JayN wrote:
I live in a condo (end unit townhouse). There is a slanted wood trim
near the roof on the side of the building. There is a gap behind the
wood trim and wasps (yellowjackets) have been flying into the gap
behind the wood trim and building nests there. Although I wasn't
aware of this at first, my impression is that they have been nesting
there every year. I've been here almost 4 years.

If they haven't gotten inside the building or bothered anyone, are
they best left alone, or does leaving them alone typically lead to
them causing damage?

Seems to me the only permanent solution would involve screening off
the gap, but the wasps would need to be exterminated first, and one
would have to be very certain they are all dead before screening off
the gap. Should I insist this be done, or are they best simply left
alone?

Thanks,

Jay
You block off the gap after the 2nd or 3rd hard frost, if you get frosts
in your area, and don't want to pay for an exterminator. Wasps (the kind
that build mud nests) are a PITA to grounds crew, kids, pets, etc, but
seldom do actual damage. Other flying things, like bees, or the flying
things that bore holes to nest in, can get in the wall and trash the
place. I would definitely bring this to the attention of the association
or the management company. Likely they have an exterminator on retainer.
Is this an actual gap between trim boards, or are they just hanging a
nest behind the shadow line of the fly rafter, out of the rain? Take a
walk and look at the other roof ends in the complex. Do they all have
the gap you are referring to, or did the finish carpenter just make a
boo-boo on your building? If you have a camera that can zoom in,
pictures are always useful to turn in with the report, otherwise you may
have to actually show somebody in person.

aem sends...