from the Queen

 

[Bald Rick]

August has arrived and it must be wasp nest-building season as quite a number of properties local to me have wasps flying in and out under the fascia boards. Have any other website members had this problem recently?

It’s not limited to white uPVC fascia boards - wasps aren’t fussy!

When I moved into my current house there was a nest the size of a child in the loft. Fortunately wasps don’t return to the same nest, so it was removed without issue. However next door had one a similar size in use - I actually paid to have it removed as my neighbour wasn’t bothered, but two of my immediate family are phobic about the things.

I once had a nest directly under the front window of a previous house - about a foot underground and the size of one of those 5 litre mini kegs of beer you can buy. Dug it out myself - when the spade went through the top of the nest all hell broke loose, although I had subdued them with special wasps nest stuff. As soon as the Queen emerged (on her last legs) the workers just evaporated.

These days I tend to use a fake paper wasps nest (about £4 for two from Amazon, other retailers are available) - hang them up off the gutter at the back of the house. The theory goes that wasps then think it is a real nest and steer clear. I’m not sure what science there is behind it, if any, but it at least makes two of the people in my house a bit less anxious.

 

[spyinthesky]

Not been troubled as much this year with wasps , had a nest in a cavity a few years ago and dealt with it with a mixture of fairy liquid and white vinegar in a spray bottle. It took a week or so to clear.
The last two occasions I have been stung were a February and November.

 

[Bantamzen]

Not being au fait with wasps, how long do the wasp drones who do all the coming and going on nest-building duties actually live for and are there more that will take over the task if the first ones die off?

The wasps will continue to build up the nest until the queen stops producing new eggs, which will usually be towards the end of summer. Then the worker wasps become their most annoying as they leave the nest, with little more to do until they die they gorge on rotting fruits getting quite literally drunk as the sugars in them ferment into alcohol. Once abandoned wasps rarely return to a nest, preferring to build a brand new one the following year. In fact the presence of an old nest often deters new colonies as wasps are actually reluctant to get involved with altercations with other colonies.

 

[swt_passenger]

I wonder if the problem isn’t with the uPVC fascia boards as such, but when fitted they’ve left gaps that weren’t there previously, or perhaps the ventilation required to meet current regulations is a different size and lets wasps through?

 

[Bald Rick]

Funnily enough, I’ve just discovered one under my 94 year old tile faced bay window….

 

[swt_passenger]

Funnily enough, I’ve just discovered one under my 94 year old tile faced bay window….

One wasp, or one nest?

 

[Stathern Jc]

Funnily enough, I’ve just discovered one under my 94 year old tile faced bay window….

I find that a good dusting of Ant Powder usually does the trick.

It's probably cheaper than stuff marketed specifically as "Wasp Nest Killer"; and just as important, I've got some in the shed anyway when I find I need it.
Those coming back to the nest will hover at the entrance not wanting to go past it, especially noticeable at dusk when they tend to return, and presumably there will be many inside wanting to get out. So it would be best for anyone putting it at the entrance of a nest in the roof to avoid opening the loft hatch for a couple of days.
Not sure what's in it but it makes me think of part of what Corporal Jones used to say, "They do not like it!".

 

[Bald Rick]

One wasp, or one nest?

sadly, the latter. Given the ‘traffic’ in and out, it’s a big one too.

 

[westv]

If possible, leave it alone. Wasps eat a lot of garden pests.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I have spoken to one of the residents of the other six houses on our small development and the elderly lady there (a retired head teacher) living on her own has the local authority booked to call on Tuesday. The nest entrance appears to be under the fascia boarding just above the large back-bedroom window, so she has not opened any windows at the rear of the building for some days now since she noticed what was happening. She was amazed just how fast the wasps go when leaving.

 

[Benters]

It’s not limited to white uPVC fascia boards - wasps aren’t fussy!

When I moved into my current house there was a nest the size of a child in the loft. Fortunately wasps don’t return to the same nest, so it was removed without issue. However next door had one a similar size in use - I actually paid to have it removed as my neighbour wasn’t bothered, but two of my immediate family are phobic about the things.

I once had a nest directly under the front window of a previous house - about a foot underground and the size of one of those 5 litre mini kegs of beer you can buy. Dug it out myself - when the spade went through the top of the nest all hell broke loose, although I had subdued them with special wasps nest stuff. As soon as the Queen emerged (on her last legs) the workers just evaporated.

These days I tend to use a fake paper wasps nest (about £4 for two from Amazon, other retailers are available) - hang them up off the gutter at the back of the house. The theory goes that wasps then think it is a real nest and steer clear. I’m not sure what science there is behind it, if any, but it at least makes two of the people in my house a bit less anxious.

My parents went to Canada on holiday a few years ago and the fake wasp nest deterrents are quite common in rural areas, usually hung outside shop entrances. My Mum was told that the wasps think it's another wasp colony's nest so they stay away.

I had a wasp nest infestation on the wooden fascia just above my lounge window a few years ago. I used wasp nest killer spray on the nest and it worked a treat - dead wasps lying on the pavers below for days on end. When they were all gone , I replaced the rotten wood they'd been feeding off with brand new timber and I've had no problems since.

 

[Bald Rick]

If possible, leave it alone. Wasps eat a lot of garden pests.

It’s not possible, no. Mrs BR was a quivering wreck in the furthest room from the nest until I cold confirm I had treated it and the treatment was working.