frexpt Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 We've found a thriving wasp's nest in a disused lockup mailbox at our new house. I was surprised by the size of it when I opened the back of the box today.They are largish wasps with trailing back legs whenthey fly, but I don't think they are hornets.Any suggestions on how to get rid, please...........? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binky Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 We went to the Maire and he recommended someone.I think someone told me the fire service used to come out but not sure if they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 [quote user="Binky"]We went to the Maire and he recommended someone. I think someone told me the fire service used to come out but not sure if they do.[/quote] They used to but now you have to find someone and pay!I would suggest unless it is entirely needed leave these insects alone they do good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 Do they? bumble bees do good but what about wasps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 Seemingly wasps actually kill (and eat) many pests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 I was stung by one yesterday. They have a nest inside a breeze block wall - I forgot and stood on the wall to reach something, and when I got down one of them sought me out and stung my hand. It's still very swollen and itchy [:(]The same type with the trailing legs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Riff-Raff Element Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 I believe the long legged jobbies are called "paper wasps" or similar. They seem to be particularly common this year, though so far (and unusally for me) I have remained unstung. Garden centres and bricos sell some long range sprays (not cheap) that are very effective when destruction of the nest is the only option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 I noticed the sprays weren't cheap too, however passing by Leader price I grabbed theirs for 1.99€ armed with the remains of raid for backup I did the deed. Close up the 1.99€ was just as effective and it works so quickly I was never in danger.Got rid of my sting from previous day with a bicarbonate of soda and water mix, no swelling, no itch, no sting. The small venom syringes are also good for getting out the poison if you are quick and work well for mossies too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frexpt Posted July 17, 2011 Author Share Posted July 17, 2011 I'm sure that wasps do have some environmental benefit, but in this case, they had to go because the postman was complaining about the proximity of the nest to the new postbox.Pretty sure I've sorted it, having sealed up the letter slit with gaffer tape, then flooded the box with a melange of insecticide & WD40.Hated to have to do that, but the last thing I need is La Poste pursuing us 'cos the postie had got badly stung. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 If in mailbox easier to spray.Wait until the evening as they will return to the nest; earlier if the weather cooler.Use any cheap household insecticide, volant ou rampant makes no difference, spray into slot of postbox for a 30 seconds.Leave for a couple of hours and repeat process.Next morning clean out box and remove nest.Wear clothing to prevent stings but at night stray wasps returning to nest are rare.Odd wasps may return to the nest for a couple of days after the eradication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frexpt Posted July 17, 2011 Author Share Posted July 17, 2011 [quote user="pachapapa"]If in mailbox easier to spray.Wait until the evening as they will return to the nest; earlier if the weather cooler.Use any cheap household insecticide, volant ou rampant makes no difference, spray into slot of postbox for a 30 seconds.Leave for a couple of hours and repeat process.Next morning clean out box and remove nest.Wear clothing to prevent stings but at night stray wasps returning to nest are rare.Odd wasps may return to the nest for a couple of days after the eradication.[/quote]That's pretty much what I have done. WD40 all over the outside of the box seems to deter the returning strays from landing.The oily texture means that it hangs around a lot longer than the insecticide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frexpt Posted July 17, 2011 Author Share Posted July 17, 2011 Strange formatting in quote above.....any ideas why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 [quote user="frexpt"][quote user="pachapapa"] If in mailbox easier to spray.Wait until the evening as they will return to the nest; earlier if the weather cooler.Use any cheap household insecticide, volant ou rampant makes no difference, spray into slot of postbox for a 30 seconds.Leave for a couple of hours and repeat process.Next morning clean out box and remove nest.Wear clothing to prevent stings but at night stray wasps returning to nest are rare.Odd wasps may return to the nest for a couple of days after the eradication.