Much Ado About Not Very Much

Early in July I noticed four or five wasps buzzing around in our storage shed. I saw they were flying into a cardboard box on the top shelf. It was one of those boxes with oval handhold cutouts for easier lifting, and they were entering via the cutout on one side. Peering up at the box, I could see a paper nest inside of it. From the angle I was looking at it, I couldn't tell how big it was, nor could I positively identify the buzzy things. I just knew they ought not be allowed to live in that box in the shed, where we frequently come and go to get things and store things.

While I considered what to do, a nearby neighbor posted a question on local social media about a hornet's nest they needed to have removed. Various people recommended a pest control service, and another fellow said his son could do it.

I inquired of the pest control service. They wanted $250 for a one-time job, with no guarantee the pests wouldn't return. Alternatively, for about $600, I could get quarterly service for a year and then they would guarantee their services. They would spray all over inside and outside of the house for many different pests.

But that's not what I wanted! I don't want products like that sprayed in the house, and we don't have any other serious pest issues, just that one poorly-placed nest. So I called the fellow whose father recommended him. He just deals with wasp nests as a side job, and only charges $100. That sounded much better to me. He also told me how we could do it ourselves, but because of the position of the box, a ladder would be involved. And it had to be done after dark. It all sounded like something I'd rather not get involved with. The neighbor and I decided to call that man and let him deal with our unwelcome buzzing insects.

The fellow came after it was dark. He donned a small headlamp, got up on a ladder, quickly applied duct tape over the handhold cutout and around the other edges of the box where there was enough wear and tear to allow an insect to gain entry or exit. No wasps were active while he was doing it. With the help of his teenage son, the entire box went into a large plastic bag and was set in the yard where the sun would shine on it for several hours a day. He said to just leave it for 3 or 4 days, and the critters would die.

I admit I was reluctant to open that box, so I let it just sit there until today, gathering dust. It contained odds and ends like old purses and bicycle seats, so nothing was going to be damaged by sitting out there.

I wrestled it out of the tight-fitting black plastic bag, and you can see how the man put duct tape all over the edges.

When I opened the nest to see what was inside, all I found was one tiny corpse. I used Google Lens to try to identify the nest builders. It said "The image shows a nest, likely from a Bald-faced Hornet, which is a type of yellowjacket wasp."

All that fuss and $100 for one little buzzy insect! I wonder where the others went? Was it never their home at all? Were they just investigating the day I happened to notice them? Are they some nasty species that killed off the occupants and moved on to other victims? Did they hear me talking about pest control and decide to move out? There was no way for me to know that was a largely-unoccupied nest. Oh well. It's all over now, and if we ever run into a situation like that again, I know how to take care of it myself if I happen to be feeling brave and adventurous. (And maybe foolish.)