Wasps nest

[Lurker]

I have a wasps nest with in the loft space or the wall cavity ( I suspect the latter).
They have made a hole in the wall mortar about 3 M off the ground.

Initially they were no bother but the amount coming and going is getting greater.

My thinking is, in few months they will be gone leaving just a papery nest and can safely block the hole.
If I do it now, I’ll risk getting stung and end up with honey and dead bodies rotting in the nest.
Also I’d prefer not to kill them.
Anyone know what the life span of a nest is?
Will I have to wait until we get frosts?

 

[Blackswanwood]

We had one a couple of years ago and the advice was leave it as they only use it for a year which proved to be the case.

I removed it in the winter after they’d gone.

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Paper nest wasps? Yes, as Blackswanwood said, ignore and avoid until you see no more energing, then block up the hole.
If, on the other hand, you continue to see visitations or increasing numbers - especially next spring - you have a more nasty infestation, normally found in earth banking. If its the latter, get in a professional fumigator.
DAMHIKT.

Sam

 

[Lons]

I've had to have one dealt with earlier this week. Noticed dozens of wasps congregating last week above the gutter over our bedroom windows and as the week progressed that became hundreds. I opened a window further along and instantly was attacked so not clever. A loft inspection revealed nothing and they were clearly in the top of the cavity.
It's a long way off the ground and wify says climbing a ladder is a nono for a 75 year old with a dodgy back so £60 to the local authority and on Monday the guy zapped them using a long pole, compressed air and powder. I got well out of the way as they went bananas, good job he had a protective suit. He said there were possibly a couple of thousand.
Sometimes you have to kill them.

 

[Mike]

My thinking is, in few months they will be gone leaving just a papery nest and can safely block the hole.
If I do it now, I’ll risk getting stung and end up with honey and dead bodies rotting in the nest.

I think you are mistaken. Bees produce honey. Wasps produce marmite.

 

[RogerS]

I've had to have one dealt with earlier this week. Noticed dozens of wasps congregating last week above the gutter over our bedroom windows and as the week progressed that became hundreds. I opened a window further along and instantly was attacked so not clever. A loft inspection revealed nothing and they were clearly in the top of the cavity.
It's a long way off the ground and wify says climbing a ladder is a nono for a 75 year old with a dodgy back so £60 to the local authority and on Monday the guy zapped them using a long pole, compressed air and powder. I got well out of the way as they went bananas, good job he had a protective suit. He said there were possibly a couple of thousand.
Sometimes you have to kill them.

Silly boy! Should have asked. I have one of those.

Anyway...wasps? Together with ants. Nada. In 7 years.

 

[Lurker]

I think you are mistaken. Bees produce honey. Wasps produce marmite.

I knew it wasn’t honey like bees make but assumed they must feed the larvae on something organic , so honey was shorthand to fill my knowledge gap.

 

[Mike]

I knew it wasn’t honey like bees make but assumed they must feed the larvae on something organic , so honey was shorthand to fill my knowledge gap.

I was joking about the marmite.

 

[ebiker]

I was joking about the marmite.

I love Marmite

 

[RogerS]

I love Marmite

So do wasps apparently