Bees, hornets and wasps: what to do in case of a nest?

As soon as spring comes, the garden becomes a living space where we like to gather. Unfortunately, it is often attacked by unwanted guests: bees, hornets and wasps. While their beneficial contribution to pollination is undeniable, bites from these flying insects can be dangerous, especially for children and allergy sufferers. It also happens that the presence of a nest is hidden behind this conflictual coexistence.

How to find and recognize the nest?

Also called swarm of bees, is made up of wax cakes, oriented vertically. The structure of the nest is rarely visible from the outside because bees like to dwell in cavities such as tree hollows or cracks in walls.

A light gray or brown color, that consists of cellulose which insects obtain by turning wood chips into a paste with their saliva. More rarely, wasps use mud to build their nests. Oval shape, can measure up to 30 cm. You can find it in various places such as gutters, trees and sometimes even in the ground.

Like a wasp’s nest, hornet’s nest it is made of cellulose. However, it is characterized by a more rounded shape and a larger size: up to 40 cm in the nest of European hornets compared to 70 cm in Asian hornets. The former prefer rural areas, while the latter are more often seen in urban areas. Asian hornets pose a real threat to biodiversity because they are formidable predators of most pollinating insects.

In what cases should the nest be destroyed?

If the nest is at the bottom of your garden and doesn’t pose a threat, you can leave it there. However, if its location causes bite hazard for yourself or others is recommended to destroy.

Regardless of the species, firefighters only intervene if the nest represents an immediate danger or is located in a risky environment (public road, nursery or school).

If you are struggling with honeycomb, the best solution is to contact a beekeeper. He will be responsible for retrieving it to incorporate into his own apiary.

For a wasp or hornet nest you will have to call a specialized company when destroying nests. It will destroy it safely.

What you should definitely not do

• Do not attempt to destroy the nest yourself. Feeling threatened, insects may attack you.
• Avoid sudden movements near the nest. These actions could startle the hymenoptera and provoke an attack.
• Do not block the entry of the swarm to prevent the creation of a new nest.
• Do not leave food near the nest to avoid further attracting insects.

How much does an expert intervention cost?

The beekeeper’s intervention is generally free. Prices charged by private companies, on the other hand, vary between €90 and €200 on average.

If the nest is placed in a public area, the town hall pays for the disposal costs.

Finally, if you are a tenant, Article 18 of the Law of 23 December 1986 provides for the division of costs between you and the owner. You will have to take responsibility for the products used, while the owner will bear the cost of the work.