Wasps eating our bench!

Author
Discussion

ianrb

Original Poster:

1,529 posts

139 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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We have a very nice out door teak bench which is slowly being eaten by wasps. The damage is only cosmetic and I imagine it would take many, many years before they could eat enough to cause any kind of structural problem. But it is a nice bench & it's irritating that it's being disfigured, it's also irritating that you can't sit on it without having to cope with half a dozen wasps trying to get at their lunch. It there anyway to keep the little blighters away?

PS I know they're not eating it for nutrition, but rather just collecting building material for their nest.


jon-

16,497 posts

215 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Set it on fire. Wasps don't like eating fire. Problem solved.

HOGEPH

5,249 posts

185 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Cover a garden chair in jam to distract them.

herewego

8,814 posts

212 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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I'd think about treating it with something like clear cuprinol or a clear oil.

seeby

1,807 posts

169 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Put a "NO WASPS ALLOWED" sign up biggrin

Mark Benson

7,498 posts

268 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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As you say, they're collecting cellulose to build their nest.

If you can find the nest, you can destroy it (kill it with fire etc. or have a pest controller do it but DIY is really easy, just douse the entrance with insect powder at night for a day or two and they'll track the poison straight in) or paint the bench with something to seal off the wood from the wasps.

We have a teak table they love, and I've tried various products but none seems to stop them - the only solution was to varnish the table, which spoils the effect of the wood but at least means we can eat outdoors again.

Simpo Two

85,150 posts

264 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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seeby said:
Put a "NO WASPS ALLOWED" sign up biggrin
That's silly, wasps can't read. You need a sign with a picture of a wasp and a diagonal line through it.

ianrb

Original Poster:

1,529 posts

139 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
quotequote all
Mark Benson said:
As you say, they're collecting cellulose to build their nest.

If you can find the nest, you can destroy it (kill it with fire etc. or have a pest controller do it but DIY is really easy, just douse the entrance with insect powder at night for a day or two and they'll track the poison straight in) or paint the bench with something to seal off the wood from the wasps.

We have a teak table they love, and I've tried various products but none seems to stop them - the only solution was to varnish the table, which spoils the effect of the wood but at least means we can eat outdoors again.
Ah good idea! I think I know where the nest is, so I'll give the insect powder a go.

Our bench is/was a very nice one, so I'm not keen on the varnish route for the same reason you identify.

jon-

16,497 posts

215 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
seeby said:
Put a "NO WASPS ALLOWED" sign up biggrin
That's silly, wasps can't read. You need a sign with a picture of a wasp and a diagonal line through it.
Or both!


mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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HOGEPH said:
Cover a garden chair yourself in jam to distract them.
Obvious error corrected.

Crusoe

4,068 posts

230 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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neutral beeswax would probably improve the look of the wood and stop them munching on it

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Then the bees would eat it...smile

LordHaveMurci

12,034 posts

168 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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I was having a really crappy day until I came across this thread, now sat at my desk laughing like a fool!

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Wait 'til you get home and see your garden bench...

HOGEPH

5,249 posts

185 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Tell those White Anglo Saxon protestants to go back to New England.

LordLoveLength

1,904 posts

129 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Such a typical PH response - set fire to them, poison them, throw red bull / hammer sausages up them etc
have you tried *speaking* to the wasps? *ask* them to stop?
if this was mumsnet....

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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LordLoveLength said:
if this was mumsnet....
rofl

They'd kill them with a little help from PMS...

DavesFlaps

679 posts

190 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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1. Give your own bench some bad reviews on waspadvisor so they'll try somewhere else.

2. Collect some greenfly and attach them to next door's bench.

3. Dip a spool of thread in some jam and wrap it round the branches of a tree far from your bench, creating a mini assault course for them.


Campo

10,775 posts

196 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Strongly worded email to the leader of the Council of wasps should sort it. Just remember to cc your local MP for a little extra gravitas.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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