At the top of our stairs is a spotlight. I kept on hearing a high-pitched buzzing coming from the vicinity, so yesterday decided to spray some Bug-u-Hate into the lamp. At once a long black evil-looking Digger Wasp came out and flew straight for the open Velux.
When I removed the bulb, THIS is what I found. At least 4 nests (one I broke), all of which contained grubs and an assortment of dead, or paralysed, spiders.
We first experienced these little blighters last year, and this year they've become a real nuisance. I'm just wondering what it'll be like in 2011.
Their earthen nests do no permanent damage, but they've got the whole of France to build them in, and I'd prefer that they chose somewhere else.
We have "Mason Bees" that build similar nests even in coats that may have been hanging in the back porch for a while. They are not as pretty as your Digger Wasps though.
ReplyDeleteThese build in clothes too. Lady M despairs! I'm not sure if the picture is exactly as ours, but very similar. Our ones have some yellow on them.
ReplyDeleteWe've noticed a large number of these wasps this year. They seem particularly attracted to the vine covering our terrace but don't seem to bother us when there's food about. (Walking through the woods yesterday was a nightmare due to the clouds of flies - ugh!)
ReplyDeleteSue. This is the price we pay for a delicious summer.
ReplyDeleteWe have what we call 'Mud Daubers' here in Kansas. There are a few mud nests built on the inner corners of the front porch, but I haven't seen any of the actual perps yet. The other year they would make dive bomb attacks if you sat out there, so I was expecting a battle.
ReplyDeleteHeard a story once about mud daubers attacking a bird up in the air until the bird fell down to the ground, dead. Now I'm all itchy thinking about it.
Yuk. That's nasty.
ReplyDeleteWe have them, and call them "mud daubers", too. Funny, I was just out on the patio, watering my plants a little while ago, when I felt something tickle my butt. I jumped out of my pants and gave them a hard flap. Out fell the biggest, fuzziest bumble bee I've ever seen!
ReplyDeleteThose digger wasps look right evil little divils Cro. I haven't noticed any wasps here this time. It's been cold and bucketing down all day today.
ReplyDeleteOh Molly. I wish I could send you some of our sunshine. We're sweltering in temps of 35ish.
ReplyDeleteYou have -thanks for the sunshine Cro - the weather's been lovely here today - not quite 35 though!
ReplyDelete