Unconventional Wasp Nest Disposal

[Flying10uk]

HEALTH WARNING, please do not try replicating the following which is very dangerous and could result in serious injury to yourself or others. This was done before the invention of health and safety.

During the 1930s and 40s my Grandfather had a novel way of getting rid of ground wasp nests which I have never heard of anyone else doing anything similar. When my Grandfather had a problem wasp nest in the ground he would sprinkle a little gun powder over the top of the wasp nest and then "carefully" toss a lighted match into the gun powder. Because the gun powder was not in an enclosed vessel there was only a sudden flash then, presumably, a few flames and enough to kill the wasps. I have not personally witnessed this procedure but my father did and so I know it worked. Apparently you needed the sudden initial flash to kill the wasps instantly or the wasps may have had their revenge.

It is possible that my Grandfather learnt this trick in Australia where he spent a few years as a boy while his family attempted to make a living from sheep farming. I have mentioned this novel wasp disposal method to a number of people over the years but no-one has ever heard of anyone else doing anything similar. My Grandfather had access to the gun powder, I assume, because he was a shot gun and rifle owner for many years.

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