Earth wasps don't have a particularly good reputation. They are labeled as dangerous and aggressive insects and counted among the annoying insects. But the hymenoptera take on numerous functions in the ecosystem. They have an exciting lifestyle and in most cases do not become a threat.

Ground wasps are wasps that, as the name suggests, live in the soil

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Combat ground wasps
  3. food
  4. Characteristics
  5. species
  6. way of life
  7. earth wasps and earth bees
  8. Natural enemies
  9. habitat
  10. natural reserve
  11. Danger vs. benefit
  12. prevention
  13. frequently asked Questions

    14. the essentials in brief

    • Earth wasp nests should not be removed without further ado
    • Earth wasps are only aggressive when they feel threatened
    • A specialist can relocate the useful insects together with their nest

    What helps against ground wasps?

    If you want to get rid of earth wasps, you should get professional help. Unauthorized attempts to remove and eradicate using petrol or other methods can result in nasty surprises. In many federal states, the removal and destruction of wasp nests is prosecuted, so that a fine is to be expected.

    Products such as wasp foam or anti-wasp spray poison and kill the insects. Although the manufacturers often promise ecological and gentle modes of action, you are putting yourself in danger. The nest is disturbed and the workers try to defend themselves by stinging.

    Get advice here:

    • Lower nature conservation authority of your district office
    • local fire department
    • regional NABU office
    • in Bavaria: LBV
    • Wasp emergency service or beekeeper

    fumigation or drowning

    This method is comparatively old and often does not achieve the desired success. Twigs and brushwood are piled up in front of the entry hole and set on fire so that the smoke penetrates into the earthwork. The animals become very aggressive and may attack. Several repetitions are necessary to drive away the wasps in the long term.

    Another measure to kill ground wasps is flooding the burrows and passages. Sugar water is fed into the building. The sugar should stick the wings of the insects together so that they can no longer fly. This method, too, is only effective after repeated repetition and means an agonizing death for the animals.

    Lay the entry hole

    This method is not entirely safe, since you have to get close to the wasps' nest. If you are unsure, a specialist should be consulted. Such measures should be carried out during the morning or evening hours, since the animals are less active during this time.

    You will need a six foot drain pipe and a fitting piece of pipe bent at 90 degrees. Put both tube parts together. The angled piece is inserted into the hole in the ground so that the long part with the tube opening faces a safe area.

    tips

    If wasps bother you on the terrace or balcony, simply place a bowl filled with sugar water at a safe distance. This attracts wasps and keeps them away from the coffee table.

    relocate ground wasps

    Relocating a nest only makes sense if it is in an unfavorable place. A specialist sedates the insects with an animal-friendly sedative before the measure, so that the wasps are stunned. The nest can then be safely dug out of the ground and placed in a remote location. This measure can only be carried out until mid-July, since the wasp colony then grows rapidly.

    digression

    What to do with a ground wasp sting?

    When wasps feel threatened, they sting. This is also the case with ground wasps. Anyone unlucky enough to have been stung by a wasp should react quickly. These remedies will help keep the pain within bounds:
    • cool
    • Rub the sliced onion on the sting
    • cold vinegar (disinfects and cools)
    • if possible don't itch!

    What do earth wasps eat?

    Wasps like nectar but will also attack other insects to feed their larvae

    The diet of adult ground wasps is predominantly vegetarian. Hymenoptera feed on plant juices that contain high-energy sugar compounds. Young queens are often found on willow blossoms in spring. But the smell of food and drinks also attracts the insects. Once they have discovered the rich food source, they are difficult to drive away. Larvae are fed a protein-rich mash made from chewed insects and other animal proteins.

    What are ground wasps?

    Earth wasps are a slang term for wasps that settle in the soil. In Germany, there are two species of wasps from the genus of short-headed wasps, which nest in burrows. These include the common wasp and the German wasp. Together with hornets and long-headed wasps, they form the subfamily of wasps.

    detect ground wasps

    When the insects are on a reconnaissance flight, they can be easily spotted. After earth wasps have found an optimal place for building their nests, the hustle and bustle of the colony begins. Holes made by earth wasps can be seen in the ground, which are used for entry and exit.

    species

    Garden owners most often make acquaintance with the German wasp or the common wasp. Both species are found in similar habitats and display aggressive behavior when threatened. They often seek human proximity because they are attracted to the smells of sweet baked goods and beverages.

    common wasp German wasp
    Drawing on the front plate broad black line, thickened downwards broken black dash or dots
    size 11 - 20mm 12 - 20mm
    nest color light, beige greyish
    material for nest building rotten wood from rotting tree trunks superficially weathered wood of fences

    way of life

    A wasp colony lives for one summer. There is a fixed hierarchy and division of labor in the community. This is the only way the state can function and ensure the survival of the species.

    nest building

    From April the fertilized queen looks for a burrow in which to build her nest. These can be dark cavities or abandoned mouse holes. She eats a lot of food for the first two to three weeks. The nest is then formed from chewed wood fibers.

