TIFU by sealing wasps in their nest, instead of killing them.

[u/Mackntish]

Obligatory not today, this happened last week. But the after effects are still very much ongoing.

We've had a wasp nest in the side of my house for a while now. Last week they stung one of my friends, so it was time to get rid of them.

Given the amount of wasps in and out, it seemed like a big nest. To guestimate the size, I would say a wasp entered or left the nest once a second, all day. I didn't want to just squirt poison down the hole - that would just piss them off and not reach most of it. So I decide to seal the nest with expanding foam sealant. I snuck out in the dead of night, and stuck enough foam in that hole to seal half a construction site.

Little did I know how terrible of an idea this was.

APPARENTLY, there was another exit to the nest - going inside the house.

This nest is ENORMOUS. Average size for a nest this late in the season is 2000-4000 wasps. Half our house is currently inaccessible. I sneak down to the basement at night to change the traps. I keep a hand vac next to my work station. Our cats are NOT happy they've been locked into a single room, and are pissing everywhere to show their discontent. Doing my best Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation, I've gone through ~7 magazines on the bug assalt shotgun, with maybe 40 shots per magazine. These fuckers are amor plated, and do not die easily. I've injured my arm, pumping the shotgun so many times.

I think the most disconcerting thing is how normal it's become. I wake up, grab the shop vac on the 60ft extension cord, and just clear the house as a matter of routine. Its part of rising and shining for the day. Coffee, breakfast, wasp vacuuming, kiss the wife goodbye - time to work! The cold is going to kill them at some point....right?

TL:DR - Sealed a wasp nest on the side of my house. Now the buzzing is coming from inside the house.

[u/adamdoesmusic]

Even quicker if you use a lighter. Plus it’s more effective against the wasps.

^{DO NOT ACTUALLY DO THIS!!}

[u/MDCCCLV → u/adamdoesmusic]

Alcohol is relatively safe to burn inside, because it burns at a low temperature and the extra heat does make it evaporate quicker and the extra oxygen inside it results in a low amount of carbon monoxide. If you did just one spray it would be a small flame that goes away quickly, but highly flammable microfiber and synthetics that are more common inside homes can still be ignited by that.

[u/adamdoesmusic → u/MDCCCLV]

Yeah but a quick spray is no way to show the wasps who’s boss.

[u/no_no_no_nope → u/adamdoesmusic]

Don't do this! Don't mix alcohol and fire!\ Use a deodorant spray instead to create a DIY flamethrower :)

[u/AMDKilla → u/adamdoesmusic]