How to deal with hornets: 12 simple and safe ways

In the spring, unwanted neighbors often appear on a summer cottage or in a private house - wasps, bees and hornets, which are dangerous to humans, wooden buildings and garden trees. To avoid stings and damage to structures, it is important to know how to get rid of hornets and prevent them in the future. Traditional methods, pesticides and mechanical destruction of nests can help solve the problem.

Hornets are large insects that cause fear with their appearance, and their bites are dangerous to life and health. In order to protect yourself and your site, it is important to know how to deal with pests and destroy their nests

The article contains effective methods for exterminating pests, and also presents effective preventive measures that will help prevent the occurrence of such a problem.

What do hornets look like and why are they dangerous?

Externally, hornets are very similar to ordinary wasps, but they are very easy to distinguish by their large size. This insect can be described as follows:

1. The body length depends on the specific subspecies, but the most common individuals are 3-5 cm, and their wingspan can be up to 7 cm.
2. The body is striped and has a yellow-black color characteristic of this species.
3. The abdominal cavity is most often dark brown.
4. The head grows into the chest, this area is black.

These insects can pose a serious danger because their bites have the following features:

1. Instant manifestation of an extremely acute allergic reaction and inflammatory processes , since the venom contains a large number of different substances and is close in composition to the venom of a rattlesnake.
2. The hornet does not die after being bitten and is able to sting its target several more times.
3. The bites are painful. According to various studies, only certain varieties of exotic ants are capable of stinging more painfully.
4. Single individuals are capable of transmitting signals to their relatives at a distance , so in case of death or danger, help may arrive, and a person tolerates a large number of bites extremely poorly.
5. People with various diseases have a hard time with bites , since they can negatively affect cardiac or respiratory activity, as well as many systems of the human body.
6. If a child is bitten, internal organs may be damaged.

How to call pest control services

If you don’t know how to destroy hornets or remove the nest, you should contact specialized services. They have a number of advantages over non-professional methods: the treatment is carried out with special equipment and potent drugs that meet the requirements of Rospotrebnadzor. The qualifications of the specialist are also important.

Most often, a generator is used that supplies a solution of a toxic substance under pressure. The mixture easily penetrates into inaccessible and remote places, so a single treatment is sufficient. There is no danger to others, since specialists take into account all the nuances.

What to do:

• find out information about the company, whether there is a certificate, compare prices, read reviews;
• conclude an agreement where the nuances, price, and guarantees must be specified.

Specialists are called to exterminate hornets on the territory, in any premises. Addresses of local services can be found on the Internet.

Ways to get rid of insects

Sometimes people and hornets can get along well, but in some situations the insects build their nests in undesirable places, posing a threat to others.

In such cases, you have to get rid of them; this can be done in different ways:

1. Setting traps often cannot completely get rid of unwanted neighbors, but it allows you to destroy individual individuals that get too close to a person or territory where they should not be.
2. The use of various chemicals, most often aerosols containing insecticides. This technique is one of the most effective, and it allows you to get rid of insects instantly. However, the use of insecticides also has a certain risk, since it may not be possible to destroy the hornets the first time, and such an attack will anger the inhabitants of the nest and provoke them to launch a counterattack.
3. Call professionals from specialized services that deal with the destruction of all types of insects. This method is the most recommended, since it allows you to get not only a guaranteed result, but also protection from the reappearance of unwanted neighbors for a certain period of time. The only drawback of this option is the very high cost compared to other methods.

There are other ways to combat hornets, but the options discussed are the most popular, since other analogues are more dangerous. Regardless of the chosen method, they all boil down to one thing - the need to destroy the nest.

Precautionary measures

When the methods of how you can fight hornets in your apiary become clear, you can choose the most optimal and suitable for each specific case. But, in any case, take all precautions to:

• Do not cause fire in nearby objects.
• Don't poison the bees.
• Avoid exposure of poisons to pets.

Using these recommendations, it is easy and simple to get rid of a colony of hornets in the immediate vicinity of your home and your apiary.

Hornet traps

A variety of hornet traps are very popular; stores today have a wide range of similar devices.

