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persistent wasps
3 paper wasps have started building a nest on my porch ceiling again today. They are definitely all working on the same nest; it's still only the single tiny stem part of a nest right right now. One wasp works on the stem while the other 2 stand (guard?) close nearby, or only one stays guard while another has flown away.
The porch light is pitifully dim in the daytime, and doesn't shine any direct light towards the ceiling. I tried pointing some bright LED flashlights at the wasps, but they were still rather dim, and the batteries would eventually die. Then I got a hand mirror and situated it on the floor, on a blanket for support, so that it would reflect sunlight up at that spot of the ceiling. That is much brighter.
The sunlight doesn't seem to be affecting the one working on the stem, but the other two seem to dislike it, maybe because they are looking down towards the light while the other one is looking up at the stem.
If they would all fly away at once, I'd sponge away the stem again. But now that they seem to have guards at all times, I'm afraid of getting stung if I try more overt attacks.
The house door opens to the right, and this time the nest is to the left of the door. Before it was in the same direction as the door when opened. As it is now, the nest would still be within 5 to 6 feet of my head as I walk up and open the door. But maybe I should count my blessings, and leave it alone. Otherwise the wasps may just start building it in a less favorable spot of the porch again. The angle of the sun is changing, and I won't be able to reflect sunlight up into the corner for much longer. Gahhhhhh
Last year, with the nest in the doghouse, the nest was within 3 feet of my hips as I opened the door. Over the winter, I finally moved the doghouse into the garage to avoid the wasps from building a nest in it again.
.
I took another look out the door, and all 3 wasps were gone. Had a sudden hope that I'd discouraged them. Went out and knocked the stem flat with my broom. Went back inside to get a wet sponge to wipe it away. By the time I got back to the door one wasp was back, crawling around the flattened stem.
I've found 2 other wasps inside the house between last night and now. One year I had many getting into the house; they seemed to be getting in through the stove hood. Last night I covered the hood's screw holes with magnets. I don't know where the 2nd wasp could have come from.
.
I took another look out the door. 2 wasps are back, and they seem to have been able to pull the stem straight again! I'm going to have to give up. I have other stuff I want to do on this Saturday!
.
And then there are also these other SCARY sounding wasps, the ones that are more yellow than black, buzzing around the front door at times. Yes, I'll just count my blessings for now.
The porch light is pitifully dim in the daytime, and doesn't shine any direct light towards the ceiling. I tried pointing some bright LED flashlights at the wasps, but they were still rather dim, and the batteries would eventually die. Then I got a hand mirror and situated it on the floor, on a blanket for support, so that it would reflect sunlight up at that spot of the ceiling. That is much brighter.
The sunlight doesn't seem to be affecting the one working on the stem, but the other two seem to dislike it, maybe because they are looking down towards the light while the other one is looking up at the stem.
If they would all fly away at once, I'd sponge away the stem again. But now that they seem to have guards at all times, I'm afraid of getting stung if I try more overt attacks.
The house door opens to the right, and this time the nest is to the left of the door. Before it was in the same direction as the door when opened. As it is now, the nest would still be within 5 to 6 feet of my head as I walk up and open the door. But maybe I should count my blessings, and leave it alone. Otherwise the wasps may just start building it in a less favorable spot of the porch again. The angle of the sun is changing, and I won't be able to reflect sunlight up into the corner for much longer. Gahhhhhh
Last year, with the nest in the doghouse, the nest was within 3 feet of my hips as I opened the door. Over the winter, I finally moved the doghouse into the garage to avoid the wasps from building a nest in it again.
.
I took another look out the door, and all 3 wasps were gone. Had a sudden hope that I'd discouraged them. Went out and knocked the stem flat with my broom. Went back inside to get a wet sponge to wipe it away. By the time I got back to the door one wasp was back, crawling around the flattened stem.
I've found 2 other wasps inside the house between last night and now. One year I had many getting into the house; they seemed to be getting in through the stove hood. Last night I covered the hood's screw holes with magnets. I don't know where the 2nd wasp could have come from.
.
I took another look out the door. 2 wasps are back, and they seem to have been able to pull the stem straight again! I'm going to have to give up. I have other stuff I want to do on this Saturday!
.
And then there are also these other SCARY sounding wasps, the ones that are more yellow than black, buzzing around the front door at times. Yes, I'll just count my blessings for now.