Wasps!

TorontoJoe

TorontoJoe

Administrator
Just when you think you have one pest under control, in comes another. I'll try to post some pics in a bit but I have wasps attacking my ripening figs. They're chewing right through the organza bags. I noticed this over the last couple days but it's getting worse. I'm not even home right now but my wife just called to say she just got stung by one when trying to pick one for a snack.  :@

I need to mount a defence ... Wondering if anyone has had this issue and if they might have a solution?
 
@"TorontoJoe"#1 Friday we rented a big U Haul truck to put a lot of our boxes and fig trees to bring to the new house on Monday. Then Saturday morning when my husband turned on the lights on in the garage suddenly 3 BIG hornets were swarming around one of the lights.  He called our exterminator and when he came and saw them turns out they’re European Hornets.  The have the same markings like yellow jackets but much much larger.  He said to my husband they probably came into the garage while he was loading up the truck.  Said not to worry because the like to nest way up high like 30 feet.  Wouldn’t have a nest underneath our deck.
 
Wow Joe, nice looking figs even with the wasp munch marks. lol

I can't help but wonder, do the raccoons in the area have anything to do with the sudden wasp population?
They know you're at war with them. :-/ :P
 
I’ve read a bit online about herbs that wasps avoid and traps and such. But I just remembered how my Opa (Grandpa) in Germany dealt with wasps. He made a simple trap using one of those bottles with the flip top seal. He would hang it by the wire of that flip top seal and put about an inch or two of apple cider vinegar in the bottom of the bottle. They are attracted to the vinegar, climb into the bottle and then can’t fly back out. He would hang it out of the way a bit…his was hanging from the eaves of his tool shed. He used a green bottle (not clear) but I think that was mainly so that it would not be as unsightly (but not sure if that is why or not). I’m sure brown glass would work just as well. It seemed pretty effective. He had lots and lots of different fruits growing and the wasps seemed to leave it alone and go for the vinegar instead. I’m not sure how often he had to clean it out and also put in fresh vinegar.


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TorontoJoe said:
Figology said:
https://www.amazon.com/Packs-Wasp-T...d=1727312474&sprefix=wasp+trap,aps,227&sr=8-4
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Cool. Thanks!

I didn't think wasps came out at night... maybe that's for other bugs I have to read.
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Haven't you heard that song: "The wasps come out at night." by Whodini?
(a lot of my humor (humour) flys high)

TorontoJoe said:
Figology said:
https://www.amazon.com/Packs-Wasp-T...d=1727312474&sprefix=wasp+trap,aps,227&sr=8-4
Click to expand...

Boo! Not available in Canada

This this would work as well?

https://www.amazon.ca/Howboo-Catche...cks+wasp+trap+-+solar+powered+,aps,198&sr=8-6
Click to expand...

It's worth a try.
 
I wanted to do something asap and was talking to my wife about it this morning. I didn't know she had these in the shed. I'm going to get more per the advice of @figology but they certainly seem to be taking to it. I was doing some reading into the wasps in our area. It appears I'm dealing with mostly Yellowjackets with the addition of some Paper Wasps and Mud Dauber Wasps... those ones are big!

I'm hoping that I get enough of these more of my figs will be spared. I poured cranberry/apple juice in there.


Click for original
wasp.jpg
 
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