[/quote] That's pretty much what I have done. WD40 all over the outside of the box seems to deter the returning strays from landing. The oily texture means that it hangs around a lot longer than the insecticide[/quote]Spray cans in france come in two varieties volant (flying) and rampant (climbing). Always use the rampant for a nest as it will remain on the surface and not vaporise. All the volant variety does is spread everywhere and get in your lungs and give you lung cancer. I have done PhD on flies and after many years of study I can confirm that they are attracted to light and spend large amounts of time trying to fly through glass window panes. But I am clever than they are...I just spray the panes with rampant insecticide so they can stand with their six little feet in it.THEY DIE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I've used the large, expensive (21€) sprays; there's one by Caussade http://tinyurl.com/2cagpun Expensive but very effective; it has a range of up to 6 metres, quite devastatingly powerful! Nests are destroyed in minutes. I've always waited until the next day to remove the remains though. I've had TWO asian hornets nests in the roofspace. The pompiers here don't remove them them so it's either get a specialist company or do it yourself! From the loft trapdoor I've been able to reach the nest in the angle of the eaves and then quickly slam the trap before they realise what's happened! Not a very pleasant job removing a large nest and the smell was pretty awful. A postbox should be somewhat easier.I've got a new aerosol sat on my workshop shelf just in case!!![IMG]http://tinyurl.com/3waooa2[/IMG][IMG]http://tinyurl.com/3qfelo2[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericd Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 [quote user="frexpt"]Strange formatting in quote above.....any ideas why?[/quote]You need to move into "compatibility view". From the drop down tool bar (Page, Safety, Tools) press TOOLS then tick the compatibility view button. All will be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frexpt Posted July 18, 2011 Author Share Posted July 18, 2011 [quote user="ericd"][quote user="frexpt"]Strange formatting in quote above.....any ideas why?[/quote]You need to move into "compatibility view". From the drop down tool bar (Page, Safety, Tools) press TOOLS then tick the compatibility view button. All will be good.[/quote] Ah yes, that's better! Thanks very much[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frexpt Posted July 18, 2011 Author Share Posted July 18, 2011 [quote user="sid"]I've used the large, expensive (21€) sprays; there's one by Caussade http://tinyurl.com/2cagpun Expensive but very effective; it has a range of up to 6 metres, quite devastatingly powerful! Nests are destroyed in minutes. I've always waited until the next day to remove the remains though. I've had TWO asian hornets nests in the roofspace. The pompiers here don't remove them them so it's either get a specialist company or do it yourself! From the loft trapdoor I've been able to reach the nest in the angle of the eaves and then quickly slam the trap before they realise what's happened! Not a very pleasant job removing a large nest and the smell was pretty awful. A postbox should be somewhat easier.I've got a new aerosol sat on my workshop shelf just in case!!![/quote]Those are a couple of scary looking nests, for sure! Cleared our old postbox out today, so hopefully Monsieur La Poste can carry out his duites without fear for his safety.Many thanks for all the helpful suggestions, as always.........[B][B] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osie Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 The cheapest method I found was when I had them in a wall coming out from a little hole... I turned 'henry' the hover on and after a while they were all bagged up.The worst was when I filled in the outside wall hole and they came out the other side into the room... big no no...Generally I find the hornets and wasps pretty docile but by the pool we have the dangley leg little wasps and they are maniacs... hyper aggressive. For them, a power hose seems to sort them out with some of the cheap spay stuff to keep them away...I usually get very swollen with bee stings but one time this year our diy guy put a cigarette next to the sting and it disappeared... I tried them same another time without any affect... I must be smoking the wrong stuff... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericd Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 [quote user="osie"]I usually get very swollen with bee stings but one time this year our diy guy put a cigarette next to the sting and it disappeared... I tried them same another time without any affect... I must be smoking the wrong stuff... [/quote] Burning with a light cigarette end works also for mosquitoe bites (actually you don't burn the sting, you bring the tip of the light cigarette so close but not enough as to burn yourself). The heat of the cigarette evaporates the venim (you have to be carefull as you don't want to replace the stink by a 3rd degree burn). You might have been too late reacting with your own fag ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Now WE'VE got one and I think it's in the roof space as I can see where they are flying in and out.So, we'll go out to get that stuff for "rampant" insects, wait till night time and then zap the blighters?Yeah, have I taken on board all the advice?[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Well got some stuff, it says bio on the pack and cost midway between the cheapest and the dearest.Left OH to do the dirty as I don't like killing things. Went off to the neighbours to talk about our next boules match and, when I came home, I couldn't see any of those guêpes buzzing in and out of the roof so I hope they will all have perished or flown off to bother someone else's roof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now