630800 Tue Jun 23 15:46:56 -0700 2009 10 62 Gardening 0 4799516 I must have made my garden habitable for bees because I now have a small hive growing on a palm frond. It's only about an inch by 2 inches. It's growing in segments like a honey comb, so I'm assuming its a bee hive anyway.What do I do? Tue Jun 23 15:46:56 -0700 2009 152043 TampaAurora 1 4799613 I'm sorry to say they are probably wasps and not bees. Tue Jun 23 16:16:22 -0700 2009 4799516 89756 tkalex9052 2 4799867 That's what I'm afraid of! How do I take care of them? Tue Jun 23 17:42:42 -0700 2009 4799613 152043 TampaAurora 3 4799884 to quote Elmer Fudd...VERY very carefully. In my opinion, unless the wasps/hornets become a hazard to you, let them be (I so wanted to type bee, but stopped myself ) They also are more of garden helpers then pests. Tue Jun 23 17:47:56 -0700 2009 4799867 61669 Quine 4 4799937 I agree that a few wasps or bees should be no problem, and they are often very beneficial. Except, these small problems often grow into big ones. At that point, her small problem may be something she has to pay good money to get rid of. I hate to be cruel, but I'd get rid of it now, while it's still small enough to take care of myself. Wasp spray is an option, though it's in her garden. The other option is a big stick, layers of clothing, gloves, and running shoes. Tue Jun 23 18:11:48 -0700 2009 4799884 186923 Cachetes 5 4800291 Yep. Totally agree. What is worse - is that you will forget the hike is in the palm frond and later when you get the bug to trim (sorry, no self control - although they are not technically bugs) you will disturb their hive and... well... you know the rest. Here is a site on the natural and un natural ways to get rid of them. http://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-wasps.htm Tue Jun 23 20:16:31 -0700 2009 4799937 137755 Sal Vanilla 3 4801057 don't kill the insects, just knock off the nest to the ground and quickly throw it as far away as you can! or cut off that part of the palm frond and toss it away. The wasps will buzz aorund for a while looking for their missing nest but should be gone within a day or two days at most. Wed Jun 24 05:22:33 -0700 2009 4799867 139725 janniecooks 4 4801139 I agree - no need to kill. I'll add that they may try to rebuild in the same spot (if she doesn't cut the leaf off), so she should go back each day for a few days and knock any rebuild off. As you suggest, in a couple of days, they'll figure out it's a hostile environment and move on. Wed Jun 24 05:57:50 -0700 2009 4801057 186923 Cachetes 5 4806468 The frond is cut, and I'm waiting until I am less scared to throw it (we live in a condo full of small children on vacation.) Thu Jun 25 14:41:48 -0700 2009 4801139 152043 TampaAurora 6 4810517 As small as the hive is just wait until evening to give it a toss. Wasps get slow moving and kind of dopey after the sun goes down and the temp drops a little. Kiddies tend to be out of the way then too. I regularly knock down and stomp little hive starts wherever I see them around the outside of the house. After being repeatedly and severely stung a few years back, I'm not tolerant of the critters building on my house. Sat Jun 27 06:30:38 -0700 2009 4806468 160677 morwen 1 4800524 This reminded me of the reason to paint the underside (ceiling) of a porch sky blue. Tue Jun 23 21:55:57 -0700 2009 4799516 224238 Caralien