Wasps in potatoes

[Digeroo]

I dug up a potato plant today. There were 7 lovely potatoes nestled in the hole. 

Stooped down to pick them up and about 50 wasps started attacking me.  Odd because I have not seen many wasps.  They were flying into me.  Luckily I was wearing gloves and a hat.   Pulled the hat over my face.   In the end there were more than 100 buzzing about.  Luckily not stung.

I presume there is a wasps nest somewhere there.    Any suggestions please on how to remove them.  It is very difficult to see where the opening to the nest is. 

I know there are various wasp killing powders how safe are they around food?




i

[Digeroo]

[Ian Pearson]

If you can spot the exact location ... a kettle of boiling water could sort them out. Or trap them with a sticky jar of jam/water perhaps.

[Digeroo]

That is the point, with all the potato leaves and stems etc and a few weeds, it is impossible to see any kind of entrance to the nest.  I am terrified of disturbing them again.

[davyw1]

If you search wasp traps you will find loads of ways using plastic pop bottles.
It much better they go there than chase you.

[Digeroo]

Many thanks I think I could manage to set up a wasp trap.  Big problem is that there is still no sign of them flying about.  Maybe the warm weather will bring them out.

[artichoke]

I'm very against pouring boiling water into wasp nests in the ground: my son-in-law did this without warning when I was sitting a few yards away peacefully reading, and the wasps dashed out furiously and banged into me and stung me.....

Much better to trap them as described. Rows of large jam jars smeared with jam and with water in the bottom is one way.

[Digeroo]

With the warmer weather today, the wasps are flying around more, so I am beginning to get a better idea of precisely where they are going.  It was lucky for me I dug up the plant next to the problem.  I am not sure what would have happened it I had dug up the actual nest.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Depends how fit you are. A human can run faster than a wasp or bee can fly. I accidentally dug up a nest in the back garden when I was a kid. I moved so fast they never got near me.

[ancellsfarmer]

With the warmer weather today, the wasps are flying around more, so I am beginning to get a better idea of precisely where they are going.  It was lucky for me I dug up the plant next to the problem.  I am not sure what would have happened it I had dug up the actual nest.

You are correct. Insects do move faster when its warm. They are therefore most active in the mid day, and slow(er) towards evening. Be cunning and remain down wind, maintain a watch from a fair distance and track each inbound flight. The best remedy when you are sure of the nest entrance, is the powder nest destroyer. This is best used in the early evening, 1 hour before sunset.
If iyou want to be a bit safer treating the nest with powder, a good technique is to lash the puffer pack to a bamboo cane ( 6-8ft) at about 65degrees to the vertical. Remove the nozzle insert . Approach the nest upwind and plan your escape route. When you could touch the entrance with the puffer pack, upend it and tip out the contents into and onto the areas which the wasps are landing upon Liberally douse and rapidly depart away (maybe to the pub),DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS BY TORCH LIGHT! THEY WILL FLY UP THE BEAM LIKE RADAR GUIDED MISSILES.

A similar method, usefull for upper areas such as roofs and trees involves attaching the de -stoppered puffer pack to the rope operated arm on a long arm pruner as you might have for fruit trees. Some of these telescope out to about 14 feet. A bit of practice will give confidence and deliver safe accuracy. Please be certain that the insects are wasps .Bees bumble and wild deserve a peacefull co-existence. They are on our side.
For hanging nests in bushes , sheds etc, use the aerosol version. Both by Rentokil.

http://www.pestcontrolsupermarket.com/rentokil-wasp-nest-killer-foam-217-p.asp?gclid=CNH8m5igmbgCFSGWtAodHH0APA
http://www.pestcontrolsupermarket.com/rentokil-wasps-nest-killer-powder-218-p.asp

[Digeroo]

I am not getting younger and certainly never was into the four minute mile.   But it is nice to know I might be able to outrun them.

What worries me is whether the wasp killer will poison the crop.  I suppose that loosing one plant will not be the end of the world, though they are very tasty potatoes.

I am very sure they are wasps.   Bees do not go on the attack quite in that fashion.  They are very aggressive.

[ancellsfarmer]

I am not getting younger and certainly never was into the four minute mile.   But it is nice to know I might be able to outrun them.

What worries me is whether the wasp killer will poison the crop.  I suppose that loosing one plant will not be the end of the world, though they are very tasty potatoes.

I am very sure they are wasps.   Bees do not go on the attack quite in that fashion.  They are very aggressive.

The wasps should die within a day. The crop of the one root may have some surface contamination but its unlikelythat you will find many covered in dust. Personally I think you would be safe to use the uncoated spuds and I doubt those in contact would absorb much, and could be peeled. You might find that if the nest is right within the root, that there are some juvenile  wasps and grubs still showing signs of life a couple of days after treatment so caution might be wise.