Garden fright
How do I behave correctly if I encounter a hornet?
Hornets have a worse reputation than wasps, what’s behind that?
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“Three stings can kill an adult, seven can kill a horse.” This is a common misconception about hornets. The fact is that the insects look dangerous due to their appearance, but they are not at all.
Hornets are larger than bees or wasps and yet their venom is weaker. Which doesn’t mean a sting is any less painful. The larger stinger is said to make the burning sensation in the skin at the puncture site feel more intense. It’s hardly surprising that no one likes being stung. Regardless of whether an allergy is present: According to the LBV, only two to three percent of the population react to the hornet venom. However, it does not change the fact that the large insects spread fear and terror when they appear in the garden out of nowhere. The question here is which option is better: simply ignore, kill or drive away?
That’s why you shouldn’t kill hornets
As is so often the case, the first impulse when you see a hornet is to end its life – but that is not allowed in Germany: “Hornets are particularly strictly protected according to the Federal Species Protection Ordinance (BArtSchV) and the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG). The animals may not be caught or… are killed and their nests are not attacked,” explains the Nabu. Hornets have been on the red list of endangered animal species and plants since the mid-1980s. Aside from that, the large insects also have a practical use: They hunt flies, mosquitoes and wasps. However, sweet treats such as cake or ice cream are not on their menu.
This is what you should know about hornets
If hornets cannot be killed, the question is how should one behave in the event of an unexpected encounter? Or the insects build a nest in your garden? The fact is that insects are usually passive, even peaceful animals – as long as you don’t disturb them while they’re looking for food or threaten their offspring. However, moving the shelter yourself is not permitted – unless, for example, it is in the immediate vicinity of kindergartens or schools. In this case, you must contact a local nature conservation association or the responsible nature conservation authority. You also need an exemption from the nature conservation authority. “If nests are destroyed or relocated without permission, there can be high fines,” he says Nature Conservation Association Germany eV to consider.
Since the insects are only active until October and a nest is not colonized a second time, it usually makes more sense to simply avoid the animals. In any case, it is important that you always behave calmly around hornets. Don’t panic or make any frantic movements. And don’t blow on the insects, as this makes them more aggressive – similar to wasps. Instead, rely on proven home remedies or alternative tools to get rid of hornets. What these are will be listed in the next paragraph.
Here’s how you can get rid of hornets
You can take preventive measures to prevent hornets from even having the idea of coming into close contact. These home remedies have proven particularly effective: lemons and cloves. Fill a citrus fruit with the spice and ideally place the fragrant fruit in front of open windows so that animals cannot get into the (garden) house. To prevent insects from even having the idea of building their nest in a roller shutter box or false ceiling, you should close all entry holes. Alternatively, you can also use one Hornet box to make it easier for the queen to find suitable shelter – and to place the nest at a safe distance. Other ways to get rid of the insects are these:
- Even though hornets don’t have a sweet tooth, it is recommended to pick up and dispose of fallen fruit from the ground as quickly as possible.
- The attachment of Fly screens makes sense in every respect, as it not only keeps hornets away, but also other insects such as mosquitoes.
- Fresh lavender plants or even Incense stickswhich smell of lavender, are said to have a deterrent effect on hornets.
- Hornets are also active at night, so light sources are a magnet. Turn off lights in the (garden) house if the windows are open.
- Smoke signals danger to hornets, so lighting candles or one can be helpful Fire bowl to set up in the garden.
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