WASPS

 Do you really need to kill wasps?

This time of the year they are ridding your garden of aphids and pests.

In 6 weeks time they will leave the nest and that site will never be used again. You probably only just noticed them, because the colony is getting near to rearing queens and will be about as big as it will get.

If you have to destroy the nest, do not do it during the day, 90% of the colony are out foraging, and you will be left with thousands of angry wasps.

Wait until nightfall and either spray a shop bought wasp killer, or place a cup of petrol under the nest. The fumes will kill them.

to ensure it doesn't happen again, hang a large paper bag in the roof of your shed. Queen wasps looking to start a colony will think a colony is in place with a head start over her. She will go else where.

When the queens have left the nest the pheromone will linger. worker wasp will congregate for a few more days, and will crave anything sweet.

Do not buy drinks in a can. Buy drinks in a see through bottle and check before you drink. a wasp sting in the throat will kill a child.

Wasp trap!!

put jam in a clear glass bottle. fill half way with water.

cover the top sides of the bottle with duck tape to make it dark.

Wasps will fly in, drawn by the smell of the jam, but are reluctant to fly up into the dark. they will fall exhausted and drown. You will need to empty the bottle and refill before the end of summer.

Wasps for all the good they do pollinating and pest control control in the garden are on the whole beneficial to the planet.