Paper wasp nests

[Robob]

I know this is an unusual topic for a boating forum but I am sure I am not the only one experiencing this problem with paper wasps.

I have a 175 Osprey with individual white vinyl covers over the console, seat and outboard.

In addition to building nests under the eaves on my house where I can squirt them, the little buggers are nesting under my console and seat covers.

Strangely enough, they don't go under the outboard cover.

I have the squirt stream/spray that kills them on contact but it's an unpleasant surprise when I pull off a cover to use the boat and they start flying out, The nests have been attached to the sides of the console and seat and the inside of the covers themselves.

Is there something like mothballs or some other deterrent that can be put in a container inside the covers?

Thanks in advance,

Bob on Tampa Bay

[John Jones]

I don't know the cure but they seem especially bad this year.  They get in the end of my trailer tongue right behind the coupler.

[Robob]

Yes, they are really bad this year. It's the first time I have ever had a problem on the boat:-( The COLD winter???

Bob on Tampa Bay

[seagate]

They are all over this year the paper ones and the mud wasps too on the house and boat.They Love the Boat I use the spray too it works but they are a pain.

[Hi308]

Take a coconut, cut it in half and place it in the console. It will do absolutley nothing, so use the wasp spray! I found that if you spray the nest after dark you will get ALL the wasps. If you spray them in the day you'll miss getting the ones out on patrol. If that happens the'll just set up shop again, and your back to square one. Spray them at night and you'll be suprised at how hard that hits em. You may be rid of them for a whole season.

Hi308 :pirat:

[Robob]

I don't particularly want to be out lifting up the cover in the dark to spray the little buggers.

Maybe I could take the coconut halves and trap them inside:-)

Or I can forgo the use of covers until the wasp nest building season is over:-)

I've got a call into my bug man to see if he has any ideas.

Coconut......hmmmmmmm.

[bumpster]

Taped up the holes for my rod holders and hatches then dropped two raid fumigators into the hull. No more wasps

[RickK]

I used to have that problem too and since I started covering the entire boats I don't have problems with wasps anymore. I find a few dead in there but maybe it's too hot in there for them?  Maybe that's the key?  I used to get nests up under the console - nothing like cruising around at 30+ and have a nest full come out at you.
I was starting my neighbor's boat last weekend for him - and he had a nest under the notch-out in his cooler seat - one came out and got me on the foot.  Luckily I'm not allergic to them.

[Hi308]

LMBO! I can't imagine havin' em jump you at 30 MPH.
The fumigator will work like a charm, that stuff kills everything.
Pop one under the cover @ night, and yell "FIRE IN THE HOLE" so all your neighbors can hear! Wasps don't fly @ night! Unless they have night combat training....  :rambo:

Hi308

[Robob]

You might be onto something with the full cover.

I used to have a Boston Whaler that I covered with a full dark blue Sunbrella cover. It got really hot under there and cooked my instruments so when I got the Osprey, I thought smaller white covers would be cooler. They are, just like the wasps like it:-(

I'll talk with my bug guy on Monday and find out if there's some effective control.


Bob on Tampa Bay

[Aswaff400]

I used to have that problem too and since I started covering the entire boats I don't have problems with wasps anymore. I find a few dead in there but maybe it's too hot in there for them?  Maybe that's the key?  I used to get nests up under the console - nothing like cruising around at 30+ and have a nest full come out at you.
I was starting my neighbor's boat last weekend for him - and he had a nest under the notch-out in his cooler seat - one came out and got me on the foot.  Luckily I'm not allergic to them.

try driving a marina forklift with a boat on the forks and having that happen     a few wasps made a nest under the console on 1 of our forklifts last summer

[wingtime]

I'm allergic to the buggers so this would be a HUGE problem for me.  They do seem to be bad this year.  I used to get them in the cross members of the boat I had before the Aquasport.  I had a full cover on that boat and I would find a few dead ones that somehow made it in there.  I have my girlfriend go out now and then and spray them all around the property.  Spraying them at night is the best practice.  All of them are usually on the nest and they seem to be less active then too.  I can tell you getting stung and then having to rush to the ER before I swell up SUCKS.  I carry Epipens but you have to store them below 80 degrees which is impossible in Florida in the summer if you take them out of the A/C.

[Robob]

I talked with my bug guy and he said there's nothing effective except spraying them:-(

So much for that

Out

Bob on Tampa Bay

[fishingdave]

spray the wasp nest with hornet spray at night, then get some "delta dust" and spray it into the enterance hole. That how i got rid of them .  The spray kills them instantly while the dust kills any hatched eggs . Delta dust is great plus its water proof!

[Robob]

Thanks for the tip but they are not going in through a hole, they were going under the bottom edge of my console cover. I think the season is about over because I don't see any activity around the boat or house anymore.

Thanks again,

Bob on Tampa Bay