Nutty, can your dp give me some advice?

[lou33]

I was just wondering what he knew about wasps, and in particular the queen? We just killed the biggest wasp I have ever seen in our living room (was def a wasp). About twice the size of normal ones, at least. We have a wasp nest in the hedge by our drive, but as they haven't been aggressive to us, we haven't bothered to do anything about it, assuming come the autumn they will be gone anyway, but this thing was so big we wonder if the queen had come out for a little fly about? Is this possible? If so and she is dead will the wasps descend on us ina frenzy of hatred, or will they justdisappear, or will a new queen replace it? Should we get rid of the nest ? I wish I had taken a pic of it against a ruler or something, it was bloody enormous!

Thanks!

Hi Lou - O.k dp said "It is in a wasps nature to at all costs obey and protect the queen. Past experiance in treating nests, they seem to have a sixth sense and seem to know that the queen is under threat (application of insecticide). You could see them returning to the nest from all directions. If in this process the queen leaves the nest, the rest will follow. Not to return to that nest.
If (and it sounds like you have) killed the queen, then there is a good possibility that they will all leave. If not (and you see them around it) then in the early morning when activity is quiet, carefully cover the nest with either carrier bag/bin liner and dislodge from whatever it's hanging from, knot the bag and dispose of it, in a bin.
If it is still active and you don't want to touch it then you will need to call out a pest controler who will dispose of it for you".

Dp said he thinks the council will do it for free, so worth checking. An independant one will be anything from 60 quid up.

Hope that helps

Fab Nutty thanks .

Can't get over how big this thing was!!!

I would dearly love to get rid of the nest, but it is in the middle of some hedging, so we can't actually see it, although I can see them flying in and out, so I know that is where it is. We were going to get the council out, but then decided not to as we weren't being hassled by them (although there are a lot buzzing about). Our council charge £30 to come out.

OMG!!!!! Just as I was typing this we found anouther massive one in the living room again! Not quite as big as the last, but bigger than normal. Are we breeding superwasps?

Lou33, what did you do with "Queen's" body?

Flushed it!

Lou - Dp said to keep your eye on it over the next few days and see how it goes. Certainly if you notice more or they start to become agitated then get it removed asap.

Nutty, you said it is in a wasp's nature to at all costs protect the queen - well, what on earth was she doing out on her own? ! I am being serious, I mean, would Her Majesty the Queen just trot into somebody's living room? These wasps need to seriously look at their Queen's behaviour here. After breeding from the year dot, haven't they made any development?
I am wondering...how do these no-nesters choose another nest and how are they accepted? Do they all select the same nest? And if you found another large one, is this one of the soldiers or is this to do with Ants. Would love some answers please...FIA
Lou33, if you are seriously thinking of tackling this yourself, I would strongly recommend you wear one of those suits that those stuntmen wear before they set fire to themselves as you are going to need some serious protection.

Thanks Nutty. LOL Chicpea! No way am I doing it myself. I will either leave them alone or get the council in! Especially as they seem to be growing by the second!