[wxqc] OT musing (wasRe: Req for suggestions - wasps and rain gauges)

[Gerry Creager]

I've always wondered if, in a weighing gauge, the mass of wasps and 
nests was considered valid accumulation?  ;-)

Wasps are a hazard around tipping buckets, as many have discovered. 
They're also problemmatical around towers that harbor radio antennas for 
reasons I've not had satisfactorily explained to me.  That said, I 
suspect I should ask our Entomology department.  While I'm at it, I'll 
ask if they have any ideas about this...

gerry

Steve Hatchett wrote:
> You have to be careful because some insecticides may react with the parts in
> the weather equipments. I have not tried this, but I think it would work if
> you put a single moth ball in the gauge tucked in a corner where it would
> not get wet.
> 
> Steve
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Patrick R. Sklenar [mailto:pat at sklenar.info] 
> Sent: 06/04/2007 5:55 AM
> To: Discussion of weather data quality issues
> Subject: [wxqc] Req for suggestions - wasps and rain gauges
> 
> Got up this morning to discover I've had no rain in the past 24 hours 
> ... interesting considering the pop-up t-storms of yesterday afternoon 
> and the arrival of the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry over night.  
> 0.00" rain seemed a tad ... unlikely.  especially considering how wet 
> everything is and the fact that I could see rain hitting the surfaces. 
> :(  grabbed a stool, went out, got up on the stool, removed the funnel 
> ... wasps!  argh!!  three small nests.  two up in the outter edges of 
> the funnel ... no impact to anything.  but the third one ... was built 
> on the base and was actually blocking the tipping bucket. <sigh>
> 
> the nests are gone.  the tipping bucket is now working.  but has anyone 
> found anything that really does repel the wasps?  anything i could put 
> in, under or around the bucket that won't prevent proper functioning?
> 
> Thanks,
> pat----
> N1PRS-9
> (AR651)
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-- 
Gerry Creager -- gerry.creager at tamu.edu
Texas Mesonet -- AATLT, Texas A&M University	
Cell: 979.229.5301 Office: 979.458.4020 FAX: 979.862.3983
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