Who invented wasps? and why? What nasty trick was God playing that day!?
There were three pears on my young pear tree ...................
And this is why. A friend said they sting the pears which gives them a way in to the flesh, but they don't. - they just nibble their way in, especially when the weather is dry and they are looking for moisture as well as food.
Actually on closer inspection the critter on the pear above could be a young hornet, it flew away anyway so didn't get killed. I'm sure it's not one of the invasive Yellow Legged or Asian hornets - thankfully.
Definitely smaller common wasps below on a blurry photo as I didn't get too close for this photo of dozens of them on the pear that had fallen off.
I'd already killed dozens more the day before that were on the ground drunk and dazed after they'd had their fill of the first pear.
I've not been stung yet this year - thankfully, but there must be a nest not too far away for there to be this many all at once, so it may yet happen.
Yes, they are good for pollination and some feed on aphids and carrion. But I'm still not a fan.
And isn't it odd that if a cat, dog or human gets stung in the mouth by a wasp it can be a nasty business, but birds eat wasps with no problem. A young Thrush was picking up the wasps that had fallen drunk from pear juice onto the grass, giving them a good shake and eating with no ill effects.
The wasps will be needing moisture over the next few days - as will the humans- the temps are set to rise for another mini heatwave ....that's an English heatwave not a Hot Country heatwave!
Back Soon
Many years ago my parents had a wasps nest in their attic, we had streams of wasps in and out of our bedrooms. After killing the wasps we had a closer look at the nest - it was a spectacular construction of layers of 'paper' about the size of a football.
ReplyDeleteWe used to watch them scraping the wood off our farm building - as that's what they use for their nests
DeleteTam had a wasp nest in their overhang porch roof last summer and they had to get the specialists in to zap it. Gosh, they did for your pears didn't they? What a shame.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely glimpse of your "specialist" at work eating them!
I was so pleased to have the first pears after 3 years ! Looks like I'll be buying pears as usual
DeleteIt’s wild how birds can eat wasps like snacks, while we run for cover. Fingers crossed you avoid any stings during this English “heatwave”!
ReplyDeleteNot a good idea to walk on grass barefeet with so many wasps around
DeleteThat's disappointing about the pears 🍐 😕
ReplyDeleteVery! Hope they stay away from the few apples and the figs
DeleteSad to lose your pears. I have only met a hornet once when out riding. The horse went berserk and plunged into a thicket of blackberries. As for wasps, the smaller more scarier insect, jam captures them in a jar.
ReplyDeleteWhen he was small Son once screamed there was a Hornet in his bedroom, we of course said it's probably just a wasp - but it really was a Huge hornet. He's not let us forget
DeleteDisappointing to lose your pears. I also know wasps have their place in the ecosystem but I still don't want them!
ReplyDeletePenny
They are a real nuisance and many more than last year around I think
DeleteWhat a shame about your pears. I have a fake paper wasps nest hanging in my shed after I caught a wasp in the early stages of building a nest in there. Perhaps you could hang one somewhere in your garden next year, it really keeps them away.
ReplyDeleteI bet it wouldn't put them off the fruit!
DeleteI hope at least they stick around the pear tree and don't menace you in other outdoor areas. Not sure of the difference between wasps and yellow jackets (both unnecessary, in my opinion) but on my 11th birthday my sister and one of our guests encountered a yellow jacket nest while playing hide & seek and it is still vivid all these years later. My mother forwarded an article to us yesterday about killer bees in France and my sister was not amused.
ReplyDeleteOh Goodness, killer bees sounds like a Sci Fi film!
DeleteI did not know wasps ate pears. It is a shame to lose all your fruit.
ReplyDeleteLast year, in one night, the raccoons got all my pears.
I currently have a wasp nest in an overhang above one of my garage doors. A few days ago, I took my hose and used the power wash setting to blast the nest. The wasps flew away and the nest fell apart and washed to the ground. Within days, the wasps built a second nest in the exact same spot. Today, it is the size of a softball. I'm going to buy a fake paper wasp's nest as Sue (above) suggests.
They love pears and plums - unfortunately.
DeleteI've not seen any nests in the garden, they are flying further away
Although wasps play their part in the eco system it's hard to feel friendly toward them!
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
We used to try and catch them in wasp traps but that doesn't cope with all of them. They are a real annoyance in so many ways
DeleteI had a beautiful apple tree. It produced the most deliciously fragrant red apples with red flesh centres. I don't think I'd ever tasted such a delicious apple. Picked fresh off the tree on a warm summer's day it could not be beaten. Then the wasps discovered it. Year after year, the crop got smaller and smaller. I would pick a beautiful perfect apple off the tree, only to find it full of wasps. I ended up having it cut down. There was no point in keeping it. It encouraged wasps into the garden. And that was something I didn't want. I'm sure they have their place in the environment, but I've yet to discover it.
ReplyDeleteI hope they don't find my apples, there are only a dozen anyway , but the Falstaff are delicious.
DeleteSad that you had to cut down a tree but the only answer I guess
How disappointing. Everything has to live,but it's annoying when they choose to live in your fruit.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's a bummer about the pears. I've read about people putting little net bags over fruit as it develops and ripens to keep insects off -- maybe an idea for next year?
ReplyDeleteReally interesting Sue - I didn't know that birds can eat wasps. I'm especially invested at the mo, as I had my first wasp sting two days ago on my face - argh! (Gen)
ReplyDeleteWe seem to be getting far more than usual this year. Xx
ReplyDeleteI think wasps are God's joke. I am sorry that you lost your pears.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.