As soon as you sit outside for breakfast or a coffee break, the wasps are there and the comfort is over, because fear and panic from wasp stings often dominate the scene. But one or a few wasps on the cake are not yet an indication of a wasp nest. Only when you notice the insects regularly and in large numbers in the garden or on the terrace should you start looking for a wasp nest and remove it if there is a risk to humans.
wasp nest
Wasps are protected
In Germany you are not allowed to remove a wasp nest so easily, because the insects are under the protection of the Federal Nature Conservation Act, according to information from the Bavarian State Environment Agency. According to the regulations on general species protection, habitats of wild animals may not be impaired or destroyed without good reason (§ 39 BNatSchG Abs. 1 Nr. 3). Wasp species such as the gyroscope or the horned wasp enjoy further, special protection under the Federal Species Protection Ordinance.
Regardless of the type of wasp or where you live, you always need a permit to remove a wasp nest. If the nest is removed without permission, there is a risk of substantial fines, up to 50,000 euros depending on the federal state. The permit is issued by the Lower Nature Conservation Authority or the Regulatory Office if there is a risk to humans. The legislature did not further define what exactly is to be understood by this.
Wasp on a flower
You have a good chance of receiving a positive decision if:
- the wasp nest is located directly at the entrance area (house, balcony or terrace door).
- small children live in the household
- Wasp allergy sufferers live in the household
- people with restricted mobility live in the household
Tip: The best way to prove the danger to the living environment is with photos or, in the case of allergy sufferers, with a medical certificate.
Also note that you may only remove the nest once the positive decision has been issued. Until then, you have to come to terms with the wasps.
Locations for wasp nests
Wasp species native to Germany include the common and German wasp. The German wasp usually builds its nest underground. However, it can also settle in roof structures. The common wasp behaves in a similar way when looking for a place for the nest, but it also likes to use other dark cavities, such as roller shutter boxes or dark niches on buildings.
This is how wasp nests are often found:
- under the roof
- under wooden paneling
- in roller shutter boxes
- in gazebos
- in old sheds
- in niches of the masonry
Wasp nest on a window frame
Tip: Since the workers always return to the wasps' nest, their trajectory is a good clue for finding the nest.
Protection from stings
Before you start removing a wasp nest, you should have a doctor make sure that you are not allergic to wasp stings. Because allergy sufferers should under no circumstances remove the nest themselves.
Tip: If you were not allergic to wasp stings as a child, this is no guarantee for adulthood, because the allergy can only appear at this age.
A beekeeper suit offers the best protection against wasp stings. Although this is usually not that easy to obtain, you should use this professional suit as a guide for protection. Basically, all parts of the body must be protected from the stings, so protect yourself from head to toe, literally. The protective clothing should also be of a certain thickness so that the clothing does not puncture the skin. The color of the protective clothing also helps to keep startled wasps away. It is best to wrap yourself in white, because insects are not so attracted to this colour.
bee protective clothing
Tip: You can achieve a certain thickness of the clothing with the onion look.
protect body
In order to protect the body, the clothing for the body should be made of one piece if possible, as this avoids gaps and transitions between the individual pieces of clothing. Overalls are therefore ideal.
Protect head and hands
You should protect your hands with gloves. Ideally they have gauntlets that close the gap between the glove and the sleeves. Alternatively, gaiters can also be used here.
Tip: Mittens are unsuitable because they restrict the freedom of movement of the fingers too much.
The head and face must also be protected from stings. A helmet with an integrated veil for the face is ideal. Make sure that there is a distance between the veil and the face so that the wasps cannot immediately settle on the face. The neck and neck area also requires special protection. It is best if the veil can be attached to the collar.
spats
Gaiters are not only suitable for the transition between sleeve and glove, but also for closing the gap between pant leg and shoe or boot.
escape route
In addition to protective clothing, you should also consider an escape route in advance. It is best to walk it to avoid tripping hazards.
Tip: It is better to avoid third-party cell phone recordings.
Wasp nest with wasps on it
time for removal
While a wasp nest can generally be removed throughout the year, there are certain times that are better suited than others.
Nest building in April/May
The queen wasp starts building the nest in April or May. Since it is still small at this point and not inhabited by thousands of wasps, it can be removed more easily and the wasps can be relocated.
Abandoning wasp nests
Lifetime of wasps lasts only one season. Only the queen survives the German winter. In order to survive the cold season, she does not hibernate in the nest, but moves to a sheltered winter quarters, where she is protected from frost, snow and cold. To prevent the queen from returning next April, you should remove the abandoned wasp nest between November and March.
