Bee (or wasp) Lodgers!

eoneill

Hi folks.
I went to use a garden hose-reel the other day and discovered what is either a Bee hive or Wasp nest, I'm not sure which.
Can anyone identify which from the pics? And how I can get rid of them?
Bee populations being what they are I don't particularly want to harm them but I do want to get the use of the hose back.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Eoin.



https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BynKnyVVw72GSTNId1EzSkdObXdWTmstdWdncUR5MzlmU0hn/view?usp=sharing

Effects

Your pictures didn't attach. Was there anything flying from the nest?
Wasps won't be around at this time of year, except longe queen's hibernating.
Honey bees are just springing into action this past week.
It is probably more likely to be bumble bees.

Where are you based?

eoneill

Sorry, trying to attach the pics or a link from google drive!

Based in Sutton, Dublin 13

Effects

Was there any movement from the nest? Anything flying? Is it paper like?

eoneill

I got a link there now for a pic of it.
It does kinda look a bit like your photo there.

The Pheasant2

eoneill wrote: »

Hi folks.
I went to use a garden hose-reel the other day and discovered what is either a Bee hive or Wasp nest, I'm not sure which.
Can anyone identify which from the pics? And how I can get rid of them?
Bee populations being what they are I don't particularly want to harm them but I do want to get the use of the hose back.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Eoin.



https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BynKnyVVw72GSTNId1EzSkdObXdWTmstdWdncUR5MzlmU0hn/view?usp=sharing

I'm almost certain that's a wasp nest, be careful with it, though it may not necessarily be inhabited at the moment

eoneill

Any ideas on how to "safely" evict them?

Effects

Yeah, that's wasps alright. It'll be a nest from last year. You can just hose it out or if you have kids, show it to them. Wasps are an important part of our biodiversity, even though they get a bad rep a lot of the time.

Honey bees won't be an issue until late April early May when you may get swarms.
If you do get a swarm in your garden then drop me a line. I'm just down in Clontarf and happy to collect a swarm of bees!

Effects

eoneill wrote: »

Any ideas on how to "safely" evict them?

There's nothing flying from it is there? It should just be queens hibernating at this time of year so it's probably just empty. It'll break apart with a spray from your hose. If it's a live nest then a small bit of petrol will kill them if poured on it.

eoneill

OK. So if it's an old nest then I wouldn't be doing any harm hosing it out and "Taking Back Control" (as our UK neighbours might say) of my hose reel?
Thanks for the info.

Eoin.

Effects

No, should be fine. Funny you didn't notice it from last year though.

eoneill

Because I'm lazy and was using a car wash instead!!
But at least I've admitted it!!!!!

Effects

There's also a dedicated bee forum over here, but it doesn't get much traffic.

eoneill

Thanks, Effects.

Much appreciated.

Eoin.

dogmatix

Be careful. I have a wasps nest from last summer in the eaves of my roof – as of last week there are still one or too solitary wasps flying in and out. I doubt there will be a swarm but you might get one of two irritated individuals.

I always believed they died out before the end of Autumn so I was very surprised to see a few of them still active, even after the cold spell in January. Is this normal behaviour?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

dogmatix wrote: »

Be careful. I have a wasps nest from last summer in the eaves of my roof – as of last week there are still one or too solitary wasps flying in and out. I doubt there will be a swarm but you might get one of two irritated individuals.

I always believed they died out before the end of Autumn so I was very surprised to see a few of them still active, even after the cold spell in January. Is this normal behaviour?

It was a very mild winter, with few prolonged periods of low temperature. In such years many wasps will survive through winter.

fryup

poke it with a stick

finla

I have seen quite a few big wasps flying around recently. ..

eoneill

I might try to jerry-rig the hose pointing into the reel and turn on the water from a safer distance!!! :eek:

Thanks Dogmatix, Finla and Srameen.

Fryup, YOU poke it with a stick! I'll watch!!!

Cheers folks!

New Home

There should be an spray insecticide around that creates a foam when it comes out of the bottle (check shops like Woodies, Homebase, etc). I think that'd be the safest bet, TBH - thoroughly spray it on the nest until it's completely coated, leave it to act for maybe a day, and if you're still worried spray it again the next day. By then it'll be safe to dispose of.

jmreire

Effects wrote: »

Was there any movement from the nest? Anything flying? Is it paper like?

I had one exactly like the one in the pic....at the early construction stage....but was increasing in size very fast.. quite an incredible bit of engineering and design, But not in my shed with the grand kids around so it had to go. Following advice her on the forum, I went into the shed at night ( flash light job ) I held a jam jar underneath, and slid a wide paint scraper between the top of the jam jar, but underneath the roof, and severed the joint between the nest and the roof beam. Job done.

Effects

New Home wrote: »

There should be an spray insecticide around that creates a foam when it comes out of the bottle (check shops like Woodies, Homebase, etc). I think that'd be the safest bet, TBH - thoroughly spray it on the nest until it's completely coated, leave it to act for maybe a day, and if you're still worried spray it again the next day. By then it'll be safe to dispose of.

Jesus, talk about overkill. What are people so afraid of? It's not a xenomorph nest.

New Home

It all depends on how big the nest is, on how many wasps there are, and how aggressive they are. And besides, fire would melt the hose. :pac:

Effects

New Home wrote: »

It all depends on how big the nest is, on how many wasps there are, and how aggressive they are. And besides, fire would melt the hose. :pac:

No. It depends on how active the nest is. Size isn't really relative at the moment as it's a nest from last year and this season hasn't really begun yet.

Spray it with water from a distance. Retreat. Come back in half an hour to have a look at it.

New Home

Fair enough.