Many people see hornets as a threat. If a young hornet queen chooses her own shutters for building her nest, the question arises as to whether this plan can be prevented.

In a nutshell

  • Hornets are under species protection in Germany
  • however, preventing nest building is permitted
  • It is best to carry out measures in winter or early spring before the young queens fly

hornet nests

At the beginning of the nest building is the young hornet queen, which was mated the previous year. From the end of April it will look for a suitable nesting site. Natural places for nesting are tree cavities. If the queen does not find a suitable tree, she looks for other suitable "caves" for the nest. From their point of view, these include:

  • nest boxes for birds
  • roller shutter boxes
  • attics.

Hornet's Nest and Human

Since hornets have a bad reputation, they come into conflict with humans if the queen chooses the awning box or the attic as a place to build her nest, as the future colony will defend its nest. In addition, a hornet's nest is open at the bottom because the insects drop their droppings through this opening. However, this actually clean behavior of the animals can lead to odor nuisance and structural damage.

Hornet's nest in the roller shutter box

protection of species

If hornets settle on the balcony or attic, people want to get rid of them as quickly as possible. But this is not so easy, since the animals are under species protection in Germany. According to Section 42 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), it is forbidden to catch, injure or kill hornets. However, the ban not only applies to adult animals, but also to their developmental forms, such as breeding grounds or habitations. Since the hornet's nest is one such site, it is forbidden that nest

  • refer to,
  • to damage or
  • to destroy.

Notice: If the ban is violated, you must expect a fine of up to 50,000 euros in Germany (§65 Para. 1 No. 1 BNatSchG).

Prevent hornets from nesting

Since the hornet's nest is seen as a living, breeding and refuge place for insects according to the BNatSchG, this presupposes that

  • the nest has already been built (or is under construction) and
  • is inhabited.

That is why in Germany it is permitted to prevent hornets from building their nests.

preventive measures

The simplest measure is to block the queen's access to attractive nesting sites. The following solutions, which you should implement in the winter months, have proven to be efficient

  • Seal entry holes stably
  • Secure gap systems (e.g. rear-ventilated wooden facades) with fine plastic or metal grids
  • Scraper brushes for roller shutters
Abandoned Hornet's Nest

Notice: Old nests are not repopulated, but hornets like to settle near nest sites that were successfully used by conspecifics the previous year.

If the queen keeps flying at the roller shutter box or an opening in the shed, she is showing great interest in the location. To make her change her mind, you should

  • move the roller shutter up and down regularly
  • quickly close the opening
  • spray the appropriate area with coffee, lemon, clove oil or garlic daily

frequently asked Questions

What is the situation in Austria?

In Austria, the hornet is under nature protection in many federal states. Therefore inhabited nests may not be removed without permission. However, preventing nest building is not prohibited.

Can I prevent a hornet's nest from being built in Switzerland?

In Switzerland, hornets are not protected at federal level. However, they are indirectly protected by nature and heritage protection legislation. However, this primarily relates to the removal of a hornet's nest.

How do I recognize a hornet queen?

The hornet queen reaches a body length of 23 to 35 millimeters. Therefore, it is easy to recognize by its size.

Category:

Animals in the garden