Found a wasp buzzing around my kitchen today.

Where do you think this has came from ? I thought they would all be dead or
hibernating at this time of year, or whatever wasps do in winter ?

I live in Perth, Scotland, so it's not as if I live in a mild part of the
country.

I suppose my fear is that there may be a nest in the loft or something ?

My wife saw one in the bathroom a few days ago but it disappeared, so not
sure if this is the same one or another one.

Any ideas ?

Stuart

Arklay wrote:

Found a wasp buzzing around my kitchen today.

Where do you think this has came from ? I thought they would all be dead or
hibernating at this time of year, or whatever wasps do in winter ?

A big one? This would be a queen awoken prematurely from hibernation. Have you
brough something like logs in from outside? We frequently get them in this way
- they hibernate in cold buildings, log piles and similar places. Anyway don't
worry about it wasps are very beneficial predators in the garden and not that
aggressive if you don't mess about around the nest.
--
Rod
http://website.lineone.net/%7Erodcraddock/index.html
My email address needs weeding.

Arklay wrote:

Found a wasp buzzing around my kitchen today.

Where do you think this has came from ? I thought they would all be dead or
hibernating at this time of year, or whatever wasps do in winter ?

A big one? This would be a queen awoken prematurely from hibernation. Have you
brough something like logs in from outside? We frequently get them in this way
- they hibernate in cold buildings, log piles and similar places. Anyway don't
worry about it wasps are very beneficial predators in the garden and not that
aggressive if you don't mess about around the nest.
--
Rod
http://website.lineone.net/%7Erodcraddock/index.html
My email address needs weeding.

"Arklay" wrote in message
...
Found a wasp buzzing around my kitchen today.

Where do you think this has came from ? I thought they would all be dead
or
hibernating at this time of year, or whatever wasps do in winter ?

I live in Perth, Scotland, so it's not as if I live in a mild part of the
country.

I suppose my fear is that there may be a nest in the loft or something ?

My wife saw one in the bathroom a few days ago but it disappeared, so not
sure if this is the same one or another one.

Any ideas ?

Stuart

"Rod" wrote in message
...
Arklay wrote:

Found a wasp buzzing around my kitchen today.

Where do you think this has came from ? I thought they would all be
dead or
hibernating at this time of year, or whatever wasps do in winter ?

A big one? This would be a queen awoken prematurely from hibernation. Have
you
brough something like logs in from outside? We frequently get them in this
way
- they hibernate in cold buildings, log piles and similar places. Anyway
don't
worry about it wasps are very beneficial predators in the garden and not
that
aggressive if you don't mess about around the nest.

Hurrah!

Mary

"Arklay" wrote in message
...

I apologise for the empty response sent just now.

Found a wasp buzzing around my kitchen today.

Where do you think this has came from ? I thought they would all be dead
or
hibernating at this time of year, or whatever wasps do in winter ?

Only the queens hibernate, the others die at the first frosts.

Wasps, like all insects, are cold blooded creatures, that means that theire
body temperatures are that of the ambient temperature. Your wasp - queen
wasp - might have been hibernating inside your house. When it was warm she
was roused and flew. Possibly twice. She won't be able to do anything until
every day is above a certain temperature.

Don't panic. It's nothing to worry about.

I suppose my fear is that there may be a nest in the loft or something ?

It wouldn't be active even if there were. And it won't be re-colonisd. If
"your" or another queen decides to make a nest in your loft it will be in a
different part from any old ones. If 'your' queen survives the winter she's
just as likely to found a new nest somewhere else as she is in your loft. On
the other hand, "someone else's" queen might build in your loft - or in your
garden shed or under your garden or in a tree or in many other places :-)

If you kill "your" queen there will be many more to build nests in your or
others' property. It's estimated that only 3% of all queen wasps which
hibernate survive to found new colonies.

Don't worry about it.

Wasps are marvellously beautiful and intelligent creatures, not to be
feared. Enjoy them.

My wife saw one in the bathroom a few days ago but it disappeared, so not
sure if this is the same one or another one.

See above.

