this post was submitted on 21 May 2024
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Agree. Fuck wasps, fuck yellow jackets.
Apparently in parts of Europe residential use of pesticide in this manner is not allowed. But, like, how do they handle aggressive wasps? Natural methods like the original post do not work on those bastards.
You can apply to be allowed to remove, or most likely only relocate, the wasp nest, if it is a protected species. For that you need to prove that the wasps are a danger (eg located near a bedroom, a resident has a wasp allergy etc). Just being inconvenienced, eg you can’t use the attic or a part of your back yard or you can’t open certain windows, is not enough.
In general, here in Germany it is always forbidden to hurt or kill an animal without reason. Some endangered species have special protections though, and that is what can make killing certainly wasps without permission very expensive. If you are caught, that is.
Of course you can always go the the hardware store, pay 20€ for a can of very effective wasp foam and get rid of them without permission. People do that all the time. Just don’t get caught.
Do people get arrested for stepping on ants when they walk down the street?
Wait till he learns that wasps are a protected species (at least in parts of Europe) and killing them is technically illegal.
Do people just cede territory? Are wasps just not a problem? It's not like I enjoy killing them, and only do to the ones trying to take over my deck by murdering me and my family because they're aggressive assholes.
Edit:
I do appreciate all of the information people are giving about how they are handled in Europe. For what it is worth, we do have someone in the home with an allergy bad enough to have an EpiPen always with them. We only clear their nests from the deck (outdoor platform attached to home where we eat/lounge outside during nice weather) or around the front door. I will look into finding a service that will remove them humanely in the future.
No to both. It's illegal to kill them without good reason. A good reason would be if they build a nest under your roof, but not to make a youtube video where you test your home-made flame thrower.
Okay, I think we are running into a language problem here. A wasp is what you muricans call a Yellowjacket, what do you mean when you say wasp? A hornet? Something completely different?
No matter: both wasps and hornets are protected. Why would you cede territory? I mean, they can be aggressive but they won't like murder you. Anyway, if you got a nest of those bitches on your property, you call either a specialist who will relocate them or the fire department. They will do the same.
They're different names for slightly different but similar animals like the Germans using Kaninchen Vs Hase for rabbit vs hare
"Wasp" is an entire family of insects; there are a bunch of them. Where I live, we do have both yellow jackets and hornets (and call them as such), but when somebody says "wasp" they're typically referring to a red paper wasp (this or this -- I was unaware there were two different kinds until just now, BTW).
Wasp, colloquially, is a general term for stinging insects including yellowjackets, bald face hornets, and paper wasps. I have all 3 around my home but primarily yellowjackets and admit I revert to the general term often. It could be a regional dialect habit, my apologies.
I do appreciate all of the information people are giving about how they are handled in Europe. For what it is worth, we do have someone in the home with an allergy bad enough to have an EpiPen always with them. We only clear their nests from the deck (outdoor platform attached to home where we eat/lounge outside during nice weather) or around the front door. I will look into finding a service that will remove them humanely in the future.
When we in swedeb talk about hated wasps it's usually
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_hornet
Or
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vespula_vulgaris
Which are usually hated with a burning passion by many people. I'm allergic to their sting (enough to make me a bit dizzy by only one sting and a trip to ER if I accidently mess with a nest) so I really don't want them around but they are so common it's hard to combat.
Edit: The European Hornet is less of an issue since they are mostly a danger when you are close to the hive, but the other one is a bother all summer
Wasp as pollinators, please don't kill them, almost all of them will not attack you unprovoked.