Wasp nest on the balcony of the apartment

Wasps are indispensable for the biological balance in nature. The agile insects can become a nuisance in the vicinity of people in summer and make staying on the balcony and terrace unbearable. It is more difficult when the animals seek refuge in the rented apartment. Relocating a wasp nest involves effort and hurdles. With the right preparation and a few tricks, the uncomplicated coexistence of humans and insects is often successful.

Unwelcome neighbors

In order to effectively keep wasps away from the balcony and the apartment, one should first briefly deal with the life cycle of the flying robbers. Unlike honey bees and ants, for example, only the fertilized queen hibernates in a sheltered shelter. On warm days in March and April the insect wakes up from its hibernation and a short time later is looking for a suitable location for the future wasp colony. In this initial phase, it is easy to stop the wasp's building instinct and to scare it away with simple methods.

The food supply on the balcony or terrace still plays a subordinate role in nest building. The place must meet the following criteria:

• Be protected from wind and weather.
• Dry
• Far from other wasp nests.

It is not uncommon for insects to take hold in the roller shutter box of a rented apartment. Between June and August, the wasp state has reached its full strength. The adult workers take care of the queen and fly out in search of protein-rich food for the offspring. Sweet and carbohydrate-rich foods are only suitable for the adult wasps. In semi-natural gardens, flowers and honeydew from aphids serve as a rich source of food. If this offer is insufficient or missing, the wasps switch to alternatives.

Between August and October the insects begin to die. Now it is mainly only the future princesses and males who hatch from the eggs. The social structure of the wasp colony disintegrates. This change does not leave us untouched. One notices an increasing aggressiveness of the animals. While the focus was previously on caring for the colony, the wasps no longer have a task and sometimes fly around uncontrolled. The dangerous phase begins, open food and sweet drinks act like a magnet for the insects. Only when the temperatures drop does the population of the winged pests decrease.

Effectively repel wasps

Even before the queen wasp leaves your home balcony or terrace in spring. If the rented apartment is chosen as the ideal location for their nest, defensive measures can be taken. The insects react to strong smells, for example. You can take advantage of this fact to drive away wasps with profane household remedies. For example, the cultivation of strong-smelling herbs and vegetables in the immediate vicinity of balconies and terraces is effective and sustainable. Tomatoes, garlic, basil and lavender effectively drive away the insects before they can become dangerous to humans. Other options include:

• Set out bowls of essential oils.
• Light scented candles.
• coffee grounds or -burn or smolder powder.
• Stud lemon halves with cloves.
• Smoke sage and incense.

Not everyone wants to hang a chain of garlic bulbs on the kitchen wall. To protect yourself from annoying insects in the house, you should attach fly screens to the windows. With the light material made of air- and light-permeable plastic, you can also seal patio and balcony doors wasp-proof. On the other hand, it makes sense not to attract the wasps in the first place. Sweet drinks, such as lemonade and cola, should always be closed with a lid immediately.

The same applies to food of any kind. During a barbecue with friends, it is difficult to get all the food out of the insects' reach at once. Cover the food with a special hood. Never leave open cans outside unwashed. This not only attracts wasps, but also other pests such as rats and mice. The smell of fruit has a similar effect to sweet human foods. Remove fallen fruit immediately, before the rotting process magically attracts the winged insects.

Simple but efficient: Take advantage of the fact that the yellow-black insects never nest in close proximity to other wasps. Lightly crumple a sheet of brown parchment paper and attach to a corner of the balcony. There is a good chance that the wasp queen will be fooled by this dummy in the spring and will look for another place for her nursery.

Distract and implement

A large number of wasps can be kept away by annoying smells. However, as is often the case in the animal kingdom, not everything always works reliably. In this case, it makes sense to take other methods. The independent and unprofessional removal of a wasp nest is prohibited by law for almost all species. Only in exceptional cases can a specialist intervene and move the insects to another location that is safe for humans and animals. This measure is particularly advisable if you Your family members are allergic to the wasp stings. It is more difficult to find a wasp nest in the false ceiling or to be removed from the roof.

In mid-summer, insect populations can become immense in strength, and they literally gorge on wood and other organic materials to build their own homes. Immense damage can occur in and around the home, necessitating major and costly repairs.
When converting or Removing the wasp nest does not necessarily mean calling a professional pest controller. A call to the local beekeepers' association usually helps with such a problem. With their protective equipment, dedicated hobby beekeepers are able to quickly and gently remove the biting insects from the balcony.

Unauthorized activities on a larger wasp nest can have unpleasant consequences. When closing the entry hole, for example, the insects eat through at another point. In exceptional cases, this led to the winged pests coming out inside the living quarters. Fighting with a vacuum cleaner can also quickly backfire. Even an unsealed spot is enough for the wasps to pounce on the attacker of the nest and become dangerous to him.

There is a ray of hope for those suffering: the nests on the balcony or in the rented apartment are “only” annual. After the onset of the first frost in autumn, the number of flying insects drops drastically. In the following year, the young queen wasp does not settle in the old dwellings, but creates a completely new home for her court. It is not uncommon for this nursery to be located right next to the old wasps' nest.

Diversion

An efficient way to keep the insects at bay is with distraction feeding. For example, if you are planning an extended barbecue with your family and friends in midsummer, you should treat the wasps to a piece. The following components are suitable:

• Sliced ​​watermelons
• Layered Apples
• Ripe, peeled bananas
• leftover meat

The distraction feeding should be placed at a sufficient distance. 3 to 5 meters have proved their worth. Much of the black and yellow bugs are concentrated on these ingredients, leaving your food largely untouched. Remove the components at night. Nothing gets around faster in the wasps' nest than the new, productive source of food. And the stinging insects do not shy away from using them extensively in the following days. From applying a sugar solution or Honey is discouraged. These materials attract bees and can contribute to the spread of disease.

Build a simple wasp trap

With a simple trick you can build a trap that effectively keeps wasps away from your living area.

• Cut a PET bottle in the upper third.
• Place the top piece upside down on the bottle like a kind of funnel.
• Fix with tape.
• Pour beer mixed with washing-up liquid a few centimeters high.
• Set up at a safe distance hanging.

The wasp trap in the PET bottle is a household remedy that can be produced quickly and cheaply, with which you can fight the pests. Do not use a high-sugar liquid in the trap. Because of the detergent and the funnel, there is no escape for the trapped insects. If necessary, the trap can be quickly emptied and reactivated.

chemical pesticides

Wasps are beneficial and help decimate other pests in the garden. It is not always possible to remove a wasp nest from the balcony or terrace in time. to eliminate the terrace. In such a case, it is tempting to resort to aggressive commercial products. Sales of bug spray and foam increase as the gardening season begins. However, such chemical clubs are not recommended. The application of the means is easy, but controversial. Aside from the fact that many species of wasps are strictly protected, the pesticides target other beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies.

Conclusion

Getting rid of a wasp nest is difficult, but not impossible. With simple tricks, the construction of the insect nest on the balcony or terrace can already be done. prevent in the rented apartment. At a later point in time, a potential wasp plague can be stopped with profane means.

Learn more about insect repellent