Hi Trish,
they are easy to get rid of but you must be careful.
1/ In the afternoon, try to locate their nest. This can be done by
watching for them returning to it. Use your peripheral vision, it is
much better for perceiving movement.
2/ Once the nest entry point is located, place something nearby as a
marker so that you can find the nest again in the dark. Make sure that
any alternative entry points are located too, however these are quite
unusual.
3/ IMPORTANT! Use a torch with a red filter over the lens. European
wasps will not react to red light. Make sure that it is really red. If
not red enough, the wasps may react to the light and attack you. 2-3
layers of red cellophane shoud be enough. It MUST be red. Sorry to
shout, if you get stung, it's because you didn't take note of this
point.
4/ There are several ways that you can kill them.
a) If the nest entry goes vertically down, then the cheapest (but
environmentally worst) option is to pour petrol into the nest and
block the entry with a rag that is also soaked in petrol. Do NOT
ignite it.
b) If the nest entry goes in sideways or upward then you must use a
surface spray or powder. I prefer the surface spray (usually Baygon as
the Mortein product is not as effective) because it kills the wasps
guarding the entry immediately. Spray the liquid or puff the powder
into the hole. I use about half a can per nest.
5/ You'll hear are loud humming coming from within. It's time to leave
now.
6/ Check the site the next day. There may be a couple of stragglers
that camped out overnight because they didn't get back to the nest,
this is normal. The nest itself should be quiet with no traffic going
in or out.

Sometimes the entry hole is very long and goes up and down so the
spray may not make it into the nest. (With powder the wasps can carry
this in). The wasps may then forge another exit point and you'll have
to repeat the process.

I have used this method for dozens of nests in the last 10 years or
so. It is quite reliable and much cheaper than the pest exterminators
in spacesuites.
Regards, Ed.

On May 13, 1:03*pm, Trish Brown wrote:
What do I do? I spent a fruitless half-hour stalking the little buggers
with a fly swatter (yeah, I know - stupid!). They wouldn't sit still
long enough for me to thwack 'em, nor even allow me to deliver a sharp





forehand volley in fresh air. I'm very reluctant to spray anything
about, since we have a lot of frogs and lizards living among our veg.
What to do???

I can't see any nest or definite place from which the wasps are coming,
although there's an old (empty?) paper wasps' nest up under the eaves of
the house. There are swarms of these blasted European things, though,
and it's starting to get dangerous to go out in the yard. Any and all
help gratefully appreciated! =:-0

--
Trish Brown {|:-}

Newcastle, NSW, Australia