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Whilst I don't like getting stung by wasps any more than the next guy, I was surprised to see today's "Pest Update" from Harrod Horticultural which included them as a garden pest.
Surely a pest is something that damages a crop? Since wasps eat lots of pests, I would consider them to be an asset in any organic or organicish garden?

Any thoughts?

well I always assume that it's wasps that completely hoover up the caterpillars on my brassicas in late summer

I put up traps when top fruit is ripening becuase they can ruin it.

I've just discovered a wasp nest on my plot. Luckily it's by the new lavender hedge and as I've just pulled out the broadies in front I can observe from a distance ;D Didn't know they were pest eaters, this is music (of a humming/buzzing kind) to my ears.

Ollie like you I'd consider them to be an asset and not a pest!  :)

I respectfully keep my distance ,'though welcome them as I've seen them eat their way through caterpillars  :)

They may be a pest in that they can bug they hell out of you but not a garden pest - surely?

I find it sad that there are so many people out there that just kill them for no particular reason other than the fact that they can and do sting people occasionally.  They are good for the garden and I would welcome them into mine - but it isn't really a choice thing for me is it?!!

O B

I was chatting to someone the other day & he squashes catterpillars on his brassicas & very quickly the wasps come & hoover them up.

I have pet wasps in my shed - the nest is getting huge.  But I have always been a fan of them despite being frequently stung most years.  They also seem to know who I am - must be my stink I suppose.

QuoteI was chatting to someone the other day & he squashes catterpillars on his brassicas & very quickly the wasps come & hoover them up.

I watched this happen last year.  Just wished they had attacked the caterpillars so I did not have to squish them.

It very much depends - this time of year when the insect popluation starts to wane they become a pest - especially if you keep bees as they can devistate a weak hive or a newly housed swarm (they steal all the honey and the bees don't have the numbers to keep them at bay)
Thankfully we have dogs, so there's quite a fly population in the garden for them to feed on so they're not bothing my new hive at the moment.

They don't just take the honey, they kill bees, fortunately mostly old ones that can't fly any more, and take the juicy bits back to feed the grubs. I don't find them much of a nuisance though.

I've learned to like them of late even tho' I'm allergic to the stings.  I watched in fascination earlier this year as a queen visited a decaying log time and time again to gather wood pulp to build a nest.  (Thankfully the nest is not in my garden as far as I can tell.)  This weekend I've had a wasp land on my hand three times and I've manged not to have the screaming abdabs - just flicked it away.  I'm less keen when they get sleepy towards the end of the season (or is it drunk on decaying fruit?) they are a ruddy nuisance then.

G x

So, I sent them an e-mail yesterday. Here's their reply...

Thank you for your email.

Wasps are a beneficial insect in the early summer, as they use some pests like caterpillars to feed their nests. However once their colony is fed later in the summer they then become scavengers and this when people find them a nuisance, especially when enjoying the sun or having a BBQ in the garden.

These products were at the request/demand of many of our customers and have been very popular items this summer.

Many thanks once again for your email and if you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us further.

Quote from: OllieC on July 20, 2010, 14:29:40
So, I sent them an e-mail yesterday. Here's their reply

...Many thanks once again for your email and if you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us further.

Ooh, what shall we ask the sage ones next?  ;)  ;D

G x

I will not allow a wasp or hornet nest in my garden. Why? because my neighbour could die from a sting and I wouldn't want to feel responsible for that.

If you grow fruit they are a real pest and cause so much damage to fruit.