WTF is going on with my backroom?

[Mr MXT]

We moved in a barn conversion in Oct '15. Odd things are afoot in the spare bedroom, which has a door directly to the outside down some stone stairs.

During the winter, hundreds of dead woodlice around the exterior door.

During the spring, hundreds of dead ladybirds around the exterior door.

Now, hundreds of dead wasps around the exterior door and a few live ones flying around.

What the hell is going on and what can I do to stop this insect invasion?

[TomLRogers]

Brick it up. Job jobbed.

[RedLeicester]

Sounds like it gets the sun on it so they come to bask.

[Mr MXT]

The immediate wasp problem sorted.

Found a nest in the eaves at that corner of the house, looks like they were getting in via the extractor fan vent to the ensuite, then heading toward the light which is why they die by the door.

Liberal use of flamethrower later, problem solved.

[Boosted LS1]

^ If they could see the light by the door what prevented them from getting outside or is there glass in the door?

[Mr MXT]

They didn't have their keys!

(It's a glass door)

[Simpo Two]

Mr MXT said:

During the winter, hundreds of dead woodlice around the exterior door.

During the spring, hundreds of dead ladybirds around the exterior door.

Now, hundreds of dead wasps around the exterior door and a few live ones flying around.

What the hell is going on and what can I do to stop this insect invasion?

Clearly the ladybirds eat the woodlice, and then the wasps eat the ladybirds. Then more woodlice, being detritivores, come in and eat the dead wasps... etc. Your very own barn-based food chain.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Woodlice and Ladybirds will naturally cluster around doors for warmth/hibernation, not sure why wasps would, but I expect something like a spider is catching/eating them. e.g. False widows are voracious hunters and don't tend to make their webs very obvious - they tend to hide and only come out at night, often the only give away is a huge pile of woodlouse corpses.

[Mr MXT]

Ladybirds are back.

[Too Late]

Mr MXT said:

Ladybirds are back.

https://dengarden.com/gardening/Thousand-of-Good-Luck-Charms-The-Annual-Ladybug-Swarming

[dickymint]

Mr MXT said:

Ladybirds are back.

Tell them their house is on fire and apparently they just fly away!

[Simpo Two]

Mr MXT said:

Ladybirds are back.

In February?

[Mr MXT]

Simpo Two said:

In February?

Yes

[ATG]

Mr MXT said:

what can I do to stop this insect invasion?

Fairly dull trivia alert: woodlice are isopod crustaceans. I think they are the only land dwelling crustacean in the UK?

They seem to appear by magic. I might be wrong about this.

[Sheepshanks]

Mr MXT said:

Simpo Two said:

In February?

Yes

Found two on one of our back bedroom windows yesterday, together with a pretty big (and quite active ) wasp.

[V8RX7]

Mr GrimNasty said:

Woodlice and Ladybirds will naturally cluster around doors for warmth/hibernation, not sure why wasps would

I presume for the same reason.

My girls ventured back into their treehouse a few weeks ago to find wasps hidden in every nook, presumably trying to overwinter.

[dickymint]

Sheepshanks said:

Mr MXT said:

Simpo Two said:

In February?

Yes

Found two on one of our back bedroom windows yesterday, together with a pretty big (and quite active ) wasp.

Pahh! No Isopods :roll eyes: