TheHonestPirate
Arachnoknight
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2014
- Messages
- 252
Youre telling me there are wasps that you can handle? Thats crazy..
Need Wasp Advice - Rescued A Hibernating Queen?
- Thread starter lauramars
- Start date
- Joined
- May 7, 2006
- Messages
- 1,272
Well any updates, the wasps are starting to move around up here... so maybe yours is now moree active?
Creeper
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2015
- Messages
- 8
Would be interested to get an update on Prim.
Update on Prim the Wasp!
Hey everyone! I am necro-ing this thread to give an update on Prim and once again ask the advice of the good people on this forum. Your advice so far has really helped us understand our wasp better. Prim is still alive and well. She has now lived with my husband and I since the winter, and we successfully moved her to a larger enclosure a couple months ago.
I am going to post pictures of her and her new enclosure below, but first a status update on her behavior and my observations, questions, and concerns.
- Despite the warm weather, Prim is not really moving much, and shows no inclination to build a hive. I have seen wasps out and about outside, so I know it's time for her to be more active. Still, she acts like she's still "hibernating" much of the time.
- Prim spends the majority of her days and nights huddled under a small "tent" of paper towels in the center of her enclosure. We have not removed this paper towel tent, as she seems to get agitated when we fuss with it.
- She tends to become extremely active when placed in direct sunlight. We've seen her take flight a couple of times when we put her in the sun, so we know her wings are working.
- She's not interested in the cardboard we've glued into the corner of her enclosure.
- She doesn't seem to eat much. We keep her supplied with honey, water, and apple slices regularly, though we don't often see her using any of the supplies. We've seen her feed and drink a couple of times, so we know she knows where they are. We also purchased live mealworms and have offered them to her, but the one time we observed her interacting with a live mealworm, she tapped it with her antenna, then ran in the opposite direction to hide in her tent. She's ignored any subsequent mealworms. The mealworms are not bigger than she is, and I've seen videos of P. Dominula killing large insects without a problem. Pacifist wasp?
My questions:
- What can we do to encourage Prim to start a hive? What are we not doing?
- Is there a reason she would reject the mealworms?
- Would removing the paper towel tent encourage her to build, or would this be seen as an aggressive or destructive move?
- Is placing her in the sunlight safe? We have avoided doing it for any length of time because we're afraid she'll cook in the plastic enclosure. But on the other hand, it's the only time she really seems to become active and attempt flight.
Here are some pictures:
Our cat was curious about the wasp so my husband lifted her up to see - this is the only 'far shot' I have of the enclosure. The white patch of crumpled paper in the middle is her paper towel tent. Don't worry, the cat can't get up onto that shelf on her own - everyone is safe.
Exploring.
Flaring her wings.
Our friends and family all think we are insane for willingly adopting a wasp, but whatever, Prim is our pet.
Any advice or thoughts you experts feel like sharing would be very much appreciated, and thanks for reading!
Hey everyone! I am necro-ing this thread to give an update on Prim and once again ask the advice of the good people on this forum. Your advice so far has really helped us understand our wasp better. Prim is still alive and well. She has now lived with my husband and I since the winter, and we successfully moved her to a larger enclosure a couple months ago.
I am going to post pictures of her and her new enclosure below, but first a status update on her behavior and my observations, questions, and concerns.
- Despite the warm weather, Prim is not really moving much, and shows no inclination to build a hive. I have seen wasps out and about outside, so I know it's time for her to be more active. Still, she acts like she's still "hibernating" much of the time.
- Prim spends the majority of her days and nights huddled under a small "tent" of paper towels in the center of her enclosure. We have not removed this paper towel tent, as she seems to get agitated when we fuss with it.
- She tends to become extremely active when placed in direct sunlight. We've seen her take flight a couple of times when we put her in the sun, so we know her wings are working.
- She's not interested in the cardboard we've glued into the corner of her enclosure.
- She doesn't seem to eat much. We keep her supplied with honey, water, and apple slices regularly, though we don't often see her using any of the supplies. We've seen her feed and drink a couple of times, so we know she knows where they are. We also purchased live mealworms and have offered them to her, but the one time we observed her interacting with a live mealworm, she tapped it with her antenna, then ran in the opposite direction to hide in her tent. She's ignored any subsequent mealworms. The mealworms are not bigger than she is, and I've seen videos of P. Dominula killing large insects without a problem. Pacifist wasp?
My questions:
- What can we do to encourage Prim to start a hive? What are we not doing?
- Is there a reason she would reject the mealworms?
- Would removing the paper towel tent encourage her to build, or would this be seen as an aggressive or destructive move?
- Is placing her in the sunlight safe? We have avoided doing it for any length of time because we're afraid she'll cook in the plastic enclosure. But on the other hand, it's the only time she really seems to become active and attempt flight.
Here are some pictures:
Our cat was curious about the wasp so my husband lifted her up to see - this is the only 'far shot' I have of the enclosure. The white patch of crumpled paper in the middle is her paper towel tent. Don't worry, the cat can't get up onto that shelf on her own - everyone is safe.
