Wasp building in my purple Martin gourds
. Hello everybody. HAPPY EASTER. I am having problems with wasp wanting to build in my gourds. Has anyone else had this problem and how did you solve it. I am afraid to spray anything inside. Because I don't want to hurt the martins. Please help me ,if you have any suggestions or advice on what to do to deter these. Wasp. Thanks for any reply help. Chase
Chase, I'm no expert but have had wasps nest building inside my gourds & houses...especially my naturals! I have used a sponge paint brush & brushed vaseline in the roofs making sure I didn't get any near where the martins would touch it. I now have almost all plastic gourds that seem to be less susceptible to attracting wasps but have also had them even start nests in my metal houses. I do use the same technique on them as well. I'm sure there must be other options like Ivory Soap bars rubbed on the roofs but the vaseline has been effective here!
I also watch when I see a wasp flying around my housing to make sure they don't get a nest started. I have several small naturals in my trees for wrens & have often lost potential nesting in them when the wasps start a nest in their cavities...it is a constant battle here in North Texas!!!!
Good luck & don't get stung!!! I try to check the gourds when it is cool to reduce the risk!!!
I also watch when I see a wasp flying around my housing to make sure they don't get a nest started. I have several small naturals in my trees for wrens & have often lost potential nesting in them when the wasps start a nest in their cavities...it is a constant battle here in North Texas!!!!
Good luck & don't get stung!!! I try to check the gourds when it is cool to reduce the risk!!!
Take Care!!
Lila
2009--1 ASY & 1 SY Pair
2010--6 Pairs
2011--11 Successful Pairs + 1 Late Pair that lost their brood to heat!
2012--18 ASY Pairs & 1 SY Pair---104 eggs so far! 1 SY nest lost to infanticide! :o(
Lila
2009--1 ASY & 1 SY Pair
2010--6 Pairs
2011--11 Successful Pairs + 1 Late Pair that lost their brood to heat!
2012--18 ASY Pairs & 1 SY Pair---104 eggs so far! 1 SY nest lost to infanticide! :o(
I went out at night and plugged the hole with a sponge, taped off the vent, then saturated the sponge with alcohol. The next morning, no more wasp.
Tony
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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Carlton
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
If martins are not yet checking out your houses you can spray a pyrethrin based flying insect spray through the entrance either at night or on a cool/damp morning. You want to spray when the wasps are on the nest.
I have all plastic gourds at one of my sites and the wasps had taken over. After the wasps were dead I dumped out the prenesting pine needles I sprayed the sides and "ceiling" of the gourds with nonstick PAM. I wiped it down a little so it had a very thin coating on it but no runs or heavy areas. I put in fresh, dry pine needles.
No wasps returned.
I know that the naturals are rougher inside though. Might still work.
Just BE CAREFUL. Remember they can still sting even if they are lying there near death.
I have all plastic gourds at one of my sites and the wasps had taken over. After the wasps were dead I dumped out the prenesting pine needles I sprayed the sides and "ceiling" of the gourds with nonstick PAM. I wiped it down a little so it had a very thin coating on it but no runs or heavy areas. I put in fresh, dry pine needles.
No wasps returned.
I know that the naturals are rougher inside though. Might still work.
Just BE CAREFUL. Remember they can still sting even if they are lying there near death.
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3792
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Are there martins in your gourds or not?
2026 HOSP 29
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.