The MGS Forum
Gardening in mediterranean climates => Wildlife in the garden (birds, butterflies, and how to attract them) => Topic started by: David Bracey on September 06, 2013, 04:36:48 PM
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Our bay tree is a haven for wasps. Icannot find a nest. I wonder if they are just attracted to the smell of the bay leaves. Has anyone else noticed this ? Or other similar events whereinsectsare attracted to specific plants?
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Could the Bay tree have aphids, or some such pest, secreting 'honeydew'?
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A few weeks ago David, I noticed an Hedychium leaf that had been ravaged. Holes everywhere. No visible sign of infestation. So I checked the internet, and there was numerous mentions, that the damage could have been caused by a solitary female Wasp.
I waited with jar in hand, within 30 minutes, she turned up and is now living on a golf course many miles away.
Problem solved. One Wasp and only one leaf.
In answer to your question, I have a number of Bay trees, none of them are effected by wasps.
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Aphids could be the reason for your wasp invasion, they are listed as one of the common insect pest of bay aurels. If so, the wasps are natural predators, and I have seen them recommended introduced to fight the aphids. Scale bugs are very common on bay trees, they produce some sweet, sticky stuff, but I am not sure if the wasp are specifically keen on that.