    The initial nest looks like this:

    • a central brood cell
    • six other cells surround the center
    • Nest hangs upside down from the cave ceiling
    • Honeycomb protected by spherical nest cover
    youtube

    Formation of a wasp colony

    Shortly before oviposition, the eggs are fertilized with stored sperm. The female has carried this supply with her since mating last autumn. One egg is laid per brood cell. The queen feeds the hatched larvae with a pulp of crushed insects.

    The larvae secrete a liquid droplet rich in sugar. The queen takes it. After the larvae have pupated, they molt several times inside the pupa. The young earth wasps hatch after about two to three weeks.

    digression

    larval development

    Wasps are clean insects that keep their nests very clean. The larvae only defecate shortly before they pupate, so that the excretions do not rot in the nest. The queen can control the sexual development of her offspring. She secretes pheromones and thereby prevents the emergence of further fertile females. In this way the queen creates her state from sterile workers. Only the queen is responsible for further reproduction.

    development of the state

    The workers are responsible for expanding the nest. They create additional brood combs, which are arranged in several levels. In this way, the nest and the colony can grow rapidly. It is not uncommon for a colony of wasps to consist of 3,000 to 4,000 individuals.

    A wasp colony can consist of up to 4000 wasps

    The expansion lasts until late summer. The queen now secretes fewer pheromones so that fertile females develop. They form the new generation of queens. Males hatch from unfertilized eggs by early autumn, which at the same time represent the end of the colony. The nest is slowly dying out as new workers are no longer being produced.

    This is how the division of labor in the state looks like:

    • nest extension
    • cleansing of the cells
    • feeding of the larvae
    • supply of the queen
    • food procurement

    mating and demise

    The old queen dies in the fall. Males flee and look for females from other colonies to mate with, so that no inbreeding occurs. Males die shortly after mating. At the latest when the cold snaps, all insects in a state have died. Only the fertilized young queens look for a protected hiding place to overwinter. They use rotten wood, cavities under bark or moss cushions to hibernate there. In this so-called diapause, all vital functions are switched to an energy-saving mode.

    Difference between ground wasps and ground bees

    Ground wasps are very often confused with ground bees, which can have fatal consequences. Earth bees are completely harmless and do not pose any danger to humans. The useful insects are protected, which is why their structures must not be removed and destroyed without reason.

    Not only the appearance of earth wasps and earth bees differ, but also the structure and behavior of both groups. Bees often communicate using a waggle dance to convey the distance and direction of a food source. This behavior does not exist in wasps.

    earth wasps ground bees
    number of entry holes an entrance multiple accesses
    useful life of a cave for a year over several years
    honeycomb arrangement horizontal vertical
    body slightly hairy in places furry hairy

    Which animal eats earth wasps?

    There are a number of natural predators that keep ground wasp populations in check. Many animals have specialized in stinging insects by developing protective mechanisms or parasitic lifestyles. In addition, humans are one of the greatest enemies of wasps, because the use of insecticides in agriculture kills many peoples.

    mammals

    There are numerous predators in this group of animals that target the protein-rich brood of ground wasps. These include smaller mammals such as shrews and hedgehogs, but also badgers. However, none of the animals has specialized in earth wasps. If the insects fly outside the nests, there is little chance for the predators to catch one of the flying animals.

    birds

    Some birds specialize in hunting flying insects. Red-backed shrike and bee-eaters are among the most important predators of earth wasps. The honey buzzard has also specialized in stinging prey. The raptors dig up the nests of the common, German and red wasps to feed on the high-energy brood. It is not uncommon for workers to bite them as they defend their nest. That is why the Honey Buzzard closes its eyes while digging. The dense feathers on the head protect it from the stings.

    insects

    Numerous insects have specialized in hunting wasps. There are some animals that live parasitically and kill numerous earth wasps in this way. Ants can also pose a threat to the wasp brood, as they occur in large numbers and are aggressive. The caterpillars of some wax moth species also feed on the arachnid brood, with mainly bee and bumblebee larvae on their menu.

    Why these insects are suitable wasp hunters:

    • dragonflies: agile and fast flyers, powerful jaws for killing
    • predator flies: strong legs for catching, proboscis for sucking
    • fathead flies: lay eggs on flying wasps, larvae eat host from the inside
    • wasp beetle: Beetle larvae bore into wasp larvae

    Where do earth wasps live?

