Crocheted Wasp Nest -update 1
May 26, 2008 by Noreen Crone-Findlay
Filed under eco projects & green projects & recycling craft, inspiration
We have a wasp problem, and don’t want to use pesticides to kill them. Well, actually, we don’t really even want to kill the rotten little beasties…. they are part of the grand plan of nature, after all. We just don’t want the little stinkers to set up shop around our house, barn, hayshed, tool shed, garage or the farm machines. Is that too much to ask? LOL!
So, I designed a pattern for a fake wasp nest to trick them into to bugging off somewhere else.
So far, the crocheted wasp nests seem to be working! The deck has been wonderfully wasp free, and Jim hasn’t seen any more of them in the tool shed or hay shed.
Our daughter, Chloë , got inspired and has designed a sewn fake wasp nest. I haven’t heard from her about how it’s working at her house, yet. Will need an update from her on that.
Jim decided that he’s interested in the family ‘anti-wasp campaign’, so he turned a fake wasp nest on the lathe:
It’s hanging in the barn, and when I was out there, taking pics, didn’t get buzzed by a single one. Good for the horses!
We shall see how this goes…. hopefully, the wasps will avoid us. There are some kinds of beasties that are just not a treat to hang out with.
Now, if I could just make the mosquitoes hang out somewhere else!
And, oh yes, about those spiders! eegads! there was one the size of a moose in my undie drawer yesterday!
Ah, life down on the farm…..
)
Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay (copyright)
Ah, the famous Canadian Moose spider!
And in my undie drawer too! the nerve of it!
ROTFLOL!
spent summers on my Grandpas ranch have seen the Wyoming Moose spider (barn spider) but not in the undie drawer!! UG! I finished my first nest and wraped some yellow yarn with black and sewed it to the opening of the nest. my hubby will hang it tonight for me. I will let you know the out come in my area. also Chloe I really liked the colors you picked for your nest. This is fun!!
Hi Carolee
It sure is un-nerving when you suddenly come upon a HUGE spider! EEP!
Spider bites are NO fun!
I need to get more wasp nests crocheted…. the ones we have up seem to be working, so that’s a very good thing!
Hope they work for you, too!
Noreen, update on the wasp nest. It was hung about two feet from the door last week and had the french doors open for the last three days not one wasp in the house. husband said they are still at the back of the yard and the front so will need to finish up a couple more. had to put them on hold to finish a baby blanket Red Heart in camo came out cute. I think these fake nests WORK!!!!! and safe for the fur kids (I like that word) Thanks Norren
get a bat house. It may take a season or two, but once the bats move in, they will enjoy snacking on those pesky mosquitos! nature at it’s finest!
This is great, Carolee!
) Yay!
We are finding the same thing…. the nests really work!
But… I just have to find the time to make more of them!
Hi Catie
My dad gave us a purple martin house, and they sure help, too! I agree with you on working WITH nature!
I quite like bats. Building a bat house is definitely on our ‘to do’ list.
)
So how does the dummy nest deter wasps? Are they territorial? Do they just think, “oh this space is occupied, I’ll go somewhere else” ?
Hi Michelle
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The commercial fake wasp nests say that they work by creating the illusion that the territory is spoken for.
I don’t know exactly how they work, but I am happy that they do.
I’m curious how this ended up working out? Did the bees stay away? Did you see a decrease in bee activity in the areas you hung the nest?
I’ve been surfing the web today getting info on how to get rid of the wasps in my yard and came across this blog. I’d love an update.
Please feel free to email me at stevie jones 001 @ gmail . com (All one word with no spaces.)