Abandoned city

[David Paterson]

I destroyed a huge wasps' nest this morning, in the roof-space above our bedroom. I don't think they re-inhabit an old nest but just to be safe . . .  last autumn we were infested by wasps.

This is the nursery, at the heart of the nest - which was about 6 times the size of a average human skull.

[Mike G]

David that really is a biggie, I once burnt a football sized one many years ago, that was still a live nest, whoops.

[David Paterson]

Nice to hear from you, Mike. This nest was enormous and because, effectively, it was inside the house, it couldn't be burned. I poisoned it with "wasp powder" and they abandoned it. But we are still regularly getting wasps inside the house so I decided to completely destroy the two nests I knew about. There is a third one but it is *extremely* difficult to get at.

[Mike G]

Having three is just plain greedy. 

[Erik Lund]

Nice color and tones! Three indoors is a pain for sure, newer see one this big....

[Seapy]

One from last year, noticed a stream of wasps passing the same way so investigated and found this in a nearby coal bunker:



About the size of a football and very busy place.  Until the wasp killing foam hit them.

[Seapy]

Needed a little PP...

[David Paterson]

Seapy - nicely shot, and very similar in structure, tho' not shape, to my one. Mine was in a corner of the roof-space, and filled the corner completely - about 20-24" wide, almost 36" deep, 18" high at the front tapering to about 6" at the back of the space (under the timber lining of the roof). It was truly massive and the debris filled two large black bin-bags.

[simato73]

Seapy - nicely shot, and very similar in structure, tho' not shape, to my one. Mine was in a corner of the roof-space, and filled the corner completely - about 20-24" wide, almost 36" deep, 18" high at the front tapering to about 6" at the back of the space (under the timber lining of the roof). It was truly massive and the debris filled two large black bin-bags.

Gee, that is proper scary.

I hate wasps due to a childhood trauma.
I was three and imitating much older boys in my block of flats who sprayed a wasp nest with water from a hose then ran away.
Instead I stood there screaming at the wasps coming out.
I ended up at A&E with one sting in my right thumb and six in my throat.
Learned a valuable lesson. Don't stand and scream. Burn the effin bastards every time you can do it with impunity.

[Seapy]

Seapy - nicely shot, and very similar in structure, tho' not shape, to my one. Mine was in a corner of the roof-space, and filled the corner completely - about 20-24" wide, almost 36" deep, 18" high at the front tapering to about 6" at the back of the space (under the timber lining of the roof). It was truly massive and the debris filled two large black bin-bags.

Thanks David, the whorls are fascinating and the structure is amazing.  Seconds later the nest was doused in wasp killer foam, it was dispatched to the bonfire soon after that.  However, I do wonder if destroying these insects is such a good idea, I realise they aren't bees, but I imagine they do their share of flower fertilisation,  with the demise of bees, should we not be being less harsh with these insects?  I understand when they invade our loft spaces they are unwelcome but I just feel we destroy insects when perhaps they are really our friends...

Realise it wasn't on the scale of yours but I welcomed the opportunity to air the image! It also gives the 'before', to go with your 'after'.