Most years picking ripe plums has been fraught with danger. The danger being that the sweet, ripe fruits attracted wasps and they would decide to feast on them.
It's not that wasps are all bad, they can be very useful in the garden as they will eat many garden pests.
They are also remarkable construction workers and know quite a bit about geometry.
Whilst some wasp nest's seem to be purely functional.
Other wasps have quite an artistic leaning and produce beautiful structures.
Most of the time we can live side by side with wasps and as long as they don't think we pose a threat they will tend to leave us alone. This year I have shared a tap at the allotment with some industrious ladies. (At this time of year nearly all wasps are female but unfortunately they are the ones that sting). Whenever I turned on the tap a wasp would come to collect water. I'm guessing that this was to use in nest building rather than for a drink. As long as I was aware and kept my fingers at a distance, we worked together harmoniously.
When fruit is ripening in summer we are in direct competition with the wasps. We want to harvest the fruit and they want to dine on it. This can lead to inadvertent conflict so I was interested when Monty Don spoke about a gadget called a waspinator that could be used to deter wasps. The idea is that the waspinators look like nests and fool browsing wasps into thinking they are entering rival territory and move on.
Last year I decided to make a couple and hung them in our plum and greengage trees. I don't know whether the waspinators worked or whether last year there was some other reason that the wasps stayed away, but we definitely didn't come across any on our plums.
This year I am repeating the exercise so it will be interesting to see whether the wasps stay away again.
To make the waspinators I used some brown paper bags, string and bubblewrap.
If you are interested I made a film of the process.
Posts
I need to try this. The Czars are now ripening and the wasps are having a field day!
ReplyDeleteGill
Just hope that last year wasn’t a fluke.
DeleteFor what it’s worth, last year I hardly saw any wasps. This year we are inundated, especially when eating outside. I suppose the warm summer has something to do with it. I’ll be interested to see if the waspinator works again this year and will be making one for the patio if it does!
ReplyDeleteOh dear it’s sounding more and more like coincidence.
DeleteYou need to add the artistic decoration, Sue!
ReplyDeleteMine are made by functional wasps, Mark.
DeleteI'm interested in waspinator as well Sue. Lot of wasps and especially large ones are here this summer. I think it's depends of the hot weather. Wait for knowing the result!
ReplyDeleteSo do I Nadezda.
DeleteWell done speaking up for the wasps Sue
ReplyDeleteYour pseudo nests look so realistic
They are fascinating creatures, Roger.
DeleteOh I hope they do the trick Sue :)
ReplyDeleteSo do I, Anna.
Deletewe have had to stand up for our wee wasps and their nest at our shed. People have been wanting to burn it or simply destroy it but the wasps aren't bothering anyone and are really rather docile. I like them :)
ReplyDeleteWe had a nest by our back door a few years ago, Carrie and the wasps came and went and so did we and we never bothered one another.
DeleteNoticed your waspinator in your July pictures (along with the birds). I've been having a bit of a shed tidy lately and my waspinator rolled out when I opened the door as if to say "remember it's my time". So I will now be deploying it in the plum tree.
ReplyDeleteHope that yours works too, Mal
DeleteThat is such an interesting concept - hopefully our DIY version does the trick.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed, Margaret
DeleteWasps do provide many useful functions, especially removing garden pests, but they are a pain at this time of the year when aimless without the queen. I loved these nests, how amazing! I shall certainly use your waspinator tip if I need too. Wonderful post, I did enjoy it.xxx
ReplyDeleteThey are literally a pain at times, Dina. Although I think ant bites are worse than wasp stings.
Delete