Insects

[poliphilo]

We have hornets nesting in the roof. One of them got into the bathroom last night and was furiously bumping itself against the light fitting. I slipped on a latex glove, trapped it in a hand towel and bundled it out the window. It came straight back in. We repeated this action four times. On the fifth incursion it brought a friend with it. This got me really annoyed- and a little scared- and maybe I moved a little faster- because this time I slammed the window shut before either of them could return.

My mother has a buddleia. I went over to admire it yesterday and found it full of bees and butterflies. I counted at least four red admirals. 

Comments

[wyrmwwd.livejournal.com]

My experience with hornets are that they are much more intelligent than the average arthropod. They get pissed off, and they remember who did it.

I don't like to kill anything on my property. Most things in nature tend to work themselves out. But, I did have to spray a hornets nest. They wouldn't let us into our house.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We had a wasps nest in our front yard once. Right by the gate. I heaved a spade into it- and ran.

I don't kill things if I can avoid it. Little buzzy things also have a right to life.

[wyrmwwd.livejournal.com]

Right there with you. We tried for weeks to find an alternative. But then, when we were leaving the house with the sliding glass patio door left unlocked so that we could get back into the house because the hornets were guarding the front door, we finally gave in. I don't feel good about it. There were wasp's nests in there for years that we had a live and let live relationship with. It was very traumatic for us all.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The hornets came into the house again last night. I'm worried this will escalate to the point where we'll need to take action.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

Admirals are beautiful and comparativelt common here in Kent.

My own favourite is the wee chalk hill blue.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The fields at the back of the house are full of small brown butterflies I can't identify.