Calling Dr. SB
#1
06-30-2013, 04:05 PM
#2
06-30-2013, 04:26 PM
Super Moderator
Ok First an admission Woof, I have no idea what Potter wasps are - I'll Google them in a minute.
For European Wasps here (Vespula germanica), we give them bits of mince that they can juuuuuuuuust carry. That way they are slow flying and easily followed to their nest - being a larger visual target. Here they are underground or in trees. Then a liberal dose of a legal insecticide usually wipes out the nest - and there can be 1,000s in it. PM me for good chemicals
I'm off to look up Potter Wasps.
Cheers, SB
For European Wasps here (Vespula germanica), we give them bits of mince that they can juuuuuuuuust carry. That way they are slow flying and easily followed to their nest - being a larger visual target. Here they are underground or in trees. Then a liberal dose of a legal insecticide usually wipes out the nest - and there can be 1,000s in it. PM me for good chemicals
I'm off to look up Potter Wasps.
Cheers, SB
#3
06-30-2013, 04:35 PM
Super Moderator
Ok an update.........
Potter Wasps are solitary wasps, although they share similarities in structure with the social wasps. In fact, they are generally considered to be in the same family, Vespidae (European Wasps - nasty, nasty buggers), and belong to a distinct, separate subfamily, Eumeninae.
They feed on and paralyse live insects or spiders to lay eggs on inside their mud 'nests'. There will only ever be one wasp per nest.
Rarely will they attack or sting Humans (too big to carry back to the nest) so can essentially be considered harmless.
So, my professional advice Woof, is to shoo them outside where their nests will be. It must have been a good Spring and numbers have built up.
Hope that helps.
Cheers, SB
Potter Wasps are solitary wasps, although they share similarities in structure with the social wasps. In fact, they are generally considered to be in the same family, Vespidae (European Wasps - nasty, nasty buggers), and belong to a distinct, separate subfamily, Eumeninae.
They feed on and paralyse live insects or spiders to lay eggs on inside their mud 'nests'. There will only ever be one wasp per nest.
Rarely will they attack or sting Humans (too big to carry back to the nest) so can essentially be considered harmless.
So, my professional advice Woof, is to shoo them outside where their nests will be. It must have been a good Spring and numbers have built up.
Hope that helps.
Cheers, SB
#4
06-30-2013, 04:55 PM
I apologize for asking a PhD. in entomology for exterminator advice. I'm certain your studies involve the higher aspects, meanings and contributions of bugs in the world we live.
The pics I gleaned off the net tell me they're Potter Wasps and not Mason Wasps. They have a different coloring than Mason Wasps. Large things, slow moving with a long thin body and a very pronounced thorax. Black with yellow stripes.
further research is telling me that they may be Paper wasps. See link
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublicatio...643/eb0643.pdf.
The Yellowjackets around here are the most common and aggressive stingers. We did bbq last night
The pics I gleaned off the net tell me they're Potter Wasps and not Mason Wasps. They have a different coloring than Mason Wasps. Large things, slow moving with a long thin body and a very pronounced thorax. Black with yellow stripes.
further research is telling me that they may be Paper wasps. See link
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublicatio...643/eb0643.pdf.
The Yellowjackets around here are the most common and aggressive stingers. We did bbq last night
Last edited by wooferdog; 06-30-2013 at 05:09 PM.
#5
06-30-2013, 05:05 PM
Super Moderator
I apologize for asking a PhD. in entomology for exterminator advice. I'm certain your studies involve the higher aspects and meanings and contributions of bugs in the world we live.
The pics I gleaned off the net tell me they're Potter Wasps and not Mason Wasps. They have a different coloring than Mason Wasps. Large things, slow moving with a long thin body and a very pronounced thorax. Black with yellow stripes.
The pics I gleaned off the net tell me they're Potter Wasps and not Mason Wasps. They have a different coloring than Mason Wasps. Large things, slow moving with a long thin body and a very pronounced thorax. Black with yellow stripes.
The majority of my professional career Woof was spent learning new and inventive ways to control (euphemism for kill to levels below the economic threshold) pest insects in citrus and vines - using other bugs to kill the bad bugs (Biological Control). We did use chemicals but only as a last resort (Integrated Pest Management).
That lesson was bought to you today by the colour blue - usually seen as a bottle of Bombay Sapphire
And there is absolutely NO need to apologise. I'm here to help in any way I can.
Cheers, SB
#6
06-30-2013, 05:14 PM
Super Moderator
further research is telling me that they may be Paper wasps. See link
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublicatio...643/eb0643.pdf.
The Yellowjackets around here are the most common and aggressive stingers. We did bbq last night
If they are either of those refer to my first reply. They are nasty little critters and take 'ownership' of food or drink and are most aggressive if you try to reclaim that ownership. European wasps have been known to kill humans by stinging the throat if inadvertently swallowed when inside a can of drink (soda to you dudes).
I also had a patch of citrus chemically sprayed for paper wasps once as every time a picker would pluck an orange on a bough that had a paper wasp nest, he/she would be attacked.
Nasty, nasty little canastas!
Cheers, SB
#7
06-30-2013, 05:18 PM
The agricultural benefits of insects is a big field of study here in Washington.
Questions about microwave phone towers driving off the native colonies of pollinators in apple and wine country have arisen lately here
I've seen the bee keepers for hire, who's colonies are shipped in to pollinate the orchards. not the usual honey collection
Questions about microwave phone towers driving off the native colonies of pollinators in apple and wine country have arisen lately here
I've seen the bee keepers for hire, who's colonies are shipped in to pollinate the orchards. not the usual honey collection
#8
06-30-2013, 07:41 PM
If they are paper wasps, look under the eaves for the nests - and paper wasps are still Vespula family (they fold their wings lengthwise), but are much 'browner' than the European - or German wasps as the PDF says.
If they are either of those refer to my first reply. They are nasty little critters and take 'ownership' of food or drink and are most aggressive if you try to reclaim that ownership. European wasps have been known to kill humans by stinging the throat if inadvertently swallowed when inside a can of drink (soda to you dudes).
I also had a patch of citrus chemically sprayed for paper wasps once as every time a picker would pluck an orange on a bough that had a paper wasp nest, he/she would be attacked.
Might invest in a trap and see what critters it yields
Nasty, nasty little canastas!
Cheers, SB
If they are either of those refer to my first reply. They are nasty little critters and take 'ownership' of food or drink and are most aggressive if you try to reclaim that ownership. European wasps have been known to kill humans by stinging the throat if inadvertently swallowed when inside a can of drink (soda to you dudes).
I also had a patch of citrus chemically sprayed for paper wasps once as every time a picker would pluck an orange on a bough that had a paper wasp nest, he/she would be attacked.
Might invest in a trap and see what critters it yields
Nasty, nasty little canastas!
Cheers, SB
Last edited by wooferdog; 06-30-2013 at 07:44 PM.
#9
06-30-2013, 08:40 PM
Super Moderator
#10
06-30-2013, 09:32 PM