This species of wasp is one of the dreaded insects that are classified as annoying visitors. The way these animals live is responsible for this behavior. They do a lot to ensure that their people are well off. Little is known about the benefits of the German wasp.
Nature conservation
There is a general fear of all wasps, which stand out because of their black and yellow coloring. However, only the German wasp and the common wasp are really annoying. Nevertheless, many people tend to make the habitat unattractive for all wasps.
More and more wasp species are being added to the Red List of endangered animal and plant species. All wasps are generally protected animal species and may not be caught, injured or killed in accordance with Section 39 Paragraph No. 1 BNatSchG. This protection applies not only to the animals but also to the wasp nest.
What the insects need
The German wasp inhabits structurally rich landscapes in which there are many flowering plants and sufficient water sources are available. They live in groves and orchards. Old trees with large trunk diameters and dead branches offer optimal retreat options. Since such habitats are becoming rare, the wasps are looking for alternative habitats. They are pushed into human settlement areas.
Tip
Create a natural garden with a variety of elements so that wasps feel comfortable at a safe distance from your house. This way you won't get in each other's way, because the animals will find enough food.
Useful insects
Wasps of all kinds (here the common wasp) eat plant pests
The German wasp has great benefits in the ecosystem and acts as an effective pest controller. It acts as a natural regulator and keeps the populations of various tree and plant pests in balance, thereby preventing the spread of plant diseases. A large colony of wasps can eat between 500 and 2,000 grams of insects per day. They play an important role as he alth police because wasps accelerate the decomposition of carrion.
What makes the German wasp so valuable:
- decomposes weathered wood in forests
- regulates mosquito, aphid and horsefly populations
- carries pollen and fertilizes plants
Food for certain animal species
Wasps themselves provide an important source of food for certain predators that specialize in stinging insects. They are favorite prey of hornets. Shrews also like to attack wasp nests. Birds such as bee-eaters and honey buzzards have developed special mechanisms to avoid being stung when catching prey.
What to do if you get stung?
In most cases, a sting is completely harmless to humans, even if it causes pain. It only becomes dangerous if there are more than 100 stings per kilogram of weight. A he althy person weighing 50 kilograms can theoretically withstand 5,000 stitches. It doesn't matter whether it's wasps, bumblebees, bees or hornets.
First aid:
- Keep calm
- Cool the stitch to avoid swelling
- Stitches in the oral cavity should be continuously cooled with ice cubes
When you need to go to the doctor
A sting is dangerous for allergy sufferers. These can experience various symptoms such as skin rashes, shortness of breath or shock. If the immune system shows such acute reactions, a doctor should be consulted. Also, see a doctor if you have been stung around your eyes or inside your mouth. There is a danger to life if the respiratory tract swells. Stings can cause infections.
These symptoms should be investigated:
- Fever
- Lymph node swelling
- Numbness and tingling
How can I remove a wasp nest?
Anxious citizens often turn to fire departments or pest controllers to remove the disturbing wasp nest. In most cases this is unnecessary and involves high costs. Wasp nests are only relocated in exceptional cases and you must first contact a specialist. For legal and he alth reasons, you should not attempt to remove a nest yourself. NABU is the first point of contact if you need help.
Umsiedelung Deutsche Wespe aus Rollokasten Kurzvideo
Wasps are attracted to this
The fact that wasps are always present at the dining table is not just due to the food. Wasps are attracted by different scents and colors, which suggest an abundance of food. Intense perfumes or creams also attract insects. Colorful clothing also looks tempting.
Wasps are far less dangerous than most people fear. They only attack in exceptional cases.
How to protect yourself
Secure your apartment and house with fly screens so that wasps cannot fly into the building. In the garden, you can protect yourself and the animals with simple fences or screens that are erected within a radius of about four meters around the nest. In horse paddocks, an electric fence around the entrance to the underground nest can be useful so that the grazing cattle do not come too close to the wasp population.
If the nest was built in a hollow tree, you can change the main direction of flight. To do this, carefully drill another hole on the opposite side of the trunk. This should be at the same height as the original entrance hole. You can then close the old hole. This measure involves risks and should only be carried out when the animals are less active.
Tip
To keep the animals away, you can lay out some lemon slices and sprinkle them with cloves. Wasps don't like this combination at all.
