If you discover the beginning of a wasp nest in the roof or if the animals are more numerous in one place, you should drive them away gently with a suitable agent.

In a nutshell

  • Wasp colonies often settle in roofs due to the sheltered location
  • suitable home remedies do not harm the insects and are effective against the nests
  • unpleasant odors ensure that a wasp nest is left early
  • Water is a quick emergency solution against the insects

Drive away the wasp nest: 6 resources

There are a variety of home remedies to get rid of a wasp nest in the roof. Roofs are ideal for the insects as they are protected from the weather and predators. At the same time, a roof truss or attic is not so often used by people. For this reason, many wasp nests are only noticed much too late. However, you should be aware that home remedies for wasps are most effective while the animals are settling. The right time can be recognized by the following behaviors:

Wasps build on a wasp nest
  • individual specimens fly around purposefully
  • Openings in the roof are flown to
  • The number of insects is steadily increasing

Ideally, you should do something about the hornet's nest at this stage so that it doesn't complete. Since the queen hasn't settled in completely yet, she flees faster and takes her people with her. While it is possible to empty an existing nest, it is not guaranteed. Fortunately, there are 6 home remedies that you can use to combat them effectively and gently.

Notice: Most commonly German (Vespula germanica) or common wasps (Vespula vulgaris) build a nest in the roof. Less common are peaceful hornets (Vespa crabro) or the Saxon wasp (Dolichovespula saxonica).

lemons and cloves

One of the most effective home remedies for a wasp nest in the roof is the use of lemons and cloves. Vespinae are endowed with a very good sense of smell, which you can put to good use. The spice and citrus combine well to create a strong barrier of scents that will drive folks away. To do this, proceed as follows:

  • Halve the lemon
  • put enough cloves in the pulp
  • thick side must face up
cloves

Once the lemon halves have been prepared, place them in close proximity to the nest. Be careful not to place them in the immediate vicinity of an open window so that the scent can accumulate and the effect is increased. In most cases, one lemon will not suffice. Feel free to use more lemons so that you don't give the animals a choice to leave their nest and look for a new nesting place. If necessary, replace the home remedy after a while with fresh lemons and cloves.

Notice: You can use other citrus fruits that have enough acidity and flavor in place of lemons. Grapefruit and oranges are recommended for this purpose.

Essential Oils

Similar to the lemon and clove mix, you can use a variety of scented oils to empty the wasp's nest. Scented oils have one major advantage: They work faster due to their concentration of scents. It is not uncommon for the annoying insects to disappear after a short time if you use the right oil. The following are particularly suitable:

  • lavender oil
  • clove oil
  • tea tree oil
  • Citronella Oil
  • peppermint oil

The scented oil is filled into small bowls, a scent lamp or an atomizer and also placed in the immediate vicinity of the nest. Replenish it after some time.

lavender oil

plant barriers

If you don't want to use scented oils, you can use potted plants as scent barriers. It is enough to place suitable plants next to the wasp nest in the roof. Alternatively, you can harvest herbs and hang them up to repel the wasps via the scents. Suitable plants are:

  • Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
  • Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
  • Mints (Mentha)
  • Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Notice: If you like incense, you can bet on a Plectranthus coleoides. It is popularly known as the frankincense plant, which drives away wasps due to its intense smell.

liquid ammonia

Liquid ammonia is ammonia water, which can be used excellently against wasps due to the pungent smell. You can either fill the ghost directly into bowls and set them up, or you can use another method:

  • Use cotton towels
  • soak in ammonia
  • wear gloves
  • Liquid ammonia irritates the skin
  • hang around the nest

The soaked cloths spread the intensively pungent scent of the ammonia water even better.

garlic

If you don't have any of the home remedies already mentioned, you should use garlic. Allium sativum is an excellent protection against the winged insects due to the ingredients. As soon as you notice a wasp nest, you can spread either garlic cloves or the plant around the nest to discourage the wasps from staying. If you use cloves, they must be peeled beforehand. Fill a bowl with the toes so they don't have to be on the floor.

water

If you just catch the queen building her wasp nest or choosing a nesting site in your roof, you can bet on water quickly and easily. Fill a spray bottle with water and adjust the opening for a mist. Never use the jet or you could injure the wasps. With the bottle in close proximity to the wasp, spray water into the air until it disperses. The insects associate the spray mist with a coming rain shower, which triggers the animals' instinct to flee.

frequently asked Questions

Can wasp nests be removed by hand?

No, you are not allowed to destroy wasp nests yourself, as the animals are protected. According to Section 39 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), this is only possible from the middle or end of November and until the end of winter. During this time the colony has died and the young queens hibernate. There must be a good reason over the summer (e.g. allergy sufferers in the family) for the permitted nature conservation authority to arrange for removal or resettlement via a professional.

Are fines to be expected for non-compliance?

If you remove a nest yourself and without permission, you have to expect high penalties. Depending on the federal state, these range from 5,000 to 65,000 euros. You are not even allowed to disturb the animals and should therefore simply leave the wasp nest alone. Fortunately, the remedies mentioned can be used effectively without hesitation, since you do not have direct contact with the wasps.

How can nest building be prevented?

If you were able to drive away the wasp nest, you should definitely close any access points as quickly as possible. This should be done during the winter at the latest, so that the queens have no opportunity to settle in the spring. In particular, check for crooked or damaged roof tiles, cracks in plaster or mortar, small holes and other openings. You can either wall them up, repair them or provide them with a joint fan.

Should the animals be chased away with heated coffee powder?

Coffee powder is an extremely effective home remedy to gently drive away the wasps. The problem: You shouldn't use it indoors due to the possible risk of fire. You need to put dry coffee powder in a bowl and use a match or lighter to smoke it near the nest.

Why should the use of beer traps be avoided?

Do not use beer traps, as these will inevitably lead to the death of the insects. In most cases it is a mixture of beer, sweet drinks or syrup and some washing-up liquid. Due to the lack of surface tension, the Vespinae fall into the mixture and drown miserably. Avoid this method at all costs so as not to torment the animals unnecessarily.

Category:

Animals in the garden