Wasp nest in eave: what do i need to know?

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Batman

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#141011 27-Feb-2014 00:12

So we have a wasp nest in the eave of the house (the bit sticking out that contains the roof) ...

What do i need to know before contacting exterminators in yellow pages (Dunedin)? Presumably there isn't a legal standard for someone to call themselves exterminators hence I am educating myself on geekzone ...

Thanks for any words of wisdom!

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#995190 27-Feb-2014 06:16

How big is it? Can you not deal it yourself

Jase2985

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#995191 27-Feb-2014 06:24

spray it with a can of fly spray then when you see no more wasps moving round remove it

they are more than likely just paper wasps so the nest will be easy to remove

riahon

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#995196 27-Feb-2014 06:33

I usually wait until sunset when they are less active and all there. Then unload a can and make sure you have unobstructed escape path. Next day sweep them up.

timmmay

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#995206 27-Feb-2014 06:52

Napalm.

MikeB4

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#995209 27-Feb-2014 07:17

Using fly spray is really bad advice, you will get stung a lot. If it is not too big yet get wasp powder from Mitre10 and apply in the evening when they are less active. You may need to do this a few times.
Wear good covering of clothes when you do this.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

idle

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#995219 27-Feb-2014 07:26

I would agree that it is probably a nest of paper wasps, with small number of wasps, looking like a baseball. If that is the case then fly spray late evening should do the trick.

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Batman

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#995223 27-Feb-2014 07:31

umm ... i don't want to get stung or killed :D

but very happy to save money :D

the best "spray" then?

MikeB4

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#995225 27-Feb-2014 07:35

The powder does not aggrivate instantly like flyspray will. My brother got badly stung using flyspray. My wife has dealt with at least three nests at our place over the last few years using powder and never got stung once. I know without doubt the method I would use.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

andrewNZ

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#995230 27-Feb-2014 07:43

I'm assuming this is a German wasp nest, I haven't seen paper wasps in Dunedin. So a DIY job can be hard for these suckers.

If you can get to it, treat it with carbryl (?spelling?). You can get it anywhere you get garden sprays. Do it at night.
If they land and walk in, you put the carbryl at the entrance, they'll walk it into the nest.
If the fly all the way, you'll have to dust the nest.

I think you're right about there being no regulation of exterminators. I guess just ring them and tell them what you see.

macuser

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#995238 27-Feb-2014 08:12

+1 Fly Spray. Start with the nest and then spray the air surrounding it, if any get out of the nest and think about attacking then they will hit the fly spray in the air and not last long. If you want to reduce the chance of stings then cover up your limbs/face. Unload a whole can if you need to. Just keep spraying.

Dad used to pour petrol on it and then light it on fire, maybe not such a great idea if it's on your house :O

BlueShift

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#995241 27-Feb-2014 08:18

We had a german wasp nest in our eaves, and they had extended it back, through an air-gap, into the roof space. We noticed it when a closed room kept getting multiple wasps in it - they were coming down through the gaps around the recessed downlights.

We called an exterminator in and he sprayed the wasp powder stuff into the nest while wearing protective gear. The spraying is the easy part - the tricky bit is not getting stung. I've found that out the hard way in the past, hence paying someone else to do it. It cost about $50 from memory, took him 10 minutes. Anyway, it worked, the wasps dies off rapidly and will most likely never return, as the wasp powder lasts a long time in sheltered conditions.

Incidentally, do you know the way to tell a german wasp from an asian paper wasp? The accent...

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Fred99

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#995267 27-Feb-2014 09:19

Carbaryl powder puffed around the entrance of the nest is the way to go - they die quietly. Other methods risk getting them really angry. You don't want that - even if the guy doing the work has a suit, other folks nearby might not. Likewise you need to approach the nest quietly - if you bang ladders etc around, that'll get them wound up. Best time is early evening, when the last stragglers are returning to the nest they help spread the carbaryl around inside when they return.
Pest control companies will be able to deal to them - or if you know a beekeeper, get them to help or borrow a suit. Don't attempt it without a suit - sure you might get away with it if you're careful - but if you don't, you'll be in deep crap and a lot of pain - potentially fatal.

Oncop53

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#995271 27-Feb-2014 09:29

Hi,

We have a wasp identification guide on our website here: http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/science/plants-animals-fungi/animals/invertebrates/invasive-invertebrates/wasps/identification (paid for by your tax dollar so you may as well use it).

If you want to do it yourself use carbaryl powder, petrol also works really well (don't light it!) but not a good idea on your house. Try explaining that to the insurance company.

wasabi2k

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#995274 27-Feb-2014 09:34

Everything I read suggested Fly Spray is an awful idea - it pisses the wasps off, a lot.

I paid an exterminator, who used the powder stuff - all wasps gone by the next day.

You can buy the powder yourself from Mitre 10 - you just put it where the wasps go in or out, they track it in and around then die - plus it doesn't make them angry. Doing it at night is a good idea as the wasps are less active.

I had no interest in getting stung to hell, so I paid the guy $80 or whatever to take that risk for me.

Side Note: Wasps will never re-use the same nest, so it is actually recommended to leave the old ones where they are.

Guy I used was friendly, fast, happy to answer questions and knew his stuff.

I used BugKing - http://bugking.co.nz/wasps.html

surfisup1000

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#995275 27-Feb-2014 09:38

i've used flyspray over the last 10 years or so...never been stung yet.

Spray, run , hide.

Although, they are only those paper wasps and i think they might be a bit wussy. They seem to increase in numbers around late summer but this year seems there are less around.

The advantage of this method is that there is always a can of spray in the house.

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