Is it humming and scratching in the attic or in the roller shutter box? If so, you may have a colony of wasps. A not entirely unproblematic thing, especially for allergy sufferers. Nest removal is often necessary in this case, but should be left to professionals.
Wasp nests should always be removed by a professional
When wasp nest removal is necessary
It is not always necessary to remove a wasp nest. There are some arguments against it:
- Some wasp species are protected species
- Nest removal is dangerous and complicated
- Associated costs
- Wasps are also useful in the garden
To the first point: Some wasp species are specially protected by the Federal Nature Conservation Act and may not be harmed, caught or killed "without good reason". The species that are included and that can cause us humans problems with their nests are primarily hornets. Whether there is a "reasonable reason" must always be assessed individually. The immediate proximity of the wasp nest to the human living space is usually not sufficient. There must be an insect allergy or small children living in the household.
If the official green light is given, a wasp nest may be removed. However, this is a difficult and quite dangerous undertaking - so it should be done by a specialist if possible. This could be, for example, employees of a nature conservation authority or beekeepers. They have the necessary experience with the animals and also have professional equipment.
The professional removal or relocation of a wasp nest costs around 100 euros, depending on the situation and effort.
But for reasons other than financial ones, one should think carefully about whether one can somehow come to terms with the wasps. The main reasons for this are:
- Wasp colonies only last a few months anyway
- They are effective pest and spider killers
A wasp colony only exists from around April to October - and they are actually only really active in late summer from August to September. Otherwise, despite their strong individual states, they are still relatively self-absorbed and therefore tolerable. So if you can befriend them to some extent by fall, when most of the animals die, you should.
Spider haters and those plagued by aphids should also bear in mind that wasps eat up these unwelcome animals with great appetite.