Ok, I’ve had enough of this. We’ve got a bumper crop of wasps hatching inside our house. Hardly a day goes by when I don’t deal with one or two. One of the little bastids even nailed me while I was lying in bed. Grrrrr…..
Most are of the Paper Wasp variety (with the dangling legs), although I think the one that nailed me was a Yellow Jacket.
Most seem pretty weak and lethargic, so I’m guessing they hatch and then make an inward journey through the framing, insulation and find openings around light fixtures or doors.
I don’t think I’m going to solve anything about this year’s batch, but I’d like to stop next year’s. Anyone know if it’s a case of going around the exterior envelope with foam, caulk and screening? I’m still putting up siding and trim, so the house is admittedly permeable at present.
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Scott
This story reminds me of a letter to the editor in our community newpaper a few yrs ago. From a lady down the street-lifelong Maumee resident, she said. Seems the box elder bugs were bugging here. She proposed the city cut down all the box elder trees in the city.................
Her problem was that her house was allowing them in. In the winter they seek out places to overwinter (I guess)-you can find them between windows and storms, behind/under mulch and things around the foundation.
What is your location-I think I remember you mentioning skiing, so it can't be the bahamas.
Yours must be somewhere that had easy access (tho small) and the odd thing is that warmth is what will bring them awake-where's the heat loss? Once you find their location you should be able to figure their path. Admittedly you aren't done sealing up the house, so the path could be anywhere. Their existence means you got work to do-and foam or screening-you'll not be making a permanent barrier-those things decompose in sun or get moved around by other vermin............
Caulk, sure-but the gaps in the house outer envelope shouldn't be that big-where air or insects can gain entry-so can water.
Even if you put hand split shakes on a house, the sheathing under should be air tite.
If their entry is only from areas unfinished, then you've got to finish (sound like your wife, don't I ). If they're coming through finished areas, then you need to revisit your sealing techniques.
And being that warmth awakens them, you need to find the leaks in the interior envelope.
Best of luck.
>>>If their entry is only
I'm near Whistler, BC, Canada.
>>>If their entry is only from areas unfinished, then you've got to finish (sound like your wife, don't I ). If they're coming through finished areas, then you need to revisit your sealing techniques.
>>>And being that warmth awakens them, you need to find the leaks in the interior envelope.
Yeah, I'm thinking these two sentences summarize my problems. Neither the exterior nor interior envelopes are finished yet. So they get past the exterior, sleep for a few months, wake up only to realize it's durn cold out there, so I sure ain't goin' that way. So they crawl inward.
I guess I can't blame them for doing that, but it sure won't prompt any mercy from me. Prepare to eat death varmints!!!!
Guess I'll start by doing what I can on the exterior envelope this year.
Scott,
I'm allergic so I spray all my sheds, shop and house eaves with liquid Sevin. Really knocks the numbers down.
On some jobs I will bomb the customers attic space. Turn off any pilot lights first.
KK
>>>I'm allergic so I spray
>>>I'm allergic so I spray all my sheds, shop and house eaves with liquid Sevin
Does that stuff have any residual effect or do you need to hit them directly?
No knock down value to Sevin. If you want that you have to add pyrethrin or malathion. The Sevin last for a month or two so I probably spray early spring and twice in the summer.
KK
>>>The Sevin last for a month
>>>The Sevin last for a month or two so I probably spray early spring and twice in the summer.
That sounds very promising; thanks.
Wasp
Go vist the inlaws/outlaws or whatever for a day or so, leaving the windows open. Freeze the little beggers butts (stingers) off.
Might need to do a little winterizing before abandoning ship. :~)