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wasp concern #769942

Asked August 30, 2021, 6:17 PM EDT

There are wasps swarming around the outside of an outdoor deck cabinet with nests inside the cabinet. We have been told there is a combination of parasitic and paper wasps. We do not have a garden nearby other than potted tomato plants and herbs. Why are they swarming in big clumps all of a sudden? What should be done about them? Thank you.

Baltimore County Maryland

Expert Response

While we can't see enough detail in their body markings to identify them to species, we agree this appears to be an aggregation of two different wasp species. (At least one looks like a Polistes species of paper wasp, as an educated guess.) Many wasps that are not in the yellowjacket, hornet, or paper wasp groups are solitary, so perhaps one or two constructed a nest in this cabinet which has now had the adults hatch, since often multiple offspring are contained in each nest. Or, the paper wasp colony has recently produced males for the purposes of mating with new queens, which will disperse and start new colonies next year. (They won't re-use this nest after autumn frosts kill the workers off.) It's also possible that two different paper wasp colonies set-up camp in this cabinet; usually they are somewhat territorial, but if resources are plentiful they may not be very concerned about each other.

In either case, if you don't need urgent access to that cabinet, we recommend leaving them to their activities, and they will vacate in another month or so. While they tend not to be as defensive as yellowjacket wasps or hornets, the paper wasps could sting if their nest is disturbed. Solitary wasps won't sting to defend a nest, but could to defend themselves if they felt threatened. Wasps are great at consuming garden insects we consider pests, so are good to have around if they are leaving people and pets alone.

 

Miri

Thanks so much for your prompt, informative response.
Best regards,
Diane

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 31, 2021, at 11:04 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

The Question Asker Replied September 01, 2021, 5:21 PM EDT
Thanks so much for your prompt, informative response.
Best regards,
Diane

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 31, 2021, at 11:04 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

The Question Asker Replied September 01, 2021, 5:21 PM EDT

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