General Wasp damage

[CDK]

Last week on mountain roads with numerous hairpins I really needed the horn, but it remained silent.
It turned out to be damage caused by earth (mud) wasps in the fuse box under the hood. These insects use earth from the seashore to build nests in quiet, dry locations. Unfortunately the earth is saline and conducts electricity quite well.
The 15A fuse under the brown lump completely lost one leg due to electrolysis.

The cover over the fuse box looks pretty good, but provides access for mice and insects where the major cable leaves the box at the bottom.

 

[g8rpi]

These wasps also "attack" aircraft. They have caused several accidents and incidents by building nests in the pitot tubes that sense airspeed.
http://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2015/07/small-but-dangerous/
A recent event was caused by just two hours of wasp activity.
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2013/aair/ao-2013-212/

Robert G8RPI.
Any opinions stated in this email are my mine and may not reflect those of my employer.
(required statement if I comment on anything related to my day job)

 

[CDK]

The solitary ones that plug all kinds of orifices are closely related to those building nests with 30 or more cells, each containing a larva and 2 or 3 dead spiders as a food source.
Over the years they have caused all kinds of damage here. I had to rewire the instruments in my boat after a dozen nests ruined all current carrying terminals. The rooftop air conditioner on the Ducato is a victim each year; I even don't clean it anymore, just leave it there to cover the hole in the roof to keep the rain out.