This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.

David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

"Dave Hill" wrote in message
...
This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.

David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

We had a peacock butterfly around the weekend I am reliably informed


--
Rowdens Reservoir Allotments Association
www.rraa.moonfruit.com

Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
"Dave Hill" wrote in message
...
This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.

David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

We had a peacock butterfly around the weekend I am reliably informed

Two weeks ago honey bees and house flies on a Mahonia. Last week hoverfles.
Painted lady butterflies at Highdown gardens.

Queen wasps? Where did I put that pyrethrin spray?

--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)

"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
...
Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
"Dave Hill" wrote in message
...
This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.

David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

We had a peacock butterfly around the weekend I am reliably informed

Two weeks ago honey bees and house flies on a Mahonia. Last week
hoverfles. Painted lady butterflies at Highdown gardens.

Queen wasps? Where did I put that pyrethrin spray?

--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)
shouldn't kill them they do a lot of good

Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
"Jeff Layman" wrote in message

Queen wasps? Where did I put that pyrethrin spray?

shouldn't kill them they do a lot of good

If they leave me alone, I leave them alone. But they don't (3 nests under
the tiles in 8 years. You try keeping windows closed in summer to keep
wasps out of the house)

At best wasps are neutral to the environment. They eat anything they can
kill, to feed their young as well as themselves. That includes good
invertebrates as well as bad. If they disappeared from the earth tomorrow
the ecosystem wouldn't notice - other predators would take up the slack.

But if bees disappeared, that's another thing altogether...

--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)

"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
...
Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
"Jeff Layman" wrote in message

Queen wasps? Where did I put that pyrethrin spray?

shouldn't kill them they do a lot of good

If they leave me alone, I leave them alone. But they don't (3 nests under
the tiles in 8 years. You try keeping windows closed in summer to keep
wasps out of the house)

At best wasps are neutral to the environment. They eat anything they can
kill, to feed their young as well as themselves.

Like Man.

That includes good invertebrates as well as bad.

Good? Bad?

If they disappeared from the earth tomorrow the ecosystem wouldn't
notice - other predators would take up the slack.

Like Man.

But if bees disappeared, that's another thing altogether...

?

Mary

--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)

"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
...
Robert (Plymouth) wrote:
"Jeff Layman" wrote in message

Queen wasps? Where did I put that pyrethrin spray?

shouldn't kill them they do a lot of good

If they leave me alone, I leave them alone. But they don't (3 nests under
the tiles in 8 years. You try keeping windows closed in summer to keep
wasps out of the house)

At best wasps are neutral to the environment. They eat anything they can
kill, to feed their young as well as themselves. That includes good
invertebrates as well as bad. If they disappeared from the earth tomorrow
the ecosystem wouldn't notice - other predators would take up the slack.

That is absolute nonsense

On Feb 24, 10:31 pm, Dave Hill wrote:
This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.

David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

I saw several queen bumble bees (2 or 3) a couple of weeks ago; just
at the end of the dreadful wet weather. They get badly hit by cold if
they come out too early.

Des

On 25/2/08 13:49, in article
, "Des
Higgins" wrote:

On Feb 24, 10:31 pm, Dave Hill wrote:
This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.

David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

I saw several queen bumble bees (2 or 3) a couple of weeks ago; just
at the end of the dreadful wet weather. They get badly hit by cold if
they come out too early.

Des

We've had bumble bees round here for several weeks now but not today. There
was a lot of white on the lawn this morning and it's a grey, cold day.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'

Sacha says...
On 25/2/08 13:49, in article
, "Des
Higgins" wrote:

On Feb 24, 10:31 pm, Dave Hill wrote:
This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.

David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

I saw several queen bumble bees (2 or 3) a couple of weeks ago; just
at the end of the dreadful wet weather. They get badly hit by cold if
they come out too early.

Des

We've had bumble bees round here for several weeks now but not today. There
was a lot of white on the lawn this morning and it's a grey, cold day.

I rescued a huge bumble bee from upstairs yesterday. It was
trying desperately to get out of a window and making a heck
of a racket. Not the easiest things to rescue. Putting a
pot over it was the easy bit, but trying to slide a lid
between the window and the bee without squishing or
severing any legs was tricky. Finally got it outside and
removed the lid and it spent a couple of minutes trying to
get out via the bottom of the box rather than the open top.
Not the smartest of creatures. Good deed for the day. I
love bumble bees, something strangely cute about them
(unlike wasps - shudder).
--
David in Normandy.
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.

On 26/2/08 09:20, in article ,
"David in Normandy" wrote:

Sacha says...
On 25/2/08 13:49, in article
, "Des
Higgins" wrote:

On Feb 24, 10:31 pm, Dave Hill wrote:
This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.

David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

I saw several queen bumble bees (2 or 3) a couple of weeks ago; just
at the end of the dreadful wet weather. They get badly hit by cold if
they come out too early.

Des

We've had bumble bees round here for several weeks now but not today. There
was a lot of white on the lawn this morning and it's a grey, cold day.

I rescued a huge bumble bee from upstairs yesterday. It was
trying desperately to get out of a window and making a heck
of a racket. Not the easiest things to rescue. Putting a
pot over it was the easy bit, but trying to slide a lid
between the window and the bee without squishing or
severing any legs was tricky. Finally got it outside and
removed the lid and it spent a couple of minutes trying to
get out via the bottom of the box rather than the open top.
Not the smartest of creatures. Good deed for the day. I
love bumble bees, something strangely cute about them
(unlike wasps - shudder).

