Why We Simply Let the Wasp Nest on Our Terrace Be

Paper wasps build their nests from chewed wood mixed with saliva into a paper like material. Layer by layer, this becomes an intricate honeycomb shaped structure. Over the course of this summer, a large nest has grown on our terrace, with many wasps flying in and out every day. Look closely and you will see a social insect colony with a clear division of labour, from the queen down to the worker wasps gathering food for the brood. What many people do not know is that wasps are important beneficial insects in the garden. A single colony consumes several kilograms of insects over a summer, mainly aphids, flies and caterpillars that would otherwise damage plants and crops. In doing so, wasps provide natural pest control that would otherwise require chemical treatment. Only in late summer, once brood care ends, do the wasps need more nectar and sugar. That is when they start showing up at the coffee table. The nest itself is only used for a single season. In autumn, the whole colony dies except for the new queen, who overwinters alone and founds a new nest in spring. That is exactly why it is worth thinking twice before removing a wasp nest. In Germany, wasps and their nests are even under special legal protection, so destroying one without good reason is not permitted. More important than any rule, though, is what we have experienced ourselves. As long as you keep a respectful distance, avoid sudden movements and do not block the wasps' flight path, living alongside them is surprisingly relaxed. Only in heavily used spots, such as right above a child's swing, or if someone has a known insect venom allergy, does professional relocation make sense, ideally with a trained wasp advisor rather than on your own. Still, nobody has to simply put up with every wasp at the coffee table. According to NABU, it helps to place a plate of overripe fruit, for example grapes or half a peach, a few metres away from your own table in the sun. The wasps usually find food there faster than on your cake and leave the coffee table alone. Pure honey or jam do not work as well for this, they tend to make the wasps more aggressive. It also helps to stay calm. Sudden movements and blowing at the wasps only make them nervous, since carbon dioxide in human breath acts as an alarm signal in the nest. We would advise against wasp traps with sweet liquid or beer. The wasps die a slow death in them, and so do many other insects. Our terrace wasp nest is staying right where it is. If you are staying with us, we are happy to show it to you. Seen from a safe distance, it is a lovely piece of nature, right in the garden of Pension Volgenandt.