Topic: Mega wasp in my compost bin

[carosanto]

Hi Y'All

Doing some tidying up before the holiday we are not going on (thanks Iceland) I saw a huge wasp creeping into my bin at the bit where you take your compost out.  I whipped off the cover and it reluctantly flew away.  Was it a Queen and am I in danger of getting a wasps nest in my bin?  It most definitely was not a Bee!!

Any help appreciated here.

Regards Caro

[Robert_Brenchley]

Could be, it's the time for queen wasps to be about looking for places to nest.

[carosanto]

Thanks Robert, do you know of any way I can 'manage' a wasp nest in my compost bin, apart from putting a 5 foot exlusion zone round it?

Caro

[Robert_Brenchley]

Ignore it, and leave the bin alone for the season. You may well find you can dump stuff into it and be ignored, but don't stand where they're flying in and out. I've had wasps right by my path, or in the shed, several times. I've ignored them, and they've ignored me.

[carosanto]

Thanks again Robert, I'm hoping the situation does not arise as I get bad reactions to both bee and wasp stings.  (And I love my lottie and wouldn't want to stay home!)

By the way this was the second huge wasp Ive seen in two days, yesterday we had one in the conservatory, could be they just like to be near me.

Regards, Caro

[Unwashed]

Caro, was it the typical yellow wasp colour, or was is a more muted orange/brown?

[hippydave]

could it have been  a sawfly ???

[greenhousegirl]

I had a wasps nest in my compost bin the year before last, a friend of mine got rid of it as I am terrified of wasps, (not sure how, didn't want to know). Bees I don't mind because they just get on with what they are doing, but I have been stung quite a few times by wasps for no reason other than being in their way   

[amphibian]

Like this?

[flowerofshona2007]

Maybe a hornet ??

[carosanto]

Hi

Unwashed, it was just like a normal wasp only about 3x the size.

Amphibian:  No thank god, it didn't have that distinctive undercarriage, and wasn't quite as big. (I would have freaked!!!)

Greenhousegirl:  I agree, wasps are really spiteful and sting for no apparent reason.  I had one buzzing round my head as I was seeing some rellies off in their car last year.  I ran down the drive to get away from it, tripped over my front step, and went full length up my hall. Thought I had broken my hip for a moment, but only bad bruising.  Still, unintended consequence of avoiding a wasp!  (And it wasn't even a mega wasp!)

Hippydave and Flowers of Shona:  I do hope it wasn't a hornet, and  sawfly I don't think so (get them up the lottie too).

I'd co-exist with all of 'em quite happily if I hadn't had close encounters of the highly unpleasant kind with each and every one!!

Thanks for your replies all.

Regards Caro

[budgiebreeder]

I had a wasps nest in my compost bin  last year.I took the line of ignoring it as they are only there for a year.But along came a curious dog sniffing around ,i went to rescue the dog and the wasps came out and attacked me.13 stings i got.So do beware !

[lavenderlux]

It could have been one of the 'European' wasps, which are larger than the English ones.