There is a wasps nest in the flat roof above the kitchen door. I was prepared to live and let live until one of the dogs had a horrendous swelling in his mouth (between teeth and lips) which I think was caused by a sting. Took him to the vet on Tuesday and he said no infection, but it is still as swollen today. He's fighting fit otherwise so doesn't seem affected at all.

Anyway I got some spray foam killer which hasn't worked. Yesterday I was on the lookout for powder which has apparently sold out and came home with a bell shaped glass jar which you fill up with sweetened water. Hung it up, the blighters are still buzzing round so I took the cork out of the top of the jar (they are supposed to fly in underneath) and now some have drowned.

Horrible creatures. I'm petrified of them. Has anyone been able to dispose of them or will I have to 'get a man in'?

I think the council will sort the problem for you - not safe if your dogs go for them, fortunately mine seem to know they are best left alone.

They seem to be everywhere at the moment and they are getting aggressive. We have a nest outside our office and a number have been flying in on a daily basis.
I'd personally look to get Rentokil in or contact the council as they may pay for it to be done. Either way that nest will still be there next year if you don't get anyone in.

Oh and your poor boy, hope the swelling goes down soon, even if he's not feeling it..

2 of mine were stung last week. I gave an antihistamine tablet to them each and the swelling was gone by next day. Something to think about for next time.

ETA: one was stung on the face and the other on the base of the tail. I didn't really look at the base of hte tail much, but the face had actually gone down very quickly, possibly hours after the tablet, but unsure as to when ALL swelling was gone.

Our council wont touch them any more they just refer you to someone like rentokil.
I was lucky and my window cleaner does a line in removing wasps nests. just one squirt of something horrid and lethal and that was it.

No hope with our council.  The spray foam I used was made by Rentokil, I think these wasps are immune to the stuff. I toyed with the idea of going out there with my dyson and sucking them up from a distance, I'd have to tape up the nozzle for a few days though!

My dog still has the swelling, maybe it was one of the big hornets that got him.

Have you checked that the sting is not still in your dogs mouth - if you give antihistamine that should reduce the swelling.

There is a little red point on the swelling which I assumed was where the sting went in and when I squeezed it it a bit of blood came out. The vet also examined it because I was concerned it felt lumpy and he said that was because of the salivary glands. His temperature was and is normal, he's eating and drinking fine, playing and racing round as usual, I'm more bothered than he is. I could give him some more Piriton to see what happens?

Sounds like the sting is out, he has had a severe reaction to the sting but it will go in the long run, as he is happy with himself I would leave well alone and try to stop worrying.

Can you not smoke them and then shove the nest in a binbag?  I sent my OH up into our loft last year where they had made a nest and once he started messing about with the nest, I slammed the hatch closed and ran away like a big girl!!  He managed to get the bag tied and almost throtled me when I opened the hatch.  lol. 

I think I'd do the same.

Can't smoke them, they're going up and under a narrow crack between the soffit and flat roof. Will be interesting to see the shape of the nest as there isn't much room between the ceiling and the roof. The whole roof needs replacing as it's past its sell by date, one consolation I've been reading that they don't come back to the same nest.

The wasp catcher jar has about two dozen drowned wasps in it, only another 2000 to go.

You can waste time and money trying to do it yourself,My Oh and DD have bad reactions to wasps stings so we didn't mess about, get a man to do it properly. Only way IMO.

We had one in our loft this year and one at the side of the house a couple of years back. We got the local pest man out and he did a great job at getting rid of them.
I hate them. Last year I was on my way to help a sheep that was stuck in the mud and I must have disturbed a nest in the logs and I was attacked. They kept coming and coming, wouldn't give up no matter how far away I ran.  They got down my top and down my jeans. I was stung in so many places and it was really painful. Fortunately I am not allergic to stings so all I had to cope with was the pain. I keep well clear of them.

We've had wasps going in and out of an air brick just beside the front door, which goes under the floors.  We also bought the foam spray but decided against using it as if we block up that entrance, they may come up inside the house! :(  So we've also decided to live with them until they leave in the autumn and hope that they'll not come back next year. :(

my mother in law has just had two nests removed from her house, the council wouldn't do anything. it cost her £120 but she did call the person out at the weekend so think it's about half that on a normal working day. he did a great job though and it was well worth the money for her peace of mind.

http://www.trapawasp.co.uk/wasp_nest_hornets_nest_destroyer_kit.htm

We used the kit above for a wasps nest at MIL's  - it was the best £30 we ever spent.  Every wasp killed and no risk.  The guidelines are very clear and the hat/net very useful.

If you wait until dark when they've all come back to the nest you'll kill every one of them ;)

Hope this helps

> Can you not smoke them and then shove the nest in a binbag?  I sent my OH up into our loft last year where they had made a nest and once he started messing about with the nest, I slammed the hatch closed and ran away like a big girl!!  He managed to get the bag tied and almost throtled me when I opened the hatch.  lol. 

That made me chuckle.  i'd have done the same.

Brilliant!  Mind you, my OH is more scared of wasps than me and i'm allergic to stings.

I no if your going to try anything best done when its cold & dark out cause they tend to stay in their hive.

Can you not call someone to remove them safely?

Copy & pasted: http://eartheasy.com/live_natwasp_control.htm

Nest Destruction
You may be able to locate the nest by observing the flight patterns of the wasps: if they are flying in a straight line, they're likely on a flight path to or from the nest. Wasps flying directly in and out of a single location may be entering and leaving their nest.

Before approaching the nest, be sure to wear protective clothing that covers the whole body, including gloves and a veil which covers the face, ears and neck. Wear several layers of shirts and pants. Tape clothing cuffs at wrists and ankles close to your body. Check carefully to ensure there are no exposed parts of the body; wasps may target even the smallest exposed areas.

Wait until well after dark before removing the nest. Wasps are drowsy and slower to react during the night, but you should still exercise caution during the nest removal process. Use a headlamp if you have one, otherwise have a helper to hold a flashlight for you. You'll need both hands free. Filter the flashlight by wrapping the lens with red cellophane or thin red cloth, as wasps are attracted by yellow light. Step lightly and try not to talk when approaching the nest; wasps are sensitive to vibrations.

Aerial nests
Place a cloth bag over the entire nest and quickly tie it off at the top; as you draw in the tie, pull the nest free. The bag should be well sealed. Set the bag in a pail of water; drop a rock on the bag to keep it fully submerged.
Ground nests
If the entrance to the nest is easy to see, it can be blocked using a large, clear bowl. Use caution as there may be more than one entrance to underground nests. Set the bowl over the nest entrance and work it into the ground a bit so there are no exit routes for the wasps. This will confuse the wasps, but they won't try to dig a new entrance. The bowl should remain in place for several weeks.
Underground or inside wall nests
Nests in wall voids or underground are more difficult to remove, and should be left to the professional. (If you detect a wasp nest in the wall, do not try to eradicate it from the outside. This will force them further into the house.)
When hiring a professional to treat wasp problems in the home, ask what methods will be used. A non-toxic alternative to insect sprays and dusts is vacuuming. Some prefessional exterminators are equipped with specially adapted vacuum cleaners to draw out the wasps, which are then sold to pharmaceutical companies who extract the venom for immunotherapy.

Never try to burn an active wasp nest or flood a nest with water, as this will likely make the wasps angry and aggressive.