- Queen Wasp: Killing Allowed?
- Possible penalties
- Specially protected wasps
- frequently asked Questions
The question often arises as to whether killing a queen wasp is a punishable offence. In this article you can find out whether the animals are under nature protection and whether there are penalties.
In a nutshell
- Killing the wasp queen is forbidden according to the BNatSchG
- Workers, drones and the brood are also protected
- fines of 5,000 to 65,000 euros are threatened
- Fines depend on the state
Queen Wasp: Killing Allowed?
In Germany, wasps and their brood are under species and nature protection. Of course, this includes the queens as well as the workers and drones. According to paragraph 39 paragraph 1 number 1 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), the following actions in relation to wasps are prohibited:
- upset or otherwise disturb
- catch
- hurt
- kill
Possible penalties
If you kill a queen wasp, you will face severe penalties. Don't worry, imprisonment isn't one of those. These are exclusively fines that are specified by the individual federal states. If it is a question of specially protected wasp species according to paragraph 44 paragraph 1 numbers 1 and 3 of the BNatSchG, the fines are significantly higher. For all other types, the penalties are lower. Please also note that the individual fines always depend on the individual case. The following list shows you the possible fines.
This gives you a quick overview of the possible penalties:
| federal state | Fine for protected / unprotected species in € |
|---|---|
| Baden-Wuerttemberg | up to 15,000 euros/up to 50,000 euros |
| Bavaria | up to 5,000 euros/up to 50,000 euros |
| Berlin | up to 5,000 euros/up to 50,000 euros |
| Brandenburg | up to 13,000 euros/up to 65,000 euros |
| Bremen | up to 5,000 euros/up to 50,000 euros |
| Hamburg | up to 5,000 euros/up to 50,000 euros |
| Hesse | up to 5,000 euros/up to 50,000 euros |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | up to 20,000 euros/up to 20,000 euros |
| Lower Saxony | up to 5,000 euros/up to 50,000 euros |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | up to 50,000 euros/up to 50,000 euros |
| Rhineland-Palatinate | up to 5,000 euros/up to 5,000 euros |
| Saarland | up to 10,000 euros/up to 10,000 euros |
| Saxony | up to 5,000 euros/up to 50,000 euros |
| Saxony-Anhalt | up to 5,000 euros/up to 50,000 euros |
| Schleswig Holstein | up to 5,000 euros/up to 50,000 euros |
| Thuringia | up to 50,000 euros/up to 50,000 euros |
Notice: If you accidentally kill a wasp, for example out of fright or to protect an allergy sufferer, you don't have to worry. In this case, no penalty is to be expected, since you did not act willfully, but in self-defense.
Specially protected wasps
The best-known wasp species in Germany are the common (Vespula vulgaris) and the German wasp (Vespula germanica). They are not among the specially protected species, which means that the possible penalties will not be as high. In the home there is a certain species and a special genus of wasps, which are particularly protected due to the high level of endangerment. Since these wasps rarely roam or nest near humans, you don't really have to worry about meeting them. These are the following:
- Macaw sawflies (Cimbex)
- Gyro wasp (Bembix rostrata)
Spinning wasp (Bembix rostrata) & horned sawflies (Cimbex) (from left to right)
Notice: The hornets (Vespa crabro) can also be counted among the specially protected wasp species. They must not be willfully killed or captured. Otherwise you have to reckon with the same high penalties as with the gyroscope and headhorn wasps.
frequently asked Questions
Can wasp nests be removed by hand?No, because the wasp nests are regarded as resting and breeding grounds for wasps. As a result, they may only be removed or relocated by specialists with permission from the lower nature conservation authority. You need a valid reason for that. An exception is the winter period from the end of November to mid-April. Since the wasps have left the nest, you can remove it yourself without permission.
What counts as a valid reason for approval?You will only get permission if the wasps pose an acute threat to residents or neighbors. For example, if the nest is in the roller shutter box and allergy sufferers, sensitive seniors or small children live in the house, approval is often possible. This also applies to pets who do not keep away from the insects.
How to prevent a colony of wasps from settling?Look for possible entrances into the house and close them, for example with fly screens. This way, in the spring, the queen wasp will not be able to settle down and start building the nest. You can also attach netting under eaves. You can also cultivate herbs such as lemon balm, lavender, rosemary and peppermint on your property, balcony or terrace. The smell drives away the insects.
Are wasps aggressive?No, wasps don't sting people or pets for sheer pleasure. However, if the nest is threatened, hit at them, or unable to flee, they use their stingers to defend themselves. As with bees, the most common stings occur when a human accidentally steps on or leans on the insect. At the same time, wasps are attracted to foods high in protein or sugar. This brings them closer to people.