Wasps

[daoniesidhe]

Wasps, and they're are destroying my bees. By the time anybody reads this I will be en route to B&Q to buy wasp killing ingredients. I have found their bike, and tonight they die.

[Jon]

I asked our bka sec to send out a warning about wasps earlier today as I noticed yesterday there were wasps attacking the weaker apideas.
A determined wasp attack can destroy a nuc, especially after a recent split when it has no flying bees or guards.
You have to be really careful with the sugar syrup and sticking litres of the stuff into a small nuc is a recipe for disaster as the wasps will attack it relentlessly for the prize.
Feeding a small amount at dusk is one option but the best option is to avoid the syrup unless really necessary.

What's this about wasps and bicycles. Surely not another poster with a copy of the 3rd Policeman!

[daoniesidhe]

bicycle ? I never said anything about a bicycle. Proper biking here my friend, Moto Guzzi style

And it appears after a brief bit of googling that Screwfix is a) nearer and b) has more wasp killing ingredients.

[The Drone Ranger]

No NO not wasp killing gear from B&Q bad move !

First take a honey jar with lid
Cut a cross in the lid with a strong knife
All the way through the metal and halfway to the rim of the jar
Put the hive tool or something bang in the centre and bend the metal down in the centre
Now that's easy to crawl down into but not fly out of
Put jam (not sugar or honey) in the jar then fill about 1/3 full of water and shake
Put the cut lid back on and place near hives
Wasps will crawl in the jar and not be able to fly out so they drown
Bees don't like jam so they won't go in
You will catch hundreds so empty often

[daoniesidhe]

Powder it is, I am going for the source. 6-8 gardens down from me in an abandoned hut. I have approached the owners and they are ok with it. Last year apparently they nested in the hut. Unsure if they are in or under it this time.

Either way they are dead meat.

No NO not wasp killing gear from B&Q bad move !

First take a honey jar with lid
Cut a cross in the lid with a strong knife
All the way through the metal and halfway to the rim of the jar
Put the hive tool or something bang in the centre and bend the metal down in the centre
Now that's easy to crawl down into but not fly out of
Put jam (not sugar or honey) in the jar then fill about 1/3 full of water and shake
Put the cut lid back on and place near hives
Wasps will crawl in the jar and not be able to fly out so they drown
Bees don't like jam so they won't go in
You will catch hundreds so empty often

[The Drone Ranger]

Any who make it out will be raiding your hives covered in insecticide powder