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In some people, hornets cause discomfort because of their size. However, this is completely unfounded, because the animals are much more tolerant and peaceful than the much smaller wasps. Day and night on the prowl, a colony catches up to half a kilo of insects every day. It thereby helps to keep the garden free from vermin and mosquitoes.
Hornets like to nest in boxes intended for other insects, bats, or birds
Create a habitat for hornets
The striped buzzards are having increasing problems finding suitable places for their nest. In nature, they prefer to settle in old, hollow trees, which have become rare in our world.
Hornet boxes hanging in the garden, which you can buy ready-made in stores, can help. This has several advantages:
- In a garden designed to be insect-friendly, the hornets will not unintentionally nest in the roller shutter box or behind loose boards of the garden shed.
- The large wasps devour many insects with which we humans do not like to share the green. Their diet includes wasps, mosquitoes and horseflies, for example.
- A hornet box contributes to biodiversity and prevents the hornets from colonizing areas intended for other animals, such as bat boxes.
The self-made hornet box
You can find the instructions for the practical "Mündener Hornissenkasten" on the Internet free of charge. It is 65 x 25 x 25 centimeters inside and therefore offers enough space even for a larger colony of hornets.
The inside of a box must be rough so that the animals can find a good grip. Unplaned spruce boards are ideal, as they can also be processed very well by inexperienced craftsmen.
How is the hornet box hung?
- A quiet corner of the garden where the hornets are undisturbed is ideal.
- Hang the roost for the large wasps at a height of at least four meters.
- The box must be mounted firmly on the wall or tree, facing away from the weather, as the insects react to even the slightest vibration.
- The entrance hole should be free of twigs so that the animals can fly in unhindered.
- Since hornets are also out and about in the dark, there should not be a too bright light source nearby.
tips
If your neighbor has already put up a hornet box, you should only offer a dwelling yourself if it is at least 100 meters away. Otherwise there could be turf wars between the peoples.