Great.

[Parrot of Doom]

So I'm doing some DIY in the back bedroom, and decide to shuffle a load of junk (ie bits of wood that I'll use in 25 years time) up into the loft. Standing on the stepladders, pulling the wood up, with a 25 foot drop down to the bottom of the staircase, I hear a buzzing.

Quiet, gentle buzzing.

Intrigued, I stop and listen, and eventually see a big wasp crawling along a piece of wood, heading roughly in my direction. I'm stood there wondering what to do, should I close the door and leave it alone, or whack it to death, when it takes off and flies directly for my head.

At which point I swing my head out of the way, whack my chin on the loft door entrance, teeter dizzyingly on top of the ladder while holding a heavy bit of wood, and lose sight of the wasp.

So now I've got the wasp trapped in the vacuum cleaner, and a lovely big bruise/cut growing on the bottom of my chin.

What the hell is a wasp doing flying around at this time of year?

[Einion Yrth]

if it's of any size, and your attic is warm, it's probably a queen, looking for somewhere to build a nest and lay its first eggs-kill with extreme prejudice.

[Raffles]

you prob woke it up from hybernation (sp?)

[paulie-mafia]

That is odd, but you know what, I spotted a bumble bee in the garden the other day. It was the size of a small helicopter and appeared to be a bit confused itself!

Just think yourself lucky it didn't sting you!

[Parrot of Doom]

Einion Yrth said:

if it's of any size, and your attic is warm, it's probably a queen, looking for somewhere to build a nest and lay its first eggs-kill with extreme prejudice.

Attic is freezing cold, and it was looking a bit sorry for itself. I'm going to put the vacuum cleaner outside and leave it to its own devices!

[john75]

Sounds like either a Hornet if it looked like this



Or a queen wasp



Either way I reckon you got a nest in your loft.

[staceyb]

john75 said:

Sounds like either a Hornet if it looked like this Or a queen wasp Either way I reckon you got a nest in your loft.

Is that not the same picture or am I being blonde again?

[tomtvr]

We were taking some rotten wood to the tip in summer and there was a very angry wasp flying around the car but we were on a fast narrow road - otherwise we would have pulled over and ran away - what could we do - just opened all 4 windows, but then the car was a giant wind sock blowing the wasp to the back of the car, man i wanted out so badly - wasp stings are quite painful.

[paulie-mafia]

john75 said:

Sounds like either a Hornet if it looked like this

Bloody hell! Whoever threw that miniature spear must have lightning reflexes and a really good aim!

[Parrot of Doom]

Is there something I can buy that sits in my loft exterminating all flying thingies, like an air freshner?

[tomtvr]

someone had to suggest it

[danielgray]

Easy way to kill wasps.
Place a thin slice of apple in palm of your hand.
Wait for wasp to land (may take some time).
Squash wasp with other hand.
Problem solved.

[pony power]

yeah but you get your hand dirty, i'd just take a bit of fly spray up there and unleash hell

[paulie-mafia]

pop into lakeland (kitchen and home store) in the spring / summer and you can get an electric fly swat! shaped like a mini tennis racket with battery-powered electrified wire strings.

hehehe...

[sadako]

Wasps + dyson cleaner. I dont know if it would kill them but that's entertainment right there.

[mutt k]

If there is any chance of a nest up there, get hold of an exterminator right asap. Yellow Pages or even your council woyld be a good source. The beggars can do quite a lot of damage to plaster and brickwork if left to their own devices.

[R988]

staceyb said:

Is that not the same picture or am I being blonde again?

They look the same to me as well, I'm not blonde though, just stupid

[paolow]

tomtvr said:

someone had to suggest it

i dont get it

[pies]

There wont be a nest in the attic---YET
At the end of Autumn all the wasps in the nest die through starvation,only the new queens live on.The "hibernate" over winter.You probably just disturbed it.

[sparkythecat]

john75 said:

Sounds like either a Hornet if it looked like this Or a queen wasp Either way I reckon you got a nest in your loft.

You're a top shot with that blow gun aren't you!