Wasps are bovver boys while bees give every appearance of being rather
benevolent and not looking for trouble. I am convinced that wasps *like*
annoying people, spoiling their al fresco suppers etc. ;-)
One of the best ways to catch bees is a match box. Empty it, slide it open
and turning it upside down, put it over the bee. Slowly slide it shut, take
it outside, open it. Bingo. I hope!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'

Sacha says...
On 26/2/08 09:20, in article ,
"David in Normandy" wrote:

Sacha says...
On 25/2/08 13:49, in article
, "Des
Higgins" wrote:

On Feb 24, 10:31 pm, Dave Hill wrote:
This evening as I was cooking supper I heard a buzzing and looked
towards the light to see a Queen Wasp, after a few mins of trying to
get her somewhere I could swat her things came to the boil snd I had
to leave her , when I looked again she had gone somewhere where I
couldn't find her, but I expect she'll be back.
I've never had a queen wasp around this early in the year.

David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

I saw several queen bumble bees (2 or 3) a couple of weeks ago; just
at the end of the dreadful wet weather. They get badly hit by cold if
they come out too early.

Des

We've had bumble bees round here for several weeks now but not today. There
was a lot of white on the lawn this morning and it's a grey, cold day.

I rescued a huge bumble bee from upstairs yesterday. It was
trying desperately to get out of a window and making a heck
of a racket. Not the easiest things to rescue. Putting a
pot over it was the easy bit, but trying to slide a lid
between the window and the bee without squishing or
severing any legs was tricky. Finally got it outside and
removed the lid and it spent a couple of minutes trying to
get out via the bottom of the box rather than the open top.
Not the smartest of creatures. Good deed for the day. I
love bumble bees, something strangely cute about them
(unlike wasps - shudder).

Wasps are bovver boys while bees give every appearance of being rather
benevolent and not looking for trouble. I am convinced that wasps *like*
annoying people, spoiling their al fresco suppers etc. ;-)
One of the best ways to catch bees is a match box. Empty it, slide it open
and turning it upside down, put it over the bee. Slowly slide it shut, take
it outside, open it. Bingo. I hope!


Bees / bumble bees all seem to be far more interested in
flowers than me, but wasps on the other hand are "hoodie"
bees - just hanging around looking for trouble.

I don't know if there are different varieties of bumble
bees but the one I rescued would have pretty well filled a
standard sized match box, it was huge. The loud hum it was
making was also impressive - like some noisy electrical
equipment.

I have a pathological fear of wasps. As a child playing in
some bushes the ground beneath my feet gave way demolishing
the home of a substantial number of wasps - I didn't know
the nest wast there but the wasps sure made a thing of it -
I was stung head to toe - probably around 50 or more
stings. They were all over me and chased me a good 100
yards while I was trying to beat them off my clothes with a
stick. Since then wasps hold a certain dread for me.
--
David in Normandy.
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.

On 26 Feb, 09:47, Sacha wrote:

One of the best ways to catch bees is a match box. *Empty it, slide it open
and turning it upside down, put it over the bee. *Slowly slide it shut, take
it outside, open it. *Bingo. *I hope!

Or, leave said matchbox lying around in the vicinity of smokers who
might be after a light

"David in Normandy" wrote in message
...

I rescued a huge bumble bee from upstairs yesterday. It was
trying desperately to get out of a window and making a heck
of a racket. Not the easiest things to rescue. Putting a
pot over it was the easy bit, but trying to slide a lid
between the window and the bee without squishing or
severing any legs was tricky. Finally got it outside and
removed the lid and it spent a couple of minutes trying to
get out via the bottom of the box rather than the open top.
Not the smartest of creatures.

?

Good deed for the day. I
love bumble bees, something strangely cute about them
(unlike wasps - shudder).

Wasps are far more intelligent (in our terms) than any kind of bee ...

Usually when bumble bees are what humans call dopey it's because they're
chilled and/or hungry.

The best way to warm one is to cup your hands together with the bee inside
then gently blow warm air into the cavity. After a minute or so she'll start
to tremble, then you can open your hands and she'll fly off - unless she's
hungry. It's a good idea to prepare for this before you hold her (she's not
going to fly away) by preparing a solution of sugar in warm water. You need
no more than an eighth of a teaspoon. Put it on the end of your finger and
she'll find it as she moves from your palm. You'll be able to see her long
tongue 'pump' up the solution. It's not pumping but it looks like it. When
she's had enough she'll clean her tongue and antennae and fly off.

That WILL be a good deed!

Oh - by the way, she might well get into a defensive position when you pick
her up by lifting a middle leg to fend you off but she won't sting.

Mary
--
David in Normandy.
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.

Mary Fisher says...
The best way to warm one is to cup your hands together with the bee inside
then gently blow warm air into the cavity. After a minute or so she'll start
to tremble, then you can open your hands and she'll fly off - unless she's
hungry. It's a good idea to prepare for this before you hold her (she's not
going to fly away) by preparing a solution of sugar in warm water. You need
no more than an eighth of a teaspoon. Put it on the end of your finger and
she'll find it as she moves from your palm. You'll be able to see her long
tongue 'pump' up the solution. It's not pumping but it looks like it. When
she's had enough she'll clean her tongue and antennae and fly off.

That WILL be a good deed!

Oh - by the way, she might well get into a defensive position when you pick
her up by lifting a middle leg to fend you off but she won't sting.

Do you promise it won't sting? While I have some affection
for bumble bees it is also mixed with a certain
apprehension - especially the thought of cupping one
between my hands.

Spiders are not a problem, but then they never seem to
inflict any bites, so I always cup those between my hands
and take them outside. It feels a bit tickly though while
they run round and round inside my cupped hands.
--
David in Normandy.
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.