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Great Home and Garden Improvement Tips

Hi! My name is Gary and this is my home and garden improvement blog. My passion for working on my home and garden began when I bought my first house. It was a run down little place in the suburbs of Sydney. Even though the place was in a bit of a state, it was in a fantastic location. I spent many hours reading up on DIY and gardening tips before setting about improving the place. It was a lot of hard work but it was also a lot of fun. I learnt a lot during that time so I decided to start this blog.

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Do you have a wasp nest?

by admin

There are two types of wasp in Australia: the European wasp and the English wasp, both of which have been introduced to the country. The English wasp is found mostly in Victoria but the European wasp can be found in Victoria, Tasmania, Sydney and some parts of New South Wales.

It can be scary to discover you have a wasp nest in your house or garden. Each nest can contain thousands of wasps and they can be aggressive during the spring and summer. Unlike bees, wasps can sting multiple times and it is not only painful but can be life threatening if you are allergic. To reduce the risk of stings, you need to find the nest and have it removed. If you're suspicious, follow these tips to find out if you have a wasp nest.

  1. The first sign of a wasp problem can be the presence of wasps in your house. If you continually find wasps in your home, chances are there is a nest nearby. It can be more difficult to find out if you have a nest in your garden unless you see more wasps than normal flying around.  
  2. It can be a problem knowing what to do with wasps in the house. If you can, open the window wide, close the door and wait for the wasps to fly out. If the wasps are already close to the window, they can be wafted out with a newspaper. Be gentle and stay calm. Remember the wasp wants to leave as much as you want it to. Under no circumstances should you kill the wasps. When wasps are killed they release a scent for their hive. The other wasps will seek their fallen friend out and suddenly where you had one wasp, you will have many.
  3. Try and locate the nest by watching the wasps. See where they go and if more than one disappear into the same hole or shrub, chances are that's where your wasp nest is. If you're having trouble following them, try putting something sweet out. Once a wasp has collected food it will fly straight back to the nest. Put out the bait and wait for a wasp to discover it. It will lead you straight back to the nest. Nests will be in a sheltered area, including under the ground or inside walls, rockeries, hedges and chimneys. Be careful if approaching the nest. If you can see it, it will look as if it is made of paper mache. Wasps can forage up to half a kilometre from their nest, so you may need to speak to your neighbors if you are having regular visits from wasps.  
  4. Once you've located your nest, it's time to get the professionals in. You should not try to tackle the nest yourself as a disturbed wasp nest will attack. If you are in any doubt about a wasp problem, speak to your local council or a professional pest control company, such as Black & White Pest Control, who will be able to help you determine if you have a nest, locate it and dispose of it.

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