However, you can make them yourself; one of these options is discussed in detail below:

1. Prepare a plastic bottle with a volume of at least 1.5 liters and cut off its top part with the neck.
2. A fragrant bait is poured into the lower part, which will attract the attention of insects. You can use jam, honey or beer, and also mix these components with each other.
3. The top of the bottle is inserted into the bottom, neck down. In this case, you must remember to remove the cover from it.
4. As an additional measure, the neck can be lubricated with any oil, after which the trap will be ready. The hornets, flying towards the smell, will get caught inside, but will not be able to get out, since they will look for a way out exclusively along the side surfaces of the bottle. If some individuals get to the neck, they will not be able to get out due to the slippery coating on it.

This is due to the fact that the baits used will also attract the attention of bees, which will die along with the hornets.

Getting rid of it with your own hands

Folk remedies are environmentally friendly, but their effectiveness cannot be guaranteed:

• Chilli

Fresh or dried pods are tied in 3-5 pieces and hung near the hive. The smell of pepper is unpleasant to hornets, but not fatal to them.

Hornets are equally disgusted by both fresh and dried chili peppers.

• Mint, lemon balm, geranium

The pungent odor repels hornets. You can plant them near the house, along the perimeter of the site. If there is a nest, the surrounding area is sprayed daily with alcohol tinctures.

A “fence” of lemon balm around the perimeter of the site will help repel many harmful insects

• Boric acid.

Mix a tablespoon of powder with the same volume of honey, place bait near the hive and where you encounter hornets most often. A stronger poison is obtained if a tablespoon of powder and three finely chopped fly agarics are poured into a glass of water and boiled for 2–3 minutes. Strain the liquid and add it to honey or minced meat.

Gardeners often use boric acid for other purposes - it has a positive effect in the fight against hornets and ants.

• Homemade traps

No less effective than store-bought ones. A plastic bottle (1.5–2 liters) is cut in half crosswise and both parts are inserted into each other, turning the top neck down and greasing the inside with Vaseline and vegetable oil. Bait (honey, beer, jam, juice and pulp of fruits and berries) is poured into the container. The aroma attracts insects, they get inside, but they can’t get out. Every 2-3 days the bait needs to be changed. To enhance the effect, you can mix it with poison (Karbofos, Aktara).

A homemade hornet trap performs its function no worse than a store-bought one. How to get rid of hornets in a country house under a roof in an inaccessible place

Locating the Nest

Regardless of the chosen method of destroying hornets, the first priority is to find their nest.

In some cases, this process does not take a significant amount of time or effort, and the nest can be found somewhere near the site, for example, in trees or in utility rooms; it is simply impossible not to notice it.

However, situations arise when the hornets’ home is securely hidden, and it is not possible to monitor where they are flying; in this case, you can use the old and proven method of determining the location of the nest:

1. Hunt down one of the hornets and knock it down with a tennis

   
   with a racket, and it is important not to kill him, but only to stun him. At the same time, care must be taken so that his relatives do not consider this a manifestation of aggression and go into an active attack.

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2. Wear a thick leather or rubber glove on your hand to prevent the possibility of a dangerous bite.
3. Take a long colored ribbon or thread and tie it around the stunned insect.
4. Wait for the moment when the hornet comes to its senses. After this, he will go directly to the nest, and, thanks to the noticeable tape, it will be easy to track the trajectory of his flight.

First, you can try to wander around the area and try to locate the nest visually.

It is recommended to pay attention to the following places that these insects often choose to build their homes:

1. Trees, especially if they have spreading branches that reliably hide the nest from prying eyes.
2. Old stumps.
3. Attics, sheds and various utility rooms , where people look extremely rarely and do not disturb these inhabitants.
4. Under the roof of residential buildings.
5. In holes dug in the ground. At the same time, the hornets themselves actually never create tunnels on their own; they use those that were made by other types of insects or underground animals.

Why do they appear, what attracts them, what do they eat?

The main task of hornets is to protect their young and themselves from attacks or parasites. Other people's smells irritate them very much , so the smell of sweat from a person, perfume, and other things is like a foreign phenomenon for them. They may view this as a risk of infesting their nests. They also attack apiaries with bees , killing them. That is why for beekeepers such “guests” in the apiary are a real problem.

In general, these aspen species are classified as predators. To feed themselves, they need to catch other insects, smaller in size and weakly defended. They bring the killed victim to the nest or eat it themselves, but always in the nest. In general, their diet can be divided into the most basic victims:

• spiders;
• centipedes;
• moths;
• grasshoppers;
• bees;
• butterflies;
• worms or slugs and other species.

