This wasp species is one of the dreaded insects classified as a nuisance visitor. Responsible for this behavior is the way of life of these animals. They do a lot to make their people prosper. Little is known about the usefulness of the German wasp.

The German wasp is unmistakable with its large, bright yellow body

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. natural reserve
  3. Help with stitches
  4. remove nest
  5. Characteristics
  6. way of life
  7. food
  8. related species
  9. Happen
  10. Peaceful coexistence
  11. frequently asked Questions

    12. the essentials in brief

    • All wasp species are protected
    • Wasps are of course pest controllers, a large colony can eat up to 2000 grams of insects a day
    • In most cases, a wasp sting is harmless, but should be well cooled
    • A wasp nest must not be destroyed under any circumstances and relocation by a specialist is almost always superfluous

    natural reserve

    There is a general fear of all wasps, which are conspicuous due to their black and yellow coloration. However, only the German and the common wasp are really annoying. Nevertheless, many people tend to make the habitat unattractive for all wasps.

    More and more wasp species are on the Red List of endangered animal and plant species. All wasps belong to the generally protected animal species and may not be caught, injured or killed according to § 39 Para. No. 1 BNatSchG. This protection applies not only to the animals but also to the wasp nest.

    What the insects need

    The German wasp inhabits structurally rich landscapes in which there are many flowering plants and sufficient water points are available. They live in copses and orchards. Old trees with high trunk diameters and dead branches offer optimal retreat opportunities. Since such habitats are becoming rare, the wasps look for alternative habitats. They are pushed into human settlement areas.

    tips

    Create a natural garden with a variety of elements so that wasps feel at home at a safe distance from your house. This way you don't get in each other's way, because the animals find enough food.

    Useful Insects

    Wasps of all kinds (here the common wasp) eat plant pests

    The German wasp has great utility in the ecosystem, acting as an effective pest controller. It acts as a natural regulator and keeps the population of various tree and plant pests in balance, preventing the spread of plant diseases. A large colony of wasps can eat between 500 and 2,000 grams of insects per day. They take on an important function as health police, because wasps accelerate the decomposition of carrion.

    What makes the German wasp so valuable:

    • decomposes weathered wood in forests
    • regulates mosquito, aphid and horsefly populations
    • carry pollen and fertilize plants

    food for certain animal species

    Wasps themselves provide an important food source for certain predators that specialize in the stinging insects. They are the preferred prey of hornets. Shrews also like to attack wasp nests. Birds such as bee-eaters and honey buzzards have developed special mechanisms to avoid being stung when they catch their prey.

    What to do with a sting

    In most cases, a sting is completely harmless to humans, even if it causes pain. It only becomes dangerous if there are more than 100 bites per kilogram of weight. A healthy person with a body weight of 50 kilograms can theoretically withstand 5,000 stitches. It doesn't matter whether it's wasps, bumblebees, bees or hornets.

    First aid:

    • keep Calm
    • Cool stitch to avoid swelling
    • Stings in the oral cavity should be continuously cooled with ice cubes

    When to go to the doctor is necessary

    A sting can be dangerous for allergy sufferers. They can experience various symptoms such as skin rashes, shortness of breath or shock. If the immune system shows such acute reactions, a doctor should be consulted. Also seek medical attention if you have been stung around the eyes or mouth. There is a danger to life when the airways swell. Stings can cause infections.

    These symptoms should be investigated:

    • fever
    • lymph node swelling
    • numbness and tingling

    How can I remove a wasp nest?

    Anxious citizens often turn to fire brigades or pest controllers to remove the annoying wasp nest. In most cases this is unnecessary and entails high costs. Wasp nests are only relocated in exceptional cases, and you must consult a specialist beforehand. For legal and health reasons, you should not attempt nest removal yourself. NABU is the first point of contact if you need help.

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    Wasps are attracted to it

    The fact that wasps are always present at the dining table is not only due to the food. Wasps are attracted by a variety of scents and colors that suggest a plentiful supply of food. Intensive perfumes or creams also exert an attraction on the insects. Colorful clothes are also attractive.

    Wasps are far less dangerous than most fear. They only go on the attack in exceptional cases.

    How to protect yourself

    Secure the apartment and house with fly screens so that wasps cannot fly into the building. In the garden you protect yourself and the animals with simple fences or screens that are erected within a radius of about four meters around the nest. On horse paddocks, an electric fence around the entrance to the underground nest can be useful to prevent grazing livestock from getting too close to the wasp population.

    If the nest was built in a hollow tree, you can change the main direction of flight. To do this, carefully drill another hole on the opposite side of the trunk. This should be at the same height as the original entry hole. You can then close the old hole. This measure carries risks and should only be carried out when the animals are less active.

    tips

    To keep the animals away, you can lay out some lemon slices and sprinkle them with cloves. Wasps don't like this combination at all.

    Characteristics

    The German wasp bears the scientific name Vespula germanica and belongs to the short-headed wasps within the true wasps and, like many other related wasp species, forms colonies. Together with the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), the German wasp is one of the species that can become intrusive to humans. Their name gives an indication of the distribution area.

    digression

    A look at the system

    Real wasps include long-headed and short-headed wasps. The small distance between the compound eye and the pine pincers is characteristic of the long-headed wasp. This distance is absent in short-headed wasps or, as in the German wasp, is extremely narrow. Long-headed wasps have an oval to elongated head, while short-headed wasps tend to have a rounded head. The field wasps, which are closely related to the real wasps, have a filigree physique.

    Look

    Vespa germanica can be recognized by its typical black and yellow coloration, which has a warning function. The German wasp differs from other species by an inconspicuous, narrow space between the upper jaw and the lower edge of the eye. This is about 0.2 to 0.3 millimeters wide. The drawing on the head shield can be different. Some animals have three black dots at this point, while other specimens are marked by a spot or a vertical stripe.

    Sizes in comparison:

    • queen: 17 to 20 millimeters
    • worker: twelve to 16 millimeters
    • male: 13 to 17 millimeters

    The German wasp is a true beauty

    particularities

    According to scientific studies by an American researcher, wasps follow regulated rhythms in which active phases alternate with periods of rest. If there is inactivity, breathing slows down and the metabolism slows down. Body temperature drops because the flight muscles no longer heat the chest when stationary.

    During this period of inactivity, many wasps let their feelers hang and their bodies sink slightly to the ground. If the wasp is disturbed during this phase, it can wake up within a short time. Therefore, this state of rest, which occurs mainly at night, should not be confused with hibernation.

    way of life

    The German wasp lives socially and prefers to build its nest in underground structures. The states are annual. The life cycle is continued each year by the queens, who are the only wasps to hibernate in shelters with a suitable microclimate. They found the state independently and alone.

    nest building

    In the spring, the queen builds her nest, preferring to use underground passages and cavities of mice or moles. In the course of the construction work, the corridors will be expanded and widened. The queen collects wood fibers, which she chews and mixes with saliva. From the mass she builds a kind of lampshade that is hung on the cave ceiling. Beneath it, she erects a filigree network of numerous honeycombs.

    Difference between wasp and honeycomb:

    • Nest consists of hexagonal cells
    • unlike honeycombs, these are not arranged vertically but horizontally
    • Opening faces down
    • Chamber walls are thinner than those of the hives

    development of the state

    Females, who act as workers, hatch from the first eggs of the year. Over the course of a summer, the nest can grow to the size of a pumpkin. It is surrounded by a leafy mantle and finally consists of five to seven honeycombs hanging one below the other. A state can house between 3,000 and 4,000 individuals. In rare cases, the state reaches a size of 7,000 animals.

    A wasp nest houses several thousand wasps

    division of labour

    The social wasps share the tasks. There are individuals who are solely tasked with further expanding the nest. Other wasps take care of cleaning the cells, feeding the larvae, finding food or caring for the queen. Brood care is very intensive and resembles the behavior of bees.

    demise

    As long as the summer is warm and sufficient food is available, the state will continue to grow. Between August and October, the queen has to lay eggs again to ensure survival. New young queens hatch and, for the first time, males, which are referred to as drones. These mate with the young queens and then die. The wasp state slowly dissipates after the queen dies. Only the young queens overwinter and found a new colony the following spring.

    food

    The larvae of the German wasp are mainly fed with insects, whereby the majority consists of different fly species. Worker bees feed mainly on plant juices, which are rich in carbohydrates. Their diet includes juices from trees, herbaceous plants and fruit, but also flower nectar or honeydew from aphids.

    Their preference for sweet liquids can be very pronounced between August and September, so the animals like to hang out at the coffee table on the terrace and balcony. Occasionally, the insects also feed on carrion and meat.

    plant

    Wasps prefer flowers whose nectar is freely accessible. These food sources are flown to when brood care is complete. Then the insects need less protein and more carbohydrates. Therefore, in summer they are also attracted to the smell of sweet foods such as ice cream, cake or drinks.

