Darned red wasps

Mamachibi 5/16/2012, 7:52 pm

Every year we've fought off the red wasps that build nests in the rafters outside. This year I watched as a red wasp plucked a little green bug off the lettuce leaf he was chomping and made himself a meal of it.

I guess this is the year we don't try to keep the red wasps away!

Also found a WHOLE LOT of pill bugs in the soil around the lettuce I harvested today. I know they're beneficial, that they only eat decaying matter, but...ew.

Weedless_ 5/16/2012, 9:24 pm

That sounds great. Just one word of warning. Those wasps are really easy to confuse with squash vine borers, who are technically moths, but looks like wasps and fly around in the day light. Freaks! Those can destroy your cucurbits in a blink of an eye. I know because I've been there.

Mamachibi 5/17/2012, 7:12 am

From the pix I've seen, it looks like squash vine borers have a larger black body and larger wings than our skinny-waisted red wasps. But I'll sure keep an eye out.

Nicola 5/17/2012, 2:04 pm

Mamachibi wrote:
Also found a WHOLE LOT of pill bugs in the soil around the lettuce I harvested today. I know they're beneficial, that they only eat decaying matter, but...ew.

I'm guessing you don't have chickens in your backyard. In that situation, I would just call one or more of my girls over to the area, "Chick-chick, chick-chick" and let them feast on the little roly poly critters. (But not all of 'em, then I'd worry about the lettuce)
You should get chickens! They're entertaining and pay their rent in eggs and great compostable poop.

Pepper 5/17/2012, 4:44 pm

check out this link it has a picture of SVB red bodied wasp looking. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/M1209.html

I know you know the critters you speak of are wasp; you have seen the nest. Others have not seen the squash vine borer

Mamachibi 5/20/2012, 9:59 am

Sadly, hubby said "You'll be seeing a divorce lawyer before you see chickens in the backyard."

He came from an upbringing that chickens=poverty (as in selling eggs to pay the rent.) I came from an upbringing that chickens=pest control and yummy eggs! It took about 10 years to convince him of four four foot squares in the back yard. I don't see chickens in my future. Sad

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