Proceed as follows:
- put on protective clothing
- Knock off the wasp nest with a hammer or spade
- Dispose of broken wasp nests in the household rubbish bin or on the compost
- Thoroughly clean the surface with a disinfectant - avoids re-colonization
August to September/October
The worst time to remove a wasp nest is between summer and autumn. Because from August the wasp state has reached its full size and you have to fight against several thousand wasps. The nest has also increased in size, making it difficult to handle. Should you nevertheless have to remove a wasp nest during this time, it will be difficult to resettle the colony and extermination must be considered.
wasp nest from the inside
Right time of day
For your own protection, you should also pay attention to the time of day when removing a wasp nest. Early morning, late evening or late night are best. So times when cooler temperatures prevail. Since wasps are less mobile at lower temperatures, activity in the nest is significantly reduced.
Tip: If the nest is removed in the dark of night, you should use red or yellow light as the light source. This attracts the wasps less than white light from a conventional flashlight.
relocate
Remove and relocate wasp nest
Since the wasps, which are actually not very aggressive, will defend their living space, you should only remove inhabited wasp nests yourself if the nest is easily accessible, i.e. you can remove it quickly and easily, because wasp nests are extremely fragile structures and can break easily.
Tip: If the nest is damaged, you will be immediately attacked by the entire colony. The only thing that helps then is to escape.
In order for the nest removal to go well, you should prepare the following:
- sealable box or other container
- a sharp knife
- Curtain, insect net, old bed sheet or air-permeable sack
- spray bottle with water
- tree foam
After completing the preparations, put on the protective clothing. Then follow the instructions below for acceptance.
- Spray water into the entry hole - this also prevents the wasps from flying out
- Seal entry hole with construction foam
- close-meshed net or curtains (sheets, etc.) around the nest
- Carefully cut off the wrapped nest with a knife
- Place wrapped nest in sealable container and seal immediately
- alternatively catch the nest with the container
Wasp on a branch
Tip: Always handle the nest gently and carefully. Wasps don't like tremors at all.
relocate wasps
So that the wasp nest can be unpacked again as quickly as possible, you should have scouted out a suitable place for the colony before removing the nest.
Ideal is:
- a distance of at least three kilometers from the old location
- a similar place to the old location (sheltered, partially shaded and at a similar height)
In order for you and the wasps to survive the move, it should take place immediately after the nest has been removed. So that the wasps do not wake up due to rising temperatures, you should definitely plan in transport and installation time. You should also not take off the protective clothing in the meantime. Once the wasp colony has reached its new location, carefully lift it out of the box and place it in the appropriate place. Then cut open the curtains or sheets and move away as quickly and carefully as possible.
Tip: Sometimes it is also recommended to reopen the entry hole. If you have closed it with tree foam, the wasps will quickly remove it by eating it themselves.
destroy wasps
If the wasp nest is in an inaccessible place or is too closely attached to the masonry, from August the only option left is to destroy or expel the wasps, although the former should only represent the last resort, since wasps are beneficial in nature.
Wasp colony on a nest
wasp foam
Wasp foam, which you can get in specialist shops, is deadly for wasps. It is sprayed onto the nest from a distance of three to four meters so that the nest is completely enveloped. So that the foam can develop its full effect, you should leave it on overnight. If there is no more movement in the nest the next morning, the nest can be removed.
Tip: Be sure to wear protective clothing when spraying with the wasp foam.
Proceed as follows to remove the nest:
- put on protective clothing
- Wrap up the nest (curtain, close-meshed insect net, etc.)
- Remove nest with knife
- Submerge the nest in boiling water
- Remove wasp nests from roller shutter boxes
Since roller shutter boxes are very difficult to access, relocating the wasp colony is strongly discouraged. Independent removal should, if possible, only be considered in the autumn when the wasps have died naturally. If the nest has to be removed in summer, the wasps must be destroyed with wasp foam. Only then can the nest be removed.
Tip: Be sure to wear protective clothing for all steps.
Before you start spraying, you should consider two points:
- Wasp nest can only be reached via a small opening
- Maintain a minimum distance of two meters to the entry area
Tip: So that the safety distance can be maintained, you should spray the foam using a small tube.
Wasps build on a wasp nest
manual
- spray for about 5 seconds at the entry area
- The escape route from the nest must be completely closed
- Leave the wasp foam to soak in for at least a day
- check carefully whether there is stillness in the nest
- Open the roller shutter box and remove the nest
- discard nest
- Thoroughly clean the area to prevent re-colonization
Note on my own behalf:
The instructions presented here for removing a wasp nest may only be carried out with appropriate protective clothing and under no circumstances by people with a wasp sting allergy. Since the removal of a wasp nest is quite dangerous, absolute safety cannot be guaranteed.