5 replies to this topic

[Flu1d]

I, too, would like to know if anyone has had experience with wasps, so... Bump!

[Locness]

It's been a while, but I used to keep Polistes exclamans. In spring, I'd locate a new nest and wait until nighttime to collect it. I used a clear container and flat board to do so. For enclosures, I used critter keepers I flipped upside down and an exo terra nano tall. Prior to putting them in the enclosure, I attached a cardboard piece to the top of the enclosure to glue the nest to. The collected nest and wasps would go in the fridge for a bit, which made it easy to access the nest and move in the wasps. For food, I fed honey, nectar, insects I found outside, and fruit. For nest building I gave them tissue paper, cardboard, and wood from fences.  At a certain point I open the container for them to forage outside and for the new queens to mate/leave, but I can't recall when. I plan to keep them again in the future, there's a certain thrill to keeping them. And yes, the stings hurt like hell lol

 

 

[T.C.]

"Hurt Like Hell" is an understatement. I'm severely allergic, especially to wasp stings and I've had several close calls for the pearly gates because of them. This picture gives me PTSD.

[Flu1d]

It's been a while, but I used to keep Polistes exclamans. In spring, I'd locate a new nest and wait until nighttime to collect it. I used a clear container and flat board to do so. For enclosures, I used critter keepers I flipped upside down and an exo terra nano tall. Prior to putting them in the enclosure, I attached a cardboard piece to the top of the enclosure to glue the nest to. The collected nest and wasps would go in the fridge for a bit, which made it easy to access the nest and move in the wasps. For food, I fed honey, nectar, insects I found outside, and fruit. For nest building I gave them tissue paper, cardboard, and wood from fences. At a certain point I open the container for them to forage outside and for the new queens to mate/leave, but I can't recall when. I plan to keep them again in the future, there's a certain thrill to keeping them. And yes, the stings hurt like hell lol

Wow,they are beautiful!

[LowQualityAnts]

There was a wasp nuptial flight outside my house two weeks ago and oh my god they were everywhere.