Wasp's - in the soil.

Which one, the attic incident or the one where they nicked my Scone?

 

Well I kind-of assumed the "scone theft" incident was non-literal; I mean, how could the wasps transport a (presumably) full sized scone? Perhaps hundreds of lifting ropes each abdomenably attached to Lifter Wasps? Maybe a get-away-hive with a 2.8 Litre cosworth V8 engine and a tow rope....
No.
The attic. They are scary anyway but associated with arbitrary numbers of sociopathic insects... O dear....

 

Gotta be the Attic Clueless, you had me sitting on the edge of my seat, I kid you not :D

 

"Otherwise; surely masonry bees do not form colonies? I have had some in my south facing walls for the last few years and we rub along OK, but there would be ructions if there were more than a few...."

They dont form colonies but they do congregate to breed, and indeed can apear in hundreds from their individual burrows.

 

Interesting. But where do they breed then? Do they pick one home burrow or somewhere else? Can I expect an influx at some time ?

 

No, it was a literally true. They stole it. They didn't transport it away, they effectively hijacked it. About 10 of them gathered on it, while about 10 more stood guard, watching me in a threatening way, while several more circled me menacingly. They knew I outsized them, but the knew they could out maneuver me. I engaged them for a while, but they merely evaded my swipes and then returned to their loot, while laughing menacingly and making a greatly exaggerated show of how much they were enjoying my scone. It was a personal attack because there were plenty of other scones in the vicinity including some that were still on the counter unsold, but they left them all alone and singled out my one. Incidentally, this incident took place some time after the attic incident, so maybe one of the attic dwellers had survived and put the word out.

 

wasps. Amazing creatures that build equally amazing nests. They gnaw dead wood and turn it into paper mache. but they can be difficult to live with.

http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/nathist/articles/wasps.htm

Please note that only females sting, males are good natured soles who only want a peaceful life

 

I think that's true of most species. Trouble is, the females often wont let us have a peaceful life.

 

How can I tell the difference. I am allergic to their stings and indeed any contact with them and need to know fairly quickly before killing the wrong one. Oh sod it.............................swat

 

Most probably miner bees and harmless. Leave them alone and be happy that they are there.

 

@ clueless1 (again)

OMG! I'm laughing, but if that had happened to me I would be well freaked out...although I know some blokes down the pub like that.....

 

I agree with Dave W,miner bees leave them.

 

Thanks for all your help.

I've had a look at photo's on the internet and they definateley look like wasp's.

I tried the boiling water method but they have started another hole about 12" away.

 

Thanks, I will try that:thumb: