The Sting

[Gob]

A Hampshire pest controller said he took on "the biggest job of his career", after being called to deal with a nest of more than 5,000 wasps.



John Birkett, of Longwood Services Pest Control, said removing the 3ft (91cm) nest from a bed in Winchester was his most unusual job in 45 years.

He said it would have been "extremely dangerous" if the homeowner had tried to remove it herself.

He added: "I just stood back in amazement."

The nest was discovered by a woman at her house in St Cross, in an unused spare room, where a small window had been left open.

[rubato]

Yellowjackets nest in cavities in the ground but other than that all the wasps nests I've seen were hanging from a branch, an eave or a wall. Is this kind of horizontal nest common in England? And were they using the fibers* from the bedding to make the nest material?


yrs,
rubato

*Note correct spelling.

[Daisy]

Worst nightmare ever....

And yes they were using the cotton fibres* from the bedding.

*note correct British spelling (for the hard of thinking).

[MajGenl.Meade]

He then broke the nest up into pieces, to discover that the insects had chewed through the mattress and the bed pillars, before helping the owner clean up her home.

We've a comma too many for the obvious joke.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Yellowjackets nest in cavities in the ground

I find more than a few yellow jacket nests under the rim of my above ground pool when I uncover it in the spring. Also had some in bushes that I have trimmed and in between the logs in my woodpile. So pretty much they will make a nest anywhere.

[TPFKA@W]

He then broke the nest up into pieces, to discover that the insects had chewed through the mattress and the bed pillars, before helping the owner clean up her home.

We've a comma too many for the obvious joke.

Well now, if the little buggers are house cleaning wasps I could use them here.

[Jarlaxle]

Yellowjackets nest in cavities in the ground

I find more than a few yellow jacket nests under the rim of my above ground pool when I uncover it in the spring. Also had some in bushes that I have trimmed and in between the logs in my woodpile. So pretty much they will make a nest anywhere.

Took one out from under the porch stairs a couple months ago...they're not at all particular.