Profile
The German wasp has the scientific name Vespula germanica and is one of the short-headed wasps within the real wasps and, like many other related wasp species, forms colonies. Together with the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), the German wasp is one of the species that can be intrusive to humans. Their name gives an indication of the distribution area.
Excursus
A look at the systematics
The real wasps include long-headed and short-headed wasps. The small distance between the compound eye and the pincers is characteristic of long-headed wasps. This distance is missing in short-headed wasps or, like the German wasp, is extremely narrow. This means that long-headed wasps have an oval to elongated head, while short-headed wasps appear more rounded. Field wasps, which are closely related to real wasps, have a delicate body structure.
Appearance
Vespa germanica can be recognized by its typical black and yellow coloring, which has a warning function. The German wasp differs from other species by an inconspicuous narrow space between the upper jaw and the lower edge of the eye. This is about 0.2 to 0.3 millimeters wide. The markings on the head shield can have different shapes. Some animals have three black dots at this point, while other specimens are characterized by a spot or a longitudinal stripe.
Sizes in comparison:
- Queen: 17 to 20 millimeters
- Worker: twelve to 16 millimeters
- Male: 13 to 17 millimeters
The German wasp is a true beauty
Special features
According to scientific studies by an American researcher, wasps follow regulated rhythms in which active phases alternate with rest periods. If there is inactivity, breathing slows down and the metabolism slows down. The body temperature drops because the flight muscles no longer warm the chest when the aircraft is stationary.
In this inactivity, many wasps leave their antennae hanging and their bodies sink slightly to the ground. If the wasp is disturbed during this phase, it can awaken within a short time. Therefore, this resting state, which occurs primarily at night, should not be confused with hibernation.
Lifestyle
The German wasp lives socially and prefers to build its nest in underground burrows. The states are annual. The life cycle is continued every year by the queens, who are the only wasps to overwinter in hiding places with a suitable microclimate. They found the state independently and alone.
Nest building
In spring, the queen builds her nest, preferring to use underground passages and cavities of mice or moles. As the construction work progresses, the corridors will be expanded and extended. The queen collects wood fibers, which she chews and adds saliva to. She uses the mass to build a kind of lampshade that is hung on the cave ceiling. Underneath, she builds a delicate network of numerous honeycombs.
Difference between wasp and honeycomb:
- Nest consists of hexagonal cells
- Unlike honeycombs, these are not arranged vertically but horizontally
- Opening points downwards
- Chamber walls are thinner than those of bee burrows
Development of the state
Females hatch from the first eggs of the year and act as workers. Over the course of a summer, the nest can grow to the size of a pumpkin. It is surrounded by a leafy coat and ultimately consists of five to seven honeycombs hanging one below the other. A state can accommodate between 3,000 and 4,000 individuals. In rare cases the state reaches a size of 7,000 animals.
A wasp nest houses several thousand wasps
Division of labor
The social wasps divide up the tasks. There are individuals who are solely responsible for further expanding the nest. Other wasps take care of cleaning the cells, feeding the larvae, procuring food or caring for the queen. Brood care is very intensive and resembles the behavior of bees.
Doom
As long as the summer is warm and there is enough food available, the state will continue to grow. Between August and October, the queen has to lay eggs again diligently to ensure continued existence. New queens and males, known as drones, hatch. These mate with the young queens and then die. The wasp colony slowly dissolves after the queen dies. Only the young queens overwinter and establish a colony again the next spring.
Food
The larvae of the German wasp are fed primarily with insects, with the majority being made up of various types of flies. Workers feed mainly on plant juices, which are rich in carbohydrates. Their menu includes juices from trees, herbaceous plants and fruit, but also flower nectar or honeydew from aphids.
Their preference for sweet liquids can be very pronounced between August and September, so the animals like to hang out at the coffee table on the terrace and balcony. Occasionally the insects also feed on carrion and meat.
Plants
Wasps prefer flowers whose nectar is freely accessible. These food sources are flown to when brood care is completed. Then the insects need less proteins and more carbohydrates. Therefore, in summer they are attracted to the smell of sweet foods such as ice cream, cakes or drinks.