When they eat, they eat away the softest parts of their prey's body. carnivores only temporarily, only when they need to feed their larvae . But when this period passes, they begin to eat berries, fruits, and other things that wasps are usually greedy for. They are especially attracted to raspberries, blackberries and strawberries , as well as almost any food that begins to disintegrate. When these insects attack the hives, they kill the bees and eat the honey and larvae.

Methods for destroying a nest

There are many ways to destroy a hornet’s home, but they are all associated with a certain danger, since these insects are ready to defend their nests to the last.

The following are the most common techniques:

1. One of the oldest methods that people have long used is to immerse the nest in a container of water. In this case, you do not need to remove or touch it yourself; you need to place a bucket of water below so that the hive and its inhabitants are completely immersed in it. This option is best practiced indoors, since it often takes a lot of time to completely destroy a population, and the bucket can not be held by hand, but supported with a stepladder or other object.
2. The simplest, most effective and favorite method by many is burning the nest, which is first doused with gasoline, kerosene or other flammable substances. The disadvantage is that this option is unsuitable for practical use near trees, wooden buildings, indoors and other places where a fire may occur.
3. Spraying the inside of a sealed bag with any insecticide that poses a mortal danger to flying insects and wrapping it around the nest.
4. Pouring liquid insecticide or water brought to a boil into holes that lead to underground hornet shelters. However, it must be taken into account that the tunnels can be very deep, so sometimes a very large volume of liquid is required.
5. The easiest way to destroy nests that are located in tree hollows is to fill them with toxic substances or simply fill the hole with putty, after which the hornets will be walled up inside.

Insecticidal repellent lamps

Insecticidal lamps are designed to kill and repel flying insects. They are safe, do not emit harmful substances, have no odors, and can be used around the clock in the presence of people and animals.

The lamp consists of two blocks - one attracts insects using UV lamps, the second serves to destroy them. Attracted by the light, the insect flies towards the lamp and lands on a live grid or on a plate with glue (adhesive insecticidal lamps).

Classification by purpose:

• professional outdoor, for public spaces;
• household street, for home, apartment;
• industrial for production facilities, farms;
• mobile (battery operated).

The household lamp is equipped with a tray and a special grille that prevents accidental contact with live parts; the body is made of high-quality plastic. Devices for home use are usually small in size and easy to carry.

Brands in demand among the population: Hilton, Mo El, Well, Zapplight.

Safety regulations

Regardless of the chosen method of getting rid of unwanted neighbors, you must remember how dangerous these insects can be, especially in large numbers.

For this reason, it is important to follow the following rules, which will increase the degree of human safety during the procedure:

1. First of all, you need to choose the right clothes; they should be tight enough and not leave exposed areas of the body. Thick gloves are put on your hands, and your face should be protected with a special mesh mask, which is usually used by beekeepers.
2. You should not make sudden movements or try to escape, even if the inhabitants of the nest go on the attack and try to sting your clothes. You need to calmly move to a safe distance.
3. Prepare in advance all the necessary supplies that may be required to provide first aid : alcohol, ice, bandages, medications to reduce an allergic reaction.
4. Do not use potentially dangerous methods of killing hornets , such as fire, if this can lead to negative consequences.
5. There is no need to make noise near the nest so that its inhabitants do not find out ahead of time that uninvited guests have come to them.
6. It is recommended to carry out removal only at night. However, even then the hornets do not sleep, they simply reduce their level of activity, but are ready to quickly mobilize if a threat arises.

In conclusion

Any method of destroying a nest is used exclusively in the evening or at night. It is a mistake to believe that then the hornets sleep. They have a 24/7 rhythm of life. He's just not as active in the evening and at night. Therefore, there is no need to lose vigilance. Use the flashlight very selectively. Insects are very responsive to sudden changes in lighting. All radical measures against hornets must be justified. Nests should be destroyed only when the hymenoptera truly pose a threat to humans, bees or crops. In other cases, it is better to be in peaceful coexistence with them. After all, in some countries “large wasps” have long been listed in the Red Book.

Source

Calling specialists

This method of exterminating hornets is the safest, since the employees of the selected organization will do all the work themselves.

This option has several features that need to be taken into account:

1. Today there are a lot of companies specializing in insect control , so it is recommended not to rush into making a choice, but to compare different options based on criteria such as pricing policy and customer reviews.
2. Discuss important nuances, including guarantees that insects will not appear again. This information must be included in the contract, which is concluded in writing.
3. The problem of removing hornets is more typical for suburban areas, and this is one of the criteria that affects the price of the service. Typically, the farther from the city the place where the nest needs to be destroyed is located, the higher the price for this procedure.

