The fresh green of grasses and plants, as well as the colorful splendor of fragrant flowers are not the only harbingers of spring. Nature is awakening and this also includes the fact that numerous queens of wasps are looking for a suitable place for their new nest. The insects only make sure that the chosen location is optimal for nest building and offspring. All too often, however, the defensive animals come into direct proximity to humans, although they are not always welcome and welcome there. Wasps are useful insects, but they are intrusive and prone to stinging in midsummer. Insects prefer dark niches and dry places, and some wasp species are also happy to accept roller shutter boxes.
Between the beginning of April and the middle of May, the queens begin to establish the new nest. The ideal time to take effective countermeasures against the striped subtenants. However, proceed with extreme caution, negligence and lack of knowledge can not only pose a threat to your health, but also cause other consequential damage.
Table of Contents
Safety comes first
The winged insects are under nature protection, which is why the destruction of the nest or the entire colony is not permitted under normal circumstances. According to the 39th Federal Nature Conservation Act, Paragraph 1, it is forbidden to deliberately disturb wild animals or to catch, injure or kill them without good reason. Furthermore, it is also forbidden to impair or destroy the habitats of wild animals and plants without good reason. Destruction of the wasp colony is only permitted in exceptional cases, for example if there is an immediate risk to humans. This fact can certainly be the case with a wasp’s nest in a roller shutter box, especially if you or a family member living in the house are allergic to the stings of the animals.
In the case of rental properties, the landlord is responsible for removing a wasp or hornet nest. A measure that should usually be carried out by a specialist. You need to find out for yourself whether the local fire brigade is moving or removing wasp nests by calling. This effort is associated with costs that you – or at least your landlord – usually have to bear yourself.
In the months of April and May, the queens awakened from hibernation only begin building the nest and caring for the brood. A normally used roller shutter box is rarely chosen as a shelter by wasps. Because the regular use of the window represents a permanent danger and disturbance for the insects. The situation is different with unused roller shutter boxes. If you regularly spot a larger wasp near the window in spring, which suddenly disappears under the roller shutter, this is a sure sign of an existing wasp’s nest. Children, the elderly and allergy sufferers should avoid this area if possible. The winged insects are by no means malicious, but know how to defend themselves in the event of a supposed danger.
Fight wasp plagues effectively
The good news first: If you have discovered a wasp’s nest in the garden or even in the roller shutter box, you will get rid of its inhabitants by autumn at the latest. Of the numerous insects, only the queens survive. These wait in the safe winter hiding place until warmer temperatures stimulate them to search for the right location to build a new nest. However, if you don’t want to wait until the beginning of October and want to remove the colony yourself, there are some safety tips you should take seriously. Not all home remedies or control measures make sense, however, so proceed with extreme caution and care.
Fumigating An outdated and extremely dangerous method that you should urgently refrain from. Even if you are successful in fumigating the wasp’s nest and you catch all the animals in the roller shutter box, there is still a risk that the paper-like nest itself could catch fire and cause a house fire. Smoke is also irritating to wasps and you risk getting painful stings.
Vacuum cleaners
Using a vacuum cleaner is extremely risky. The approach path of the roller shutter box often offers a sufficiently large opening for a vacuum cleaner pipe. In order to catch as many insects as possible during this action, twilight is recommended. However, if you don’t catch all of the wasps or some animals escape, they will often attack immediately. If you really dare to do this, you should wear sturdy shoes and dense clothing to be somewhat protected from any stings.
Insect
spray Dangerous, but extremely effective: Effective sprays against wasps are available in well-stocked supermarkets and specialist shops. Spray this agent into the roller shutter box late in the evening without opening it. It may take a few minutes for the effects to take effect. If necessary, repeat the process several times on the following days. Do not breathe the toxic fumes under any circumstances and also keep the window closed.Wasp
foam You can take effective action against the buzzing tenants with a special foam. The foam works in two ways: On the one hand, the opening to the nest is closed and the wasps in it can no longer escape. And because of the insecticides contained in the foam, the animals die quickly. The material decomposes after a few hours, but the chemical agents continue to have an effect for some time. Avoid the midday sun for this action, because wasps are extremely active and aggressive in hot temperatures. The early morning or late evening is well suited for this, as a large part of the wasps are still in the nest at this time.
Vinegar cloths
If the queen has just started building the nest in April and flies out looking for food herself, you can block the flight path of the roller shutter box with a vinegar-soaked cloth. Repeat this process over several days so that the wasp queen is forced to find another location for a new nest.
Recommended home remedies against flying pests
A stay of wasps in your own garden should not only be viewed from the negative side. The range of action of the yellow and black striped insects is not in the immediate vicinity of the nest, so that you are probably seldom bothered by your “own” wasps. The animals also tend to rigorously defend their territory against intruders, especially in the form of other conspecifics. If the wasp’s nest is in a secluded place in the garden and does not pose a risk to playing children or raging dogs, you should therefore leave it untouched.
Wasp nests are annual, only the queens survive, while the rest of their retinues do not survive the cold season. If you discover a wasp’s nest in the roller shutter box and neither seek advice from a specialist, nor do you want to take active action against the winged invasion yourself, there are other ways to protect yourself from stings. Put insect screens in front of the windows. This minimizes the risk of wasps entering the living room through the open window. Lure the insects away from the nest in a targeted manner, which can be done with honey water or overripe fruit and meat. If the queen has only started building the nest in April, you can try to disturb her by constantly pressing the roller blind. In this construction phase it often happens that the wasp leaves the location and finds a new,
Wasps are busy with brood care until August. Only when the queen ceases to lay eggs can her offspring pursue their own pleasures and fall on sweet and deliciously smelling foods and drinks. But that is usually the time when you discover your own wasp’s nest in the garden or even in the roller shutter box. With the following tricks you can still use the rest of the warm season without being permanently disturbed by the striped and defensive insects:
- Hang up bottles filled with honey water.
- Cover food and drinks.
- Place overripe fruit as a lure at the end of the garden.
- Avoid strong smelling body lotions, perfumes and deodorants.
A coexistence with compromises
As a rule, wasp queens are picky when looking for a location to build a nest. A normally used roller shutter box that is operated daily is therefore hardly an option for the animals and is extremely rarely populated. Do not panic if you discover an active wasp nest in your immediate vicinity. The animals feel pressured by hectic gestures and could stab. A permit for the independent removal or relocation of the nest is only given in exceptional cases. A special case could be, for example, if you or your family members are allergic to bites. If there is no positive decision from the authority, acting unauthorized can result in a fine in the four-digit range.
To be on the safe side, you should always have the wasp’s nest moved by a specialist. Ask local beekeepers without obligation, as they have the necessary knowledge and the right equipment to deal with defensive insects. Even if you use insect spray or wasp foam yourself, avoid opening the roller shutter box. A wasp nest can accommodate up to 12,000 insects, which their queen and offspring know how to defend. Nests that have already been abandoned can remain in place; repopulation in the following year is excluded.
Unless your quality of life is impaired or there is an immediate danger for allergy sufferers, you should leave the wasp’s nest untouched. For the coming year, you can take precautions, such as operating the blinds regularly and installing insect screens on all windows.
Conclusion
Wasps are useful insects, but even nature-loving people do not like to see them in their own gardens. Moving and removing the wasp nest should only be carried out by an experienced specialist. Nevertheless, with the right behavior and tips, you can effectively defend yourself against stings and direct contact with the extremely intrusive animals.