Exploring.
Flaring her wings.
Our friends and family all think we are insane for willingly adopting a wasp, but whatever, Prim is our pet.
Any advice or thoughts you experts feel like sharing would be very much appreciated, and thanks for reading!
Najakeeper
Arachnoprince
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2010
- Messages
- 1,050
I have no Wasp experience but this topic should be "upped" for the experts to see. Awesome "pet" 
.
.
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2003
- Messages
- 2,837
I am afraid I've not kept wasps myself, but do know they enjoy sunlight, with adequate ventilation, the heat from the sun should not be adverse, try with a half half exposure perhaps? one half sunlit one half concealed?
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2005
- Messages
- 11,503
Follow the old adage: Animals are products of their environment. So you move and modify the environment a little at a time until she demonstrates traits closely resembling how she would/should act in the wild.
Malhavoc that's a good suggestion. We're going to drape a cotton towel over half her enclosure and try it!
My husband and I are going to visit my family in Minnesota in a week and we're not sure how to deal with Prim, she's not the type of pet you can easily ask a neighbor to take care of. One of our biggest problems is that her water supply evaporates so quickly
We purchased a small amount of "gel water" used for crickets in place of water - would that be ok to give to a wasp? Does it "spoil"? Is it ok to leave in her habitat for a week? Thanks!
My husband and I are going to visit my family in Minnesota in a week and we're not sure how to deal with Prim, she's not the type of pet you can easily ask a neighbor to take care of. One of our biggest problems is that her water supply evaporates so quickly
We purchased a small amount of "gel water" used for crickets in place of water - would that be ok to give to a wasp? Does it "spoil"? Is it ok to leave in her habitat for a week? Thanks!
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2003
- Messages
- 2,837
That should work fine, however they too will dry out. It is a tricky situation, you could try adding a small container with water and pebbles in it, that way she can climb out if she falls in, yet it will have sufficient quantity to not dry out
Ninja edit: what we do with ants is a test tube and cotton ball set up, we fill the test tube with water, and another with sugar water, then wad a cotton ball into it, this prevents the water from escaping other then by leaching through the cotton which the ants can drink from, a similar set up could be adapted for the wasp, less exposure slower evaporation.
Good Luck, Prim
Well, after many months of trying to provide Prim with the best environment and food that we could, my husband and I realized that the only thing she really wanted to do was get out of her cage. She wasn't interested in killing or eating the different bugs we provided (we provided her with both dead and live insects and she didn't show interest in any of them), or making a hive with the materials we put in her cage, and most of the time she was dormant and sleeping, or slowly crawling around. The only exception to this was when we put her in the sunlight - then she became active, but the only thing she tried to do at that time was get out of her cage. She would fly directly into the plastic towards the light over and over, sometimes even falling down and scrambling back up to do it again.
We felt a lot of empathy with this wasp who just seemed to switch between almost complete dormancy and desperately wanting to be free.
So a couple of days ago, we let her go. It's what she seemed to want most, and she flew off into the sunlight without a second thought. It was awesome to see her soar into the air and join the other insect life of the world. We never would have imagined that the slowly crawling, tiny, half-frozen wasp that fell onto our windowsill in late November could be the same large, graceful, black and yellow creature that flew away on Saturday.
We did leave her shelter propped open on the balcony if she wanted to return and make it her "base", but it's been a couple of days and she hasn't returned. Maybe it's not the most responsible thing we could have done in the big picture, but it was the best thing we could think of to do for her in the long run, since getting out was the only thing she seemed to really want. She faced a slow death in captivity with no hive or family, or a quick death at our hands, and we came to care for Prim so much that couldn't face the idea of either one.
Thank you to everyone for your help these past few months. I have learned more about wasps and many other insects than I ever thought I would!
Maybe the decision to release Prim won't be popular with people here (I know most people hate wasps), but everyone has been so helpful that I wanted to tell the story of her fate. It seemed like the only acceptable choice we had. I know these types of wasps can be regarded as troublemakers, but as my husband said, she's our troublemaker. So we wish her the best.
Well, after many months of trying to provide Prim with the best environment and food that we could, my husband and I realized that the only thing she really wanted to do was get out of her cage. She wasn't interested in killing or eating the different bugs we provided (we provided her with both dead and live insects and she didn't show interest in any of them), or making a hive with the materials we put in her cage, and most of the time she was dormant and sleeping, or slowly crawling around. The only exception to this was when we put her in the sunlight - then she became active, but the only thing she tried to do at that time was get out of her cage. She would fly directly into the plastic towards the light over and over, sometimes even falling down and scrambling back up to do it again.
We felt a lot of empathy with this wasp who just seemed to switch between almost complete dormancy and desperately wanting to be free.
So a couple of days ago, we let her go. It's what she seemed to want most, and she flew off into the sunlight without a second thought. It was awesome to see her soar into the air and join the other insect life of the world. We never would have imagined that the slowly crawling, tiny, half-frozen wasp that fell onto our windowsill in late November could be the same large, graceful, black and yellow creature that flew away on Saturday.