The main reasons for the appearance of hornets on the site or in the house

The hornet's habitat is quite extensive: almost the entire southern and northern hemispheres of the globe. In our country, this insect is found everywhere, but especially large populations live in the European part and in the south. A key factor in hornet sightings is the presence of a food source. In particularly dry years, the founding queen travels considerable distances in search of food. It is possible that this journey may end in a gardening area or in the city.

The length of the hornet is usually 1.8–3.5 cm

On human territory, insects most often build nests in remote, quiet and dry corners: in attics, balconies and attics, in basements, garages, premises for livestock and poultry, uninhabited barns, etc. In rare cases, a home for a young swarm can become a former birdhouse, tree hollow or soil.

In areas with a warm climate, where the upper layers of the soil warm up well, hornets make their nests in the soil

According to the type of food, hornets are predators, however, they do not refuse plant foods, including any sugar-containing products, berries and fruits (including rotten ones), and flower nectars. Insects also love to feast on the sap of trees such as oak and birch, so in search of a new site they can fly from an oak grove or birch grove. Honey bees are a special delicacy for giant wasps. The proximity of an apiary is a common reason for the appearance of hornets.

Hornets not only destroy bees, but also take all the honey, pollen and larvae to feed the growing young

Those who have dealt with hornets know about the tireless nature of these insects. There is even an opinion among people that they never sleep, and this is not far from the truth. With a sufficient amount of food and the absence of enemies (and the hornet has no natural enemies anyway), in one season the colony can grow from several hundred to several thousand individuals. Often, giant wasps are lured to a human home by various aromas, which may include a lush flowerbed, or rotting waste, such as meat or fish remains.

So, the reasons for the appearance of a hornet are as follows:

• an unkempt garden plot with a large number of pests (a source of food for hornets);
• cluttered balcony, courtyard, etc.;
• close location of the apiary;
• young tree branches not collected in time;
• an abundance of rotting waste: an open compost pit, trash cans without lids;
• active flowering of ornamental plants and fruit trees;
• the presence of a forest, birch grove or oak grove nearby.

Why is a hornet dangerous?

A hornet sting is extremely painful, it is much more dangerous than a wasp or bee sting. The fact is that the portion of poison injected into the wound is relatively larger (about 2 mg, which is 2.5 times the amount left by the bee) and more toxic. In addition, during an attack, an insect can sting more than once. In most cases, a hornet bite is accompanied by toxic and allergic reactions. An interesting fact is that far from the mother’s nest the insect behaves rather indifferently towards humans. But approaching the hive causes aggression in him.

During an attack or death, the hornet releases a special alarm pheromone, which will quickly alert other family members of the danger. Therefore, it is strictly not recommended to kill an insect near the nest.

If we talk about sensations, a hornet’s bite is usually compared to a hot nail sharply piercing into the body.

First aid for insect bites

If the hornet still managed to sting a person, then you need to act extremely quickly and not waste time in order to avoid possible complications.

Providing first aid consists of the following actions:

1. Suctioning venom from the stung area. This procedure must be carried out immediately, since its effect will only be for a short time after the bite, before the poison has time to spread. This will not completely prevent all consequences and get rid of an allergic reaction, but it will significantly minimize the risk.
2. Apply ice or any fairly cold compress to the bite site, which will reduce pain and prevent the growth of the lesion.
3. Do not touch the affected area and do not allow the bitten person to do so, since any rubbing and scratching will stimulate blood circulation, which will ensure the spread of poison throughout the body, not to mention the possibility of infection, which can significantly aggravate the situation. There is also no need to try to detect the sting, since hornets, unlike bees, never leave it at the site of the bite. This is due to the peculiarity of the structure of their poisonous weapon, which has a smooth surface.
4. Use any method to disinfect the affected area; for this you can use hydrogen peroxide, medical alcohol or other disinfectants. You need to treat the bite area with extreme caution, without pressing on it.
5. You can apply wet sugar to the bite, which is then wrapped in a bandage or towel. This will allow you to draw out a certain amount of toxic substances that did not have time to spread throughout the body. You can remove the bandage after 10 minutes, since this time is enough to draw out the poison.
6. Apply a swab heavily moistened with citric acid or vinegar to the bite site, this will reduce inflammation and an allergic reaction. This reaction occurs due to the fact that the toxic substances that the hornet uses are alkalis, and vinegar and citric acid can destroy their structure.