[diamondgirl45]

OMGosh! We have a flowering bush outside our kitchen window that is covered with huge black wasps. I have never even heard of these before today. Is this a problem in Michigan? I am allergic to wasp sting, and I am rather worried about going outdoors now.
Has anyone encountered these before?? Any advice?

[mgt04]

Get a flamethrower and torch them all!!!

If that doesn't suit you I'd recommend the local pest control to take care of it. There's definitely a hive in that bush or right nearby that they're building.

[diamondgirl45]

While the flamethrower sounds tempting...I will wait it out and see what they do next. There are about 9-10 flying around right now trying to get to the flowers on the bush. It is pretty windy and they can't seem to hold on.
I have never even heard of black wasps, much less seen any before. Are they common in Michigan?

[Peter B]

Don't be foolish. Just call a pest control company from your Yellow Pages. You're better off letting professionals handle an issue of this nature.

[Sparrow_temp]

Wasps are very common in MI. Go to Lowes -- get some Wasp killer that shoots 30 ft and kills on contact. Watch them and see if you can find out where they are going/coming from. I've never had to call a pest control company. You're probably seeing them now because of the higher temperatures.

I've never been stung by them but if I knew I was allergic -- I'd probably be calling somebody else to deal with them.

[chiroptera]

Are they these, perhaps?
According to this very recent story, they are a new invasive species in Michigan, and yes, call a pest control company!

"An exotic wood wasp, Sirex noctilio, has made its way to Michigan.....The wasp was recently captured in a trap in Macomb County," McCullough said. "The larvae of this insect feed in stressed, dying or recently killed pine trees."

I also found these - yikes. Although according to that article they're fairly benign.

I generally really like bugs and leave them alone. Unless they sting or are an invasive species... I pay attention to my local insect population and haven't noticed black wasps.

[wagonman76]

Of if they're black and white, they could be bald faced hornets and those are serious bad news.

If you're allergic I do agree to have someone else handle them.

If you absolutely have to do it yourself, you can use one of the cold mornings or evenings that seem to be so common lately. Below a certain temperature they will be dormant and can't or won't fly so they're easier to deal with.

[diamondgirl45]

Originally Posted by chiroptera

."

I also found these - yikes. Although according to that article they're fairly benign.

Yep, that is them. I don't think the nest is in the bush, but they are going nuts eating from it. It is our first summer here, so I am not familiar with the plants that we have yet. I didn't see any last fall when we moved in, so perhaps they will be gone soon.

[MittenDweller82]

Many people mistake common paper wasps with other invasive species...there are also what are called "cicada killers" that are massive wasps that migrate through Michigan in the fall both are large species and look very threatningl

[northstar22]

Cicada Killers live in Michigan? They're common throughout the South and southern Midwest, but I didn't know they lived this far north. I've never seen one around here.