We did leave her shelter propped open on the balcony if she wanted to return and make it her "base", but it's been a couple of days and she hasn't returned. Maybe it's not the most responsible thing we could have done in the big picture, but it was the best thing we could think of to do for her in the long run, since getting out was the only thing she seemed to really want. She faced a slow death in captivity with no hive or family, or a quick death at our hands, and we came to care for Prim so much that couldn't face the idea of either one.
Thank you to everyone for your help these past few months. I have learned more about wasps and many other insects than I ever thought I would!
Maybe the decision to release Prim won't be popular with people here (I know most people hate wasps), but everyone has been so helpful that I wanted to tell the story of her fate. It seemed like the only acceptable choice we had. I know these types of wasps can be regarded as troublemakers, but as my husband said, she's our troublemaker. So we wish her the best.
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2003
- Messages
- 2,837
You tried a very difficult task, I know of people who have kidnapped established nests not heard of any start from scratch, thanks for keeping us updated!
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2005
- Messages
- 11,503
You went above and beyond the call of duty. Not just in the rescue of the animal but in bringing forth the highest possible quality we possess: compassion. The cosmic dance is a little richer for your actions. Nuff said.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2012
- Messages
- 501
Thanks for the update, and I honestly would have done the very same. I have never been a direct fan of wasps, but your thread has opened my eyes quite a bit. Releasing her, in my opinion, is the most natural next step in your care for her.
To me, you kept her guarded from predators and the elements until she had the strength to do it herself. Kudos, yo!
To me, you kept her guarded from predators and the elements until she had the strength to do it herself. Kudos, yo!
Mr Waspman
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2022
- Messages
- 1
I know it is about 10 years too late to reply to the Wasp story or if my message will even be found, but, I have been searching on line to try and find out how to help the Vespula vulgaris Wasp, that was flying around in my house in January six weeks ago survive until Spring and what temperature she should be kept at. All the sites I found were mostly Pest Control sites describing how to kill them, - not so useful. I am sure she must be a Queen, I caught her and confined her to a ventilated box with an old fluffy sock to sit on. She has not moved since and I didn't want to disturb her, I have put in Honey/water and some moistened dried Mealworms and Calciworms but as she has not moved she certainly has not been feeding. I currently have the box in a cool unheated room with very low light conditions. I will be pleased to recieve any help/comments .
During late summer 2022 I had one or two Vespula vulgaris Wasps in the kitchen so I thought I would put some sugar solution outside for them and they told all their mates, I started feeding them 4oz. of Sugar in 500ml of water, I had to fill up the container four times/day. so today that is 2 litres of sugar solution in one day.
I found a Wasp floating in a bowl of water in kitchen sink, I scooped it up and put it on a bit of tissue by the AGA to dry. An hour later I had a look at it under my microscope but there was no sign of life at all, and its sting was sticking out. I thought, I am going to bring this Wasp back to life. So under the microscope I sorted out its tangled legs and Antennae, and with a sharpened cocktail stick, I gently manipulated its legs and rubbed it's back , its feet started to make microsdcopic twitches, then its abdomen started to move, then it's mouth parts moved a bit, so I started giving micro amounts of sugar solution just tiny bits on the the sharpened end of the stick. and it started feeding but it was still lying on its side unable to move, after 15 minutse of feeding and stroking it it started to move its legs. so I put it on some tissue in a margarine tub by the AGA and 30 minutes later it was flapping its wings, I carried the box outside to where my Wasp feeder is and all her mates came to see her, and what a story she had to tell them the box had about 15 - 20 Wasps in it. I don't expect they believed her though -- Miracle ! Mr Waspman
During late summer 2022 I had one or two Vespula vulgaris Wasps in the kitchen so I thought I would put some sugar solution outside for them and they told all their mates, I started feeding them 4oz. of Sugar in 500ml of water, I had to fill up the container four times/day. so today that is 2 litres of sugar solution in one day.
I found a Wasp floating in a bowl of water in kitchen sink, I scooped it up and put it on a bit of tissue by the AGA to dry. An hour later I had a look at it under my microscope but there was no sign of life at all, and its sting was sticking out. I thought, I am going to bring this Wasp back to life. So under the microscope I sorted out its tangled legs and Antennae, and with a sharpened cocktail stick, I gently manipulated its legs and rubbed it's back , its feet started to make microsdcopic twitches, then its abdomen started to move, then it's mouth parts moved a bit, so I started giving micro amounts of sugar solution just tiny bits on the the sharpened end of the stick. and it started feeding but it was still lying on its side unable to move, after 15 minutse of feeding and stroking it it started to move its legs. so I put it on some tissue in a margarine tub by the AGA and 30 minutes later it was flapping its wings, I carried the box outside to where my Wasp feeder is and all her mates came to see her, and what a story she had to tell them the box had about 15 - 20 Wasps in it. I don't expect they believed her though -- Miracle ! Mr Waspman
