Not all wasps are aggressive and stinging. The insects colonize the compost to go in search of food. If they start nesting in your compost, you should consult a beekeeper.
A few wasps in the compost is normal and even beneficial
lifestyle of insects
Wasps feed on insects and larvae, as well as moths and aphids. Fruit leftovers are real wasp magnets and therefore the insects can also get lost on the compost between July and September. Not every wasp species is aggressive towards humans. The German and the common wasp become obtrusive, although these species only attack in exceptional cases. If you find wasps in your compost looking for food, there is no urgent need for action. If the wasps become a nuisance, you should cover your compost.
A nest in the compost
As soon as you spot wasps near your compost pile, keep an eye on them. A queen prefers to settle in moderately moist compost heaps that offer a lot of coarse material such as grasses and wood cuttings. The colony increases rapidly in the summer months.
If the wasps have built a nest in your compost, you should contact a beekeeper or conservation organization directly. The Federal Conservation of Nature prohibits disturbing or destroying animal habitats without good reason. Once the nest has been abandoned in the fall, you can easily remove it.
This is how wasps avoid you:
- light a bowl of coffee grounds and let it smoke
- Crush the grapes and set aside
- Plant tomato plants, basil or lavender
offer alternatives
Deliberately give the insects a place to settle. Rotten wood or an old tree stump placed in a secluded place is ideal. The material serves as a place for insects to build a nest. Once the wasps settled there, they would come in handy. They remove animal remains and waste, serve as food for birds and keep pests in check.
If you have a colony of wasps in the garden, a second one will not settle. The insects defend their territory against intruders. With the advent of the first frosts, the people die. Only the queen overwinters in a frost-free retreat.