As the year draws to a close, the wasps gradually come to an end as well. Only a few fertilized young queens survive the winter. An orphaned wasp nest in and around the house can of course be a nuisance and should be removed. We'll tell you how below.
Wasp nests are empty in winter and can be easily removed
Problematic wasp nests
Especially the social wasps that form large colonies can become a problem for us humans. On the one hand, they are very numerous and present, especially in late summer, and can be quite annoying. On the other hand, nests that have been built in and on the house are sometimes critical for house use. The following are particularly problematic and must be removed:
- Wasp nests in the attic
- Wasp nests in the roller shutter box
Relatively uncritical: wasp's nest in the attic
In niches of roof structures, a wasp nest does not actually cause any significant damage. Slight damage to the beams and wasp droppings can occur, but none that would affect the supporting functions in any way. In addition, only those wooden beams are affected by gnawing marks, which are already a bit more rotten anyway - despite their powerful mouth tools, fresh, superficially firm wood is too hard for the wasps to collect nest building material.
However, you can or should remove the orphaned nest in winter. There is no danger of a resettlement next spring, because the overwintered young queens usually look for a new location. However, you can prevent other insects from nesting in the abandoned brood chambers and causing problems themselves.
After removing the remains of the nest, you should clean the area well, e.g. with a vinegar cleaner, so that young queens from another state do not notice the familiar smell of their own species and feel invited to settle down. To prevent a resettlement even more effectively, you can rub the area with clove or lavender oil.
A little more critical: In the roller shutter box
A wasp nest in the roller shutter box is usually necessary because it can impair the function of the roller shutter. Of course, the removal is a bit more complex here because the roller shutter box has to be opened. For removal and cleaning, the same rules apply as for the attic case. To prevent other wasps from finding their way back into the roller shutter box, you should look out for any cracks in the plaster when cleaning and seal them.