Wasp nests can be particularly annoying when they are close to people. Not only do you have to deal with the increased number of wasps in the garden and house - the nest structures can also cause some damage to the house or shed.
How can you prevent wasp nest building?
To prevent wasp nests, access should be minimized and odor barriers set up. Check roof trusses and roller shutter boxes for openings, use essential herbaceous fragrances such as lavender, clove or basil oil and remove old nests.
It becomes particularly problematic when:
- there is an acute danger from being near wasps (e.g. due to an allergy to insect venom or small children in the household)
- the roller shutter function is impaired by a nest created in the box
Once a wasp colony has settled in the attic, garden shed or roller shutter box, it is difficult to get rid of them. In order not to expose yourself and the animals to unnecessary stress, it is usually best to simply tolerate the wasp colony. After all, wasps only have a short life, so after half a year the spook is over anyway.
To avoid having to spend a summer in the company of wasps, it is advisable to prevent nest building in good time. First of all, it is important to know which places in and around the house are particularly popular with the social, community-building and most problematic wasp species. In contrast to most other, lesser-known wasp species, German and common wasps or hornets do seek proximity to humans. For example, they like to build their nests
- In roof trusses
- In roller shutter boxes
- In the garden shed
- In cavities between walls and external cladding
In such places, the animals look for corners and niches above where it is dark and protected. What you can do to make it as uninviting to wasps as possible is the following:
- Minimize access
- Set up odor barriers
Minimize access
When it comes to roof trusses and roller shutter boxes, the most important thing is to block or reduce access. Check the roof of your house for any gaps and openings that may be caused by porous insulation material or irregular roof tiles, for example. Such weak points offer wasps easy access to suitable nesting sites.
You should check window frames and external cladding of roller shutter boxes for cracks in the external plaster and seal them.
Unfortunately, in the case of cavities between the facade and the foundation wall, not everything can be closed, as a ventilation duct is usually required here.
Deterring by smells
You can also rely on the wasps' keen sense of smell to prevent nest building. They can't stand some smells at all and won't settle where they smell. What they don't like, for example, are ethereal, herbaceous smells. For example, it is recommended to rub the beams in the attic with lavender, clove or basil oil. Garlic cloves are also effective. For example, a strong-smelling incense plant can be hung in the hanging basket on the window and the outside facade.
Old wasp nests should also be removed in the fall and the area cleaned thoroughly - the familiar scent of the conspecifics can invite other young queens to settle in the following year.