Mary

The message
from "Arklay" contains these words:

Found a wasp buzzing around my kitchen today.

Where do you think this has came from ? I thought they would all be dead or
hibernating at this time of year, or whatever wasps do in winter ?

I live in Perth, Scotland, so it's not as if I live in a mild part of the
country.

I suppose my fear is that there may be a nest in the loft or something ?

My wife saw one in the bathroom a few days ago but it disappeared, so not
sure if this is the same one or another one.

Any ideas ?

Probably a queen which has been woken up by the central heating, or
whatever you heat your place with. (I had to add that, as all I have is
one open fire and a fan heater.....)

I found one a few weeks ago, so I put it in the shed where it can really
hibernate. Most of the year they keep garden pests down - I could have
done with a wopsnest last year - keeping the nasturtiums clear of
patterkillers was a real pain.....

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Cheers for the advice folks...

I dont mind wasps too much, just when near the end of summer they start
bugging you if you have something sugary on you like an ice cream or drink.

Can't remember the reason for this, something to do with them having stopped
working for the queen and having to feed themselves if i remember right.

Stuart


"Jaques d'Alltrades" wrote in message
...
The message
from "Arklay" contains these words:

Found a wasp buzzing around my kitchen today.

Where do you think this has came from ? I thought they would all be
dead or
hibernating at this time of year, or whatever wasps do in winter ?

I live in Perth, Scotland, so it's not as if I live in a mild part of
the
country.

I suppose my fear is that there may be a nest in the loft or something ?

My wife saw one in the bathroom a few days ago but it disappeared, so
not
sure if this is the same one or another one.

Any ideas ?

Probably a queen which has been woken up by the central heating, or
whatever you heat your place with. (I had to add that, as all I have is
one open fire and a fan heater.....)

I found one a few weeks ago, so I put it in the shed where it can really
hibernate. Most of the year they keep garden pests down - I could have
done with a wopsnest last year - keeping the nasturtiums clear of
patterkillers was a real pain.....

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

"Arklay" wrote in message
...
Cheers for the advice folks...

I dont mind wasps too much, just when near the end of summer they start
bugging you if you have something sugary on you like an ice cream or
drink.

Can't remember the reason for this, something to do with them having
stopped
working for the queen and having to feed themselves if i remember right.

No, they're not receiving a 'reward' of sugar from the larvae when they feed
them protein. That's because there is a decreasing number of larvae and an
increasing number of adults for a time.

Keep off the icecream and sugary drinks, they're not good for you anyway :-)

Mary

Stuart


"Jaques d'Alltrades" wrote in message
...
The message
from "Arklay" contains these words:

Found a wasp buzzing around my kitchen today.

Where do you think this has came from ? I thought they would all be
dead or
hibernating at this time of year, or whatever wasps do in winter ?

I live in Perth, Scotland, so it's not as if I live in a mild part of
the
country.

I suppose my fear is that there may be a nest in the loft or something
?

My wife saw one in the bathroom a few days ago but it disappeared, so
not
sure if this is the same one or another one.

Any ideas ?

Probably a queen which has been woken up by the central heating, or
whatever you heat your place with. (I had to add that, as all I have is
one open fire and a fan heater.....)

I found one a few weeks ago, so I put it in the shed where it can really
hibernate. Most of the year they keep garden pests down - I could have
done with a wopsnest last year - keeping the nasturtiums clear of
patterkillers was a real pain.....

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

well, i was going to beer.........


"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
...

"Arklay" wrote in message
...
Cheers for the advice folks...

I dont mind wasps too much, just when near the end of summer they start
bugging you if you have something sugary on you like an ice cream or
drink.

Can't remember the reason for this, something to do with them having
stopped
working for the queen and having to feed themselves if i remember right.

No, they're not receiving a 'reward' of sugar from the larvae when they
feed
them protein. That's because there is a decreasing number of larvae and an
increasing number of adults for a time.

Keep off the icecream and sugary drinks, they're not good for you anyway
:-)

Mary

Stuart


"Jaques d'Alltrades" wrote in
message
...
The message
from "Arklay" contains these words:

Found a wasp buzzing around my kitchen today.

