I’ve got lots of parasitic wasps making themselves comfortable on my balcony.
NOPE, not in the 5 star insect hotel I crafted JUST FOR THEM 😤
Last year, I removed a few screws I had drilled into the (gypsum?) wall, but was too lazy to also remove the hollow-core wall plugs and fix them.
Some wild wasps saw the opportunity and moved in, taking the burden off my shoulders to do the job 🤷
Now, I’d like to restore the wall to its old glory, before my landlord catches me doing stupid things 👀
But also absolutely don’t want to harm any innocent bees or other friendly critters. I want them to move out when they’re ready.
I also think many just didn’t make it, but I don’t know how to check that.
When would it be the best time of the season to seal them off?
I don’t know if it would be possible, but maybe tape small paper flaps over the holes? That way, anything inside could get out as the flap would open easily that way, but getting in would be much harder.
You think paper tape will hold off a wasp?
Also, the glue of the strip could hurt the newly hatched ones
Choosing the right time, after hatching, is probably really the best way to go
And as the holes are filled now, you can see anyway when they left the “hotel”
I didn’t mean paper tape, but just normal, but moderately stiff, paper, with the tape above the hole, and the loose end of the paper covering the hole. As these are just drill holes in a solid wall, I’m assuming the wasps are not nesting there, just resting overnight. If so they will hopefully find somewhere else if blocked off with a flap. The paper being chewed or torn would be a good sign the hole is in use though. I could be way off base on this, but it’s probably what I’d try first.
Ah, I see
So exiting possible, but hole not visible from the outside
Maybe, yes
But at least “my” wild bees always come back to their old nest places