I think I 'm witnessing the beginning of a wasp nest in the wall of my living room?

a year ago by solo to c/diy

Today I noticed a wasp coming and going in my living room. More precisely, it goes into the wall just next to the light. There is not too much room there and I don't really have visibility, so I can't tell what this wasp-like insect is doing there. Also, even tho I think it's one, maybe it's one at a time? Not sure.

I did check some videos on the topic and maybe this could be the beginning of nest? Since, I wouldn't want something like that in my home, I am looking for ideas on how to deal with this. It seems like a tricky spot to me due to the electric wires connections, in the sense that spraying something there could be dangerous.

Anyways, if you have experience and/or ideas on what to do, please help!

slurp 22 points a year ago

Not a full solution, but painters tape to seal the gaps might stop further nest building

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solo 8 points a year ago

Thank you so much. Doing this immediately!

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I_Fart_Glitter 7 points a year ago

Do you have access to the space above the ceiling? It’s pretty likely there is already a good sized nest in there and the light fixture is just an access hole that one wandered out of and is now trying to get back in. These kind of wasps will eat the wood up there like termites.

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Yaky 11 points a year ago

That looks more like a mud dauber, which are solitary and do not eat wood.

(Then again, I am only familiar with some NE US insects, and poster is probably not in the US)

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MicrowavedTea 4 points a year ago

It does look like a mud dauber and, for what it's worth, they don't attack humans like wasps (at least where I am). If it's not doing any damage you could possibly even let it be and they'll be gone after the summer.

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I_Fart_Glitter 4 points a year ago

The legs do look a bit longer than the ones currently eating my house, but still worth a peek.

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YaksDC 15 points a year ago

Turn off the breaker that feeds that light. If you don't see any activity, get up on a ladder and listen. If you don't hear insect noise knock on the ceiling near the light and listen again. If clear, look for a screw that is holding up the conical shaped cover, that should be a decorative piece that can be slid down the pole. You should then be able to see what you are dealing with.

You can use wasp spray up into the gangbox if you want. The suggestion to use painters tape to cover hole under the decorative cover is a good one. Just be sure that you allow the wasp spray to completely dry before turning on the breaker again.

I have approached this kind of situation similarly.

Good luck!

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pizza_the_hutt 14 points a year ago

Burn down the house and rebuild. It's the only way to be sure.

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fan0m 6 points a year ago

This is the way

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oddlyqueer 14 points a year ago

Hard to tell from the picture but it may be a mud dauber, which is not a very aggressive wasp (to humans) and is useful for controlling spider populations. if they're getting up into your ceiling near the light fixture, blocking it off may prevent it from trying to nest there. if it's building on the fixture itself, knocking down the nest might convince it to relocate to a safer area. I've never had a mud dauber sting me even while knocking down nests, but I would still wait until it's off gathering mud to make an attempt on the nest.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mud_dauber

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Nomad 3 points a year ago

Wait for it to be inside in the evening. Seal with tape for a week. Problem solved.

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Semi_Hemi_Demigod 3 points a year ago

Get some diatomaceous earth and squirt it into the hole. It’s a non-chemical insecticide that will kill them and keep them from coming back.

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swelter_spark 3 points a year ago

When it starts getting cool out, sometimes one will come inside and find a warm place to hole up for the winter.

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NigelFrobisher 3 points a year ago

Try buying them off with sugar water.

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blimthepixie 0 points a year ago

Catch it in a jar and release it outside?

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solo 8 points a year ago

Maybe I should have specified that where I live it's summer now, so windows are always open and will be so for many more weeks. Meaning, releasing it outside would not prevent it from coming back in.

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CubitOom 13 points a year ago

Buy screens for your windows.

Maybe use mosquito netting with that painter tape you got as a temporary solution?

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