wasps in attic

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Friends, I am having a problem with wasps in my attic. Every spring they build their nests in the vent slats. I don't want to spray chemicals. How can I discourage them from building there? Thanks Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), April 05, 2000

Answers

Wasps generally will only build their nest on areas that need painting. Therefore, if you were to paint the vent slats it might help. I know painting ... it is my least favorite thing to do.

-- Rich (pntbeldyk@wirefire.com), April 05, 2000.

Just thought of something else that works. In a small bowl, placed near the slats but a little ammonia. The smell will keep them away. I have used this with apple trees to keep yellowjackets away. Of course, I have to replace it after each rain.

-- Rich (pntbeldyk@wirefire.com), April 05, 2000.

I'm either very stupid or very brave but...When I've had problems with wasps, I wait until it's a pretty cool morning while the wasps are still torpid and slip an appropriate sized paper bag over the nest, knock the whole thing into the bag, fold it down and crush and burn it quickly. They will occasionally give signs that they are on the alert but if it's cool enough, they can't fly and protect their nests. I have also never exhibited any allergy to insect stings. Good luck.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), April 05, 2000.

How about rubbing something smelly on the slats before they arrive? Something like Vicks Vap-O-Rub or Mentholatum? For paper wasp nests that you can get to - hit them with a high pressure hose stream of plain water, from a distance, of course. A plain hose turned on as forcefully as possible will work. They just pick up and go away. I guess they think the weather got them because they never go looking for someone to sting.

-- Peg (jnjohnsn@pressenter.com), April 05, 2000.

Mary can you put a fine screen over the vent? Wasps seem to be everywhere this year. I'm diggen for a foundation and I'm afraid to breath. Marilyn, thats the bravest thing I've ever heard!!....Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), April 05, 2000.


Okay, I'm going to take the cool morning solution one step further.

How about using a CO2 fire bottle and just freeze them? If I remember correctly these have to be recertified each year, so they have to be emptied sooner or later.

Good Luck

J (who as a youngster 'found' an in-ground wasp nest...)

-- j (jw_hsv@yahoo.com), April 06, 2000.


Thanks for all the ideas. I'm going to wait for a cool morning, and knock them out of there. Then I'm going to paint the slats with vicks and put some ammonia nearby, and that should do it!! Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), April 06, 2000.

Mary: While living in Korea a few years ago, my husband and I rented a house from a Korean lady who spoke no English. Most of the neighborhoods had little one room stores, and one day I found lots of wasps working their way into the house from between our ceiling and the floor of the residence above us. I'm talking hundreds of wasps! I don't like to spray, but knew we had to get rid of them, or we would have no place to live. I went to the nearest "store" and tried to communicate in my best sign language that I needed bug spray for wasps. There were a few other Korean customers in the store, and everyone no doubt thought I was a crazy American as I was doing my best wasp imitation and pointing to the ceiling, and what I hoped was a can of raid! Never did get any spray, had to duct tape up all the openings to the outside, and swat as many as we could find, then the landlord came home and I showed him the wasps. He lit some type of torches that smoked a lot, and held them by one opening, and the wasps left by another. Still had a few stragglers, but no problems. Too bad Marilyn wasn't there! I sure could have used her! Let us know how the vicks works! Jan

-- Jan B (Janice12@aol.com), April 06, 2000.

Hey Jan! Wonder if you would mind posting a picture of that wasp dance imitation!!! Maybe just doing that would scare the wasps away! Loved your post!...Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), April 06, 2000.

I don't know if this is going to be any help, but we have wasps nesting in the walls of our old house. Can't find the nests to get rid of them, and don't want to spray in our living quarters or try to smoke them out and possibly set fire to the house. They come in the house in twos and threes (usually -- sometimes a dozen or two in one day, especially in the spring), and I just smash them with whatever is handy and clean up the carcasses. These are a black wasp that isn't agressive, though we have gotten stung a few times when one bumped into somebody or got caught in the bed covers or something. Our daughter (she's twenty now, but autistic) alerts me very quickly whenever she sees one, as she's been stung several times.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), April 11, 2000.


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