Digging and cutting yesterday to clear a space for Number Three Olive Tree I rolled out a biggish rock and disturbed a wasp nest.
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| Looks a bit like an overcooked meringue |
Quick retreat.
Even though it is only about the size of a large orange that probably represents more than enough wasps to be really painful.
Sneaking back later to admire the colours and construction I snapped a couple of photos.
Exposed as they are, I am hoping the wasps will elect to vacate and go somewhere better protected. As long as it's not under the next rock I'm planning to move I don't really care where they choose.
A local residents' association has been putting out wasp traps/poison as wasps apparently reach serious pest proportions in summer. They are not a native species and there seems to be good reasons - apart from pestilence - for reducing their concentrations. (I guess whatever those reasons are they all pretty much boil down to pestilence.)
I have one positive wasp tale: a few years ago when I had my first allotment I decided to keep white butterfies off my brassicas with some super fine net. It sort of worked but it only needed one to find a way in and a week later my entire crop had been stripped to the stalks. I tore off the special net, hacked off all the bared stalks and prepared to bury them right there - crawling as they were with fat green caterpillars. Suddenly I was inundated with wasps, attacking and feeding on the caterpillars, and I realized in an instant that the wasps too had been excluded by the mesh and prevented thereby from controlling the numbers of caterpillars; which was why when the white butterfly did strike, the caterpillars were able to be so devastating in only one week.
Lesson: a few wasps can be a good thing.
NB: (from Department of Conservation website) "New Zealand has some of the highest densities of German and common wasps in the world. This is because they have no natural predators here, our winters are mild and there is plenty of food for them."
Maybe we have more than enough🤔
Great story about the hungry wasps and the not so lucky green caterpillars - Nature...Let it be.
ReplyDeleteNature had a way of balancing stuff if we'd only stop messing with it.
DeleteI hope you are successful in keeping down your wasp population. Angry wasps in large numbers can be terrifying.
ReplyDeleteNoted. So I should learn to run very fast then?
DeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteThe one we found in dad's drawers (tool variety, not boxers) was swiftly despatched by a professional, but I guess being in a city made that a lot easier. The nests are a work of art... YAM xx
We do need to learn to live with wasps as you showed...but non native wasps just don't fit in...like non native hornets
ReplyDeleteWhat an impressive nest but wasps can sure be scary. Mom has been chased and stung before and we are so happy that this didn't happen to you!
ReplyDeleteYet another example, as if you needed one, of the damage invasive species can do. Wasp nests are things of beauty, though.
ReplyDeletethe only good wasp is a dead wasp but I did not know they killed caterpillars. even so, I will continue to kill them. I don't bother them unless I find a nest then I get Dan to get rid of the nest, bob used to do it
ReplyDeleteWe have European wasps here and they’re a menace. Especially if they decide that building their next under your eves. Nope don’t like them at all.
ReplyDeleteI avoid the butterfly problem by not planting brassicas until it gets cold. They’re not around then and I don’t need to worry.
Very interesting story of the caterpillars and wasps. A wasp nest is a thing of beauty (best observed when abandoned!).
ReplyDeleteThat is a nice looking wasp's nest. I'm glad you went back to get photos of it.
ReplyDeletethey can be nasty from my past experience and their stings really hurt.
ReplyDelete