Correctly remove + prevent wasp nests in the roller shutter box

It is not uncommon for wasps to nest in and around the house, such as in the cladding of the roof overhang or in roller shutter boxes. So-called short-headed wasps, which also include the common and German wasps, nest here most frequently. Both wasp species vehemently defend their territory in the immediate nesting area. An existing nest can certainly appear threatening, which makes the desire to remove it as quickly as possible understandable. However, this is only permitted under certain conditions.

legal situation

Wasps are useful terrestrial creatures and are rightly protected. As a result, removing and killing these animals is strictly prohibited under the Federal Nature Conservation Act. Nevertheless, it can be justified in exceptional cases. This is the case, for example, if:

• Allergy sufferers or people suspected of having an allergy live in the household
• Having young children or the elderly in the vicinity of the nest on a regular basis
• Wasps get inside the house or apartment despite protective measures
• Or the nest is in busy areas

Manual removal problematic

It is generally not advisable to remove a wasp nest yourself. Especially in summer and if the blind box can only be opened inwards, which is often the case. Otherwise it can happen that the wasps penetrate the interior of the apartment and if they feel threatened, also attack. In addition, it is often difficult to assess how big the nest actually is, because often only a small part can be seen.

Before exposing yourself and your family to such dangers, remember that wasps only live for one summer. The nests of the common and German wasps are sometimes active well into November. After that, first the old queen and finally the wasp colony gradually dies off, so that it is completely uninhabited in winter and is not colonized again. If you can somehow come to an arrangement with the animals before winter, then that's the best time for a personal and, above all, safe disposal, even without an exterminator or pest repellent.

To do this, open the roller shutter box and roughly remove the nest. The smaller residues can easily be removed with a vacuum cleaner. The entire area must then be thoroughly cleaned. If you don't do this, it is very likely that wasps will nest again in the immediate vicinity of the old nest. Those who don't want to wait until winter and face an imminent threat from the wasps is exposed to, the trade offers preparations such as wasp foam or wasp spray for them combat on.

Use of wasp foam and wasp spray

Like wasp spray, wasp foam is used to kill the animals within a very short time. They are locked in their nest where they eventually perish. According to the manufacturer, the wasp foam should be used either in the early morning or in the evening. This is usually when all the wasps are in the nest and it is cooler, so they are calmer and less aggressive.

• Nests in the roller shutter box can only be reached via small openings
• Accordingly, spray the foam into the entry area using a small tube
• Spray for about 5 seconds until the escape route is completely closed
• Meanwhile, keep a distance of at least 2 m from the nest
• Wasp foam contains insecticides that quickly weaken and kill the animals
• After a while he collapses
• The effect of the insecticides lasts for a while
• In this way, wasps that fly in later can still be reached
• Wait at least a day after application
• It must be ensured that the nest is completely quiet
• Only then open the box and remove and dispose of the nest

Avoid using a wasp spray, especially indoors. Not only do the wasps die in a very painful manner, the smallest mistake can also cause the entire swarm of wasps to pounce on the attacker. This can be life-threatening, not only for allergy sufferers. In addition, the use of such preparations, even with minor contact, poses a risk that should not be underestimated for the residents of the house, pets and other useful insects.

Elimination by a specialist

There is no question that it is always better to have wasp nests removed by a professional, especially in the summer months when these animals are particularly active. Only they have the necessary knowledge and equipment to safely and safely remove a wasp nest and, if necessary, relocate it. In addition to exterminators and pest controllers, nature conservation authorities and, in some cases, the local fire brigade are also qualified to do so.

The expert first gets an overview of the situation and then decides how to proceed. If the conditions are met, he can remove the nest. As a rule, he proceeds in such a way that he first picks up the swarming workers with a suction device and transfers them to an external container. The whole thing can take about 30 minutes. The nest and queen are then carefully removed, packed appropriately and later set down again at a distance of at least four kilometers.