Where do you think this has came from ? I thought they would all be
dead or
hibernating at this time of year, or whatever wasps do in winter ?

I live in Perth, Scotland, so it's not as if I live in a mild part
of
the
country.

I suppose my fear is that there may be a nest in the loft or
something
?

My wife saw one in the bathroom a few days ago but it disappeared,
so
not
sure if this is the same one or another one.

Any ideas ?

Probably a queen which has been woken up by the central heating, or
whatever you heat your place with. (I had to add that, as all I have
is
one open fire and a fan heater.....)

I found one a few weeks ago, so I put it in the shed where it can
really
hibernate. Most of the year they keep garden pests down - I could have
done with a wopsnest last year - keeping the nasturtiums clear of
patterkillers was a real pain.....

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Mary Fisher wrote:


"Rod" wrote in message
wasps are very beneficial predators in the garden and not
that
aggressive if you don't mess about around the nest.

Hurrah!

Mary

Let's hear it for the wasps :- I love standing in my brassica patch in
mid-summer watching them do my work for me. They take young large white
caterpillars by the truckload.

--
Rod
http://website.lineone.net/%7Erodcraddock/index.html
My email address needs weeding.

"Rod" wrote in message
...
Mary Fisher wrote:


"Rod" wrote in message
wasps are very beneficial predators in the garden and not
that
aggressive if you don't mess about around the nest.

Hurrah!

Mary

Let's hear it for the wasps :- I love standing in my brassica patch in
mid-summer watching them do my work for me. They take young large white
caterpillars by the truckload.

Yes, they do a far better job than the hens.

Mary

--
Rod
http://website.lineone.net/%7Erodcraddock/index.html
My email address needs weeding.

On Sun, 18 Jan 2004 21:30:24 -0000, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:

Let's hear it for the wasps :- I love standing in my brassica patch in
mid-summer watching them do my work for me. They take young large white
caterpillars by the truckload.

Yes, they do a far better job than the hens.

not at laying eggs.
--
Martin

"Jaques d'Alltrades" wrote in message
...
The message
from "Arklay" contains these words:

Found a wasp buzzing around my kitchen today.

Where do you think this has came from ? I thought they would all be
dead or
hibernating at this time of year, or whatever wasps do in winter ?

I live in Perth, Scotland, so it's not as if I live in a mild part of
the
country.

I suppose my fear is that there may be a nest in the loft or something ?

My wife saw one in the bathroom a few days ago but it disappeared, so
not
sure if this is the same one or another one.

Any ideas ?

Probably a queen which has been woken up by the central heating, or
whatever you heat your place with. (I had to add that, as all I have is
one open fire and a fan heater.....)

I found one a few weeks ago, so I put it in the shed where it can really
hibernate. Most of the year they keep garden pests down - I could have
done with a wopsnest last year - keeping the nasturtiums clear of
patterkillers was a real pain.....

I wasn't aware that wops stopped paterkillers!

Alan
--
Reply to alan(at)windsor-berks(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk


--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

yeah they are great for that :-)

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"Jaques d'Alltrades" wrote in message
...
The message
from "Arklay" contains these words:

Found a wasp buzzing around my kitchen today.

Where do you think this has came from ? I thought they would all be
dead or
hibernating at this time of year, or whatever wasps do in winter ?

I live in Perth, Scotland, so it's not as if I live in a mild part of
the
country.

I suppose my fear is that there may be a nest in the loft or something
?

My wife saw one in the bathroom a few days ago but it disappeared, so
not
sure if this is the same one or another one.

Any ideas ?

Probably a queen which has been woken up by the central heating, or
whatever you heat your place with. (I had to add that, as all I have is
one open fire and a fan heater.....)

I found one a few weeks ago, so I put it in the shed where it can really
hibernate. Most of the year they keep garden pests down - I could have
done with a wopsnest last year - keeping the nasturtiums clear of
patterkillers was a real pain.....

I wasn't aware that wops stopped paterkillers!

Alan
--
Reply to alan(at)windsor-berks(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk


--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/