Hornets make some people uncomfortable because of their size. However, this is completely unfounded, because the animals are much more tolerant and peaceful than the much smaller wasps. Hunting day and night, a colony catches up to half a kilo of insects every day. It helps to keep the garden free of pests and mosquitoes.
How to settle hornets in the garden?
To settle hornets in the garden, offer a home-made or purchased hornet box in a quiet corner, at least four meters high, with a rough inner surface and protected from weather and vibrations. A clear flight path without a bright light source allows unhindered access.
Creating a habitat for hornets
The striped brummers are increasingly having problems finding suitable places for their nest. In nature they prefer to settle in old, hollow trees, which have become rare in our world.
Hornet boxes hung in the garden (€229.00 on Amazon), which you can purchase ready-made in stores, can help. This has several advantages:
- In an insect-friendly garden, the hornets do not accidentally nest in the roller shutter box or behind loose boards in the garden house.
- The large wasps destroy many insects that we humans don't like to share greenery with. Their menu includes, for example, wasps, mosquitoes and horseflies.
- A hornet box contributes to biodiversity and prevents the hornets from colonizing roosts intended for other animals, such as bat boxes.
The self-made hornet box
The instructions for the practical “Münden hornet box” can be found free of charge on the Internet. It measures 65 x 25 x 25 centimeters inside and therefore offers enough space for a larger hornet colony.
The inside of a box must be rough so that the animals can find a good grip. Unplaned spruce boards are ideal because they can be easily processed even by inexperienced craftsmen.
How to hang the hornet box?
- A quiet garden corner where the hornets are undisturbed is ideal.
- Hang the roost for the large wasps at a height of at least four meters.
- The box must be mounted firmly on the wall or tree, away from the weather side, as the insects react to even the slightest vibrations.
- The entrance hole should be free of branches so that the animals can fly in unhindered.
- Since hornets also travel in the dark, there should be no bright light source nearby.
Tip
If your neighbor has already hung a hornet box, you should only offer housing if it is at least one hundred meters away. Otherwise there could be turf wars between the peoples.