Since the space in a roller shutter box is very limited compared to the attic or roof overhang it can happen that even a specialist cannot remove the nest without closing it destroy. If this is the case, killing the animals is usually unavoidable. Even the professional only kills the wasps if the nest has to be removed for good reasons and this is not possible without killing them.

Self-help up to elimination by a specialist

Since it may take some time before the professional can remove the nest, you should take the time until then, and take precautions to prevent wasps from getting lost in the living area can. First of all, it is important never to close the entry holes, because wasps will always look for another way out and find it.

Furthermore, it is advisable to close all openings that lead into the interior of the apartment, e.g. B. at the belt exit, to be closed with adhesive tape. Installing a fly screen indoors can also prevent wasps from entering the home. Different smells can help to keep the animals outside. This can be small pots with basil, a bowl with essential oils such as tea tree and clove oil or citronella, but also orange and lemon slices studded with cloves.

Prevent nest building in the roller shutter box

Here, too, prevention is the best protection. There are numerous ways to prevent wasps from nesting in the roller shutter box. Because from March/April, wasp queens wake up from their hibernation and are looking for a suitable place to build their nests.

• Close all possible cavities before the start of the wasp season
• Seal every gap, every opening through which a wasp could get into the box
• Be alert from March/April and pay attention to flight activities
• Check the blind box regularly for possible nest building activities, especially now
• Raise and lower the roller shutter several times a day
• The queen is disturbed by the noise and may look for a new nesting site
• The trade offers a wide variety of sealing variants
• These include profile rubber seals or brush strips
• The dense bristles of the brush strips prevent wasps from entering
• To make nest building more difficult, deprive the animals of the building material
• Wasps do not get their building material from just one source
• Therefore, do not leave insulating materials, rotten wood and the like lying around

A single larger wasp, which can be seen about every half hour in the immediate vicinity of the roller shutter, can be an indication that this is a queen wasp about to close a nest build. If, on the other hand, there are many small wasps buzzing around, there is a high probability that a small nest already exists. Sealing no longer works. In both cases, you should consult a specialist as soon as possible. At an early stage, it is usually relatively easy for a professional to remove or relocate the nest. The larger the nest, the more difficult, complex and expensive it is to remove.

Why wasps nest in roller boxes

In the wild, wasps find it increasingly difficult to find suitable nesting sites, so they increasingly look for them in inhabited areas. A blind box is the ideal environment for building a nest. It is protected from wind and weather and offers ideal access. There is enough space in a roller shutter box to easily accommodate honeycomb constructions covering several floors. In addition, the adjoining living quarters provide sufficient waste heat so that the animals are always pleasantly warm and can be active well into autumn.

Determine wasp species based on the nest

There are 82 species of wasps in Germany. But only two cause problems, the German and the common or common wasp. Both types belong to the so-called dark cavity nests, which build their nests in dark cavities such as in a blind box, under a roof overhang or in old mouse tunnels. The respective wasp species can be easily identified based on the nest.

German wasp nests are rarely hanging freely and openly. They are grey, have a shell-like surface, with air pockets open at the bottom. They consist of 5-10 honeycomb levels and several 1-2 cm entry openings. The dwellings, which are up to 2 m in size, can house between 1,000 and 10,000 animals.
The common wasp is the most common in this country. It also prefers dark nesting sites, although its nests, like those of the German wasp, are rarely free-hanging. The nest color is beige or ocher to light brown, with a shell-like structure. The number of honeycomb layers and entry openings corresponds to those of the German wasp. However, only 500 – 7,000 animals live here.

Conclusion

Wasps perform important tasks in our ecosystem. Perfect pest controllers, they take part in pollination and are rightly called the 'health police'. However, the common and German wasps in particular can cause problems if they choose to have shelter around and in the home. Removing a nest from the blind box is sometimes difficult and not entirely harmless. For this reason, it generally makes sense to contact an exterminator, pest controller or the nature conservation authority in this regard. Only they have the means and opportunities to safely and safely remove a wasp nest.

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