    Earth wasps are found in large parts of Europe. They inhabit almost all landscapes and are often found in human settlements. Burrows are an important prerequisite for earth wasps to find a suitable nesting site. Not only shrubs grow in their natural biotope, but also various tall perennial plants. They are found near forests and on horse pastures.

    Earth wasps also occur here:

    • in the garden
    • between paving stones
    • under terraces
    • in a flower box (€16.99) or flower pot

    in the house

    Ground wasps are not only found in holes under the ground. Cavities in walls and blinds or undisturbed attics are also suitable dwellings for the insects. If you notice a buzzing in the apartment in the summer months but cannot locate it, wasps are probably the cause. It can also be bees or hornets.

    Are earth wasps under nature protection?

    All wasp species are protected by the Federal Nature Conservation Act. The insects must not be caught, injured, killed or wantonly disturbed. The protection also applies to the nest. There are exceptions to these prohibitions. There must be a public interest or an unreasonable burden on the individual. Wasp nests in the day-care center may be professionally removed after obtaining permission.

    Danger vs. benefit

    Earth wasps exhibit aggressive behavior. They don't shy away from close proximity to humans and won't just fly away if you swat at them. Such measures are perceived by the insects as a threat against which they must protect themselves. There are stitches. If children are playing in the garden and accidentally step on a hole in the ground, the earth wasps also feel threatened and often attack.

    Wasps are good pest controllers

    But wasps also play a major role in pest control. They need animal proteins to rear their brood. To do this, they go hunting and capture various insects and arachnids. Adult insects feed exclusively on sweet plant juices, but they also like to suck up aphid excrement. This prevents wasps from being able to colonize the infested plants with fungi. At the same time, wasps attack the aphids themselves and prevent them from spreading in large numbers.

    What Earth Wasps Prey:

    • fly species
    • other Hymenoptera
    • Caterpillars of butterflies and moths
    • grasshoppers and spiders
    • brakes

    Earth wasps are not monsters that take revenge on humans by any means necessary. They are useful insects in the ecosystem and ensure that pests do not spread unchecked.

    prevention

    To prevent earth wasps from settling in the garden, the preferred forage plants should not be planted. Wasps have specially designed mouthparts that they can only use to suck out easy-to-reach sources of nectar. Therefore, there are some plants that are more often approached by wasps. This includes not only flowering plants, but also some ferns such as bracken. These spore plants have nectar glands on the petioles that are easy for wasps to reach.

    Typical wasp plants:

    • Figwort and swamproot
    • two leaf
    • thyme
    • some umbellifers
    • ivy and buckthorn

    tips

    Collect overripe fallen fruit and cover the compost well. Ground wasps can't resist sweet and savory smells from leftover food or fruit.

    prevent nest building

    There are some plants that exude an intense fragrance. Since earth wasps are highly orientated towards smell, you can take advantage of plants with a wasp-deterrent smell. Place intensively smelling kitchen herbs such as lavender, mint or basil in planters and distribute them on the balcony and garden. Tomatoes and garlic also exude aromas that scare off wasps.

    make soil unattractive

    In the fall, abandoned earthen nests should be destroyed. Fill in the aisles with substrate and tamp down the soil. If there are no holes and burrows, the garden will immediately appear less attractive to ground wasps. Open soil in beds should be regularly dug up. This also closes underground passage systems and holes on the surface.

    frequently asked Questions

    Do earth wasps die in winter?

    Except for the young queens, all earth wasps in a colony die as soon as the first frosts appear. The queen is looking for a protected hiding place to spend the winter in order to establish a new state next year. It survives the winter in dead wood or building niches.

    What do ground wasps look like?

    The insects are clearly recognizable by their coloration. They wear a typical black and yellow striped pattern, which is intended to serve as a warning color. Also characteristic is the constricted abdomen, which is referred to as a wasp waist.

    Can earth wasps sting?

    Earth wasps have a stinger that won't get stuck in the skin after a sting. They direct poison into the wound, which often causes swelling. In most cases, the symptoms subside after three to four days. Some people are allergic to wasp stings, so a sting can quickly become dangerous. Medical treatment is advisable in this case.

    What is the lifespan of earth wasps?

    The workers live for one summer and die in the winter. Males are not developed until autumn. They die shortly after mating, which takes place before winter. Only the queens have a life expectancy of about a year.

    Are earth wasps coming back?

    Earth wasps only use a nest once. However, young queens are often guided by smells. They like to come back to places that were colonized by wasps in the last year. You should therefore clean the site thoroughly in winter after removing the nest.

Category:

Animals in the garden