These are typical wasp plants:
- Rachenaceae: Brownwort and Swampwort
- Spice herbs: thyme, parsley and dill
- Facade greening: Ivy and wild vine
- Shrubs: Barberry, Cotoneaster
- Other: Trefoil, Bluebell, Yarrow
Related species
An important distinguishing feature from similar species is the marking on the forehead plate, which appears variable in the German wasp but is always present. The nest also provides information about the respective species.
| Nest Color | Nest Cover | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| German wasp | gray | paper-like cover with shell-like grain | in dark closed cavities |
| Common wasp | beige-brown, ochre | paper-like cover with shell-like grain | in dark closed cavities |
| Field wasps | ash gray | missing | hanging freely in warm, protected places |
Difference common wasp
This species has a broad black line on the forehead plate that thickens downwards. Unlike the German wasp, it never appears as a point. Common wasps only use rotten wood from rotting tree trunks or branches to build their nests. This gives the nest a light beige color. The German wasp only gnaws on the surface of weathered wood chips and can often be observed on wooden fences or pasture posts. This gives their nest a grayish color.
Difference between field wasps
Field wasps have a narrower body structure, which is characterized by an oval abdomen. This is rather clumsy in the German wasp and appears cut at the transition to the front body. Unlike the German wasp, field wasps do not have any noticeable markings on their head shield. Their pincers are black and the antennae are colored orange. Field wasps are easy to recognize in flight because they let their long legs hang down.
Occurrences
Even if the name of the German wasp suggests that it is mainly distributed in Germany, the species is found everywhere in Europe. It is also widespread in large parts of Asia, Africa and New Zealand. It inhabits almost all types of landscape, with shrubs and species-rich tall perennials occurring in its natural habitat. The German wasp lives naturally at the edges of forests.
In buildings
Because the species prefers dark cavities for nest building, it is often found in human settlements. Here there are optimal conditions for nest building and a rich supply of food. The German wasp often colonizes roof trusses, gazebos or spaces between beams.
Peaceful coexistence
It is more common for wasps to visit you at barbecues or at the coffee table. When the animals are looking for food, they do not yet react aggressively. Their pushy behavior only comes to the fore when they feel threatened. They use their stinger to defend themselves, which causes panic in many people. A cycle is created that strengthens on both sides.
How to avoid conflicts:
- Cover sweets and grilled meat
- Drink drinks (especially from cans) with a straw
- Protect wooden furniture from weathering with environmentally friendly glazes
- Pick up fallen fruit
- Do not hit or blow on wasps
- do not include existing nests
- maintain a distance of two to three meters from the nest
Frequently asked questions
Do wasps produce honey?
The German wasp is unable to produce honey from the nectar it collects. This serves as a food reserve for the bees. Wasps don't stock up. They use the available food that they can find in nature or in close proximity to humans. If there is a lack of food, the people will not develop further. The insects die in autumn. One of the reasons for this is the dwindling food supply.
How long does a wasp live?
On average, a wasp lives around twelve to 22 days. However, the lifespan of males is somewhat longer. Only the queens live up to a year and hibernate once. After their winter break, they build a nest and start a colony in the spring. This grows until mid-summer and then dies out again. The life cycle is closed with the new young queens that hatch in autumn.
How often can wasps sting?
Unlike bees, wasps have a stinger with a smooth surface. After a puncture, this does not get stuck in the skin, but is pulled out again. This means that wasps are able to sting multiple times. The sting does not result in death for them. If a bee stings, its stinger tears off its body as it flies away and the bee dies.
How should I treat a wasp sting?
If you don't have any allergic reactions, just a few measures are enough to recover. Clean the sting site with soapy water and then cool it with ice so that the swelling goes down. You can then apply an antiseptic and take a pain reliever to relieve itching and pain. Onions are a good home remedy because they cool the sting and have a slightly anti-inflammatory effect.
Can I remove a wasp nest?
It is forbidden by law to remove wasp nests without a reasonable reason. In most cases, other measures help so that you can live peacefully with the wasps. After the summer the problem solves itself because then the colony dies out and only the young queen hibernates.
Are wasps useful?
Wasps have important functions and keep the ecosystem in balance. They can be used as pest controllers and naturally control aphids, mosquitoes and horseflies. This makes them important helpers in plant breeding and forestry. Since wasps also consume animal food, they make a valuable contribution to the decomposition of carrion.