    These are typical wasp plants:

    • throat blood: Figwort and swamproot
    • herbs: Thyme, parsley and dill
    • facade greening: Ivy and Virginia Creeper
    • shrubs: barberry, cotoneaster
    • Other: Two-leaf, bluebell, yarrow

    related species

    An important distinguishing feature from similar species is the pattern on the forehead, which appears variable in the German wasp, but is always present. The nest also provides information about the respective species.

    nest color nest cover location
    German wasp Gray papery shell with shell-like grain in dark closed cavities
    common wasp beige-brown, ocher papery shell with shell-like grain in dark closed cavities
    paper wasps ash grey is missing hanging freely in warm sheltered spots

    Difference common wasp

    This species has a broad black line on the forehead that thickens downwards. Unlike the German wasp, it never appears as a point. Common wasps only use rotten wood from rotting tree trunks or branches to build their nests. This gives the nest a light beige colour. The German wasp only gnaws superficially weathered wood chips and can often be observed on wooden fences or pasture posts. This gives their nest a greyish tint.

    difference paper wasp

    Paper wasps have a narrower physique, which is characterized by an oval abdomen. This is rather clumsy in the German wasp and looks cut off at the transition to the front body. Unlike the German wasp, paper wasps do not have any conspicuous markings on their head shields. Their pincers are black and their antennae are orange. Paper wasps are easy to spot in flight because they let their legs hang down.

    Happen

    Even if the name of the German wasp suggests a main distribution in Germany, the species occurs everywhere in Europe. It is also widespread in large parts of Asia, Africa and New Zealand. It inhabits almost all types of landscape, with shrubs and species-rich tall forbs occurring in its natural habitat. The German wasp naturally lives at the edge of forests.

    In buildings

    Because the species prefers dark cavities for nest building, it is commonly found in human settlements. Here there are optimal conditions for nest building and a rich supply of food. The German wasp often inhabits roof trusses, gazebos or spaces between beams.

    Peaceful coexistence

    It is more common for wasps to visit you at barbecues or around the coffee table. When the animals are in search of food, they do not yet react aggressively. Their pushy behavior only comes out when they feel threatened. They use their sting to defend themselves, which causes panic among many people. A cycle is created that strengthens on both sides.

    To avoid conflicts:

    1. Cover desserts and grilled meats
    2. Drink beverages (especially canned) through a straw
    3. Protect wooden furniture from weathering with environmentally friendly varnishes
    4. collect fallen fruit
    5. Don't hit or blow on wasps
    6. do not include existing nests
    7. maintain a distance of two to three meters from the nest

    frequently asked Questions

    Do wasps produce honey?

    The German wasp is unable to produce honey from the nectar it collects. This serves as a food reserve for the bees. Wasps don't stock up. They use the available food that they can find in nature or near humans. If there is a lack of food, the colony will not develop further. In the fall, the insects die. One of the reasons for this is the dwindling food supply.

    What is the lifespan of a wasp?

    A wasp lives an average of 12 to 22 days. However, the lifespan of males is slightly longer. Only the queens live up to a year and hibernate once. In the spring, after their winter break, they build a nest and establish a colony. This grows up until midsummer and then dies out again. The life cycle is completed with the new young queens that hatch in the fall.

    How often can wasps sting?

    Unlike bees, wasps have a smooth-surfaced stinger. This does not remain in the skin after a sting, but is pulled out again. This allows wasps to sting multiple times. The sting doesn't kill them. If a bee stings, its stinger will tear off the body as it takes off and the bee will die.

    How should I treat a wasp sting?

    If you do not show any allergic reactions, a few measures are enough for recovery. Clean the sting site with soapy water and then cool it with ice to reduce the swelling. You can then apply an antiseptic and take a pain reliever to relieve itching and pain.Onions are a good home remedy because they cool the sting and have a slight anti-inflammatory effect.

    Can I remove a wasp nest?

    It is against the law to remove wasp nests without good reason. In most cases, other measures help so that you can live peacefully with the wasps. After the summer, the problem solves itself, because then the colony dies out and only the young queen overwinters.

    Are wasps useful?

    Wasps have important functions and keep the ecosystem in balance. They come into play as pest controllers and naturally take care of controlling aphids, mosquitoes and horseflies. This makes them important helpers in plant breeding and forestry. Since wasps also consume animal food, they make a valuable contribution to the decomposition of carrion.

Category:

Animals in the garden