invasion of hornets

[captin cook]

hi    we have a holiday home in lot et garrone, on our last visit in oct  our shed had been occupied by hornets , with a nest of about a metre in length , has any one any advise on how to get rid of them ( we have thought of setting the shed on fire) on our next visit !

[Will]

This used to be one of the many functions of the sapeurs pompiers (fire brigade) but nowadays there are specialist companies dealing with insect infestations. The best place to ask who deals with hornets' nests (nids de frelons) is the mairie for your commune. Or you may just find the insects have moved on of their own accord.

[Ford Anglia]

According to my book, and to ChrisP on here, wasps and hornets don't overwinter. Your nest MAY be defunct, and all it's population, dead.

Now me,  I'd go and test that theory if it were wasps, but hornets............?[Www] Hmmmmm[I]

Might be worth asking at the mairie. Better looking stupid than like Quasimodo when you're badly stung[;-)]

[chris pp]

It will be well and truly empty by now, all the males will have died and the females, (new queens), will have found somewhere to overwinter individually and in addition it is extremely rare for hornets to use the same site twice.

Chris.

[captin cook]

hi thanks for your help just hope the nest is empty when we return this month ( we'll leave the blow torch at home)

[Ford Anglia]

[quote user="captin cook"]hi thanks for your help just hope the nest is empty when we return this month ( we'll leave the blow torch at home)[/quote]

I removed a large-ish wasp's nest from a friend's roofspace in the UK by sliding a binliner over it, holding it at the "neck" end, and sawing through the nest-fixing with a breadknife. My mate stood behind me and sprayed any wasps that entered/exited as I closed the bag.

The nest was active at the time, although it WAS dusk. We tied the bag shut, took it a few miles away, and opened it, standing well back.

Mate then blocked the entrance to the nest site. Neither of us got stung.

Your nest is PROBABLY empty, but use the above method, you'll be OK. Also, do it after dusk, they are all in that's going in then[;-)]

[hoverfrog]

hornets are unusual in that they fly at night, so waiting for dusk is pointless.

They are supposed not to overwinter or return to an old nest, although the overwintering queens will no doubt set up somewhere in the vicinity and if so you can look in your local pages jaune for pest control.

Some people tackle the nests themselves but personally I'd rather pay the brave young man with the protective gear and the insurance :)

[GUEPE]

hi hoverfrog .i am allergic to wasp stings ,epipen etc.we had 2 hornets nests. i in a disused chimney ,the other on a window corner.we cleared away the nests last summer and to date no evidence of them returning apart from the odd one or two trying to get through a closed window pane!although i have gone through anaphylactic shock once ,i wonder if i have built up some immunity over time?and would a hornet sting give the same adrenilin rush ?keep well away i think .do they in france have an organisatoin like medic alert? john

[hoverfrog]

I'm afraid I have no idea about resistance over time, or about a medi-alert in France :(

My OH had anaphalytic shock once and is not keen to repeat it - if you've already had a bad experience then my reaction would be to keep well away!

Our local bank manager was in hospital after getting 3 hornet stings, and he's not keen to repeat the experience either :)

[Bugsy]

[quote user="GUEPE"]hi hoverfrog .i am allergic to wasp stings ,epipen etc.we had 2 hornets nests. i in a disused chimney ,the other on a window corner.we cleared away the nests last summer and to date no evidence of them returning apart from the odd one or two trying to get through a closed window pane!although i have gone through anaphylactic shock once ,i wonder if i have built up some immunity over time?and would a hornet sting give the same adrenilin rush ?keep well away i think .do they in france have an organisatoin like medic alert? john[/quote]

You can buy emergency injection kits in france for emergencies like this. The Pharmacies keep them in stock. I'm not sure if they require a prescription from your doctor though.

[Ford Anglia]

[quote user="hoverfrog"]hornets are unusual in that they fly at night, so waiting for dusk is pointless. They are supposed not to overwinter or return to an old nest, although the overwintering queens will no doubt set up somewhere in the vicinity and if so you can look in your local pages jaune for pest control. Some people tackle the nests themselves but personally I'd rather pay the brave young man with the protective gear and the insurance :)[/quote]

But apparently, they only fly at night during the summer?

Anyway, see HERE:

Control Measures

European hornets, when not in direct competition with humans for space and resources, are very beneficial by destroying harmful insect pests. Do not control these hornets unless necessary. They are primarily a forest species, having few contacts with humans and present a minimal stinging hazard.

Nest Destruction

The best control measure is to destroy the nest. Work in pairs, wear protective clothing (with bee veil if possible) to cover the body and do the treatment after dark when most hornets are inside the nest. Use a flashlight (red cellophane over lens) while the other person applies the pesticide. Nests may be difficult to locate and out of reach high into a tree or structure. There are literally hundreds of products labeled for wasp and hornet control. Use special wasp and hornet pressurized jet sprays containing synergized pyrethrins, resmethrin or carbamates and rapidly volatilizing organic solvents. Sprays are emitted in a long, narrow stream 15 to 20 feet. If the nest is hidden in a wall void, puff carbaryl (Sevin), pyrethrins (Drione), bendiocarb (Ficam) or deltamethrin (Delta Dust) powder or dust into the wall hole that is used as an entrance. Workers in time will carry the dust back to the queen, giving good kill. When hornet activity has ceased, remove and destroy the nest. If the nest is a considerable distance from the entrance, spraying the opening may have little immediate effect. Never plug the wall entrance after treatment as hornets may chew out another entrance into the house.

[powerdesal]

[quote user="GUEPE"]hi hoverfrog .i am allergic to wasp stings ,epipen etc.we had 2 hornets nests. i in a disused chimney ,the other on a window corner.we cleared away the nests last summer and to date no evidence of them returning apart from the odd one or two trying to get through a closed window pane!although i have gone through anaphylactic shock once ,i wonder if i have built up some immunity over time?and would a hornet sting give the same adrenilin rush ?keep well away i think .do they in france have an organisatoin like medic alert? john[/quote]

I think you will find its the opposite, you dont build up immunity but become more susceptible. Take care and keep an in date epi-pen (or two) handy.

[Frederick]

Years ago I knew a guy who was happy to deal with wasp nests ...but ....he wanted the grubs for fishing bait ....Do people still use these grubs for bait when river or lake fishing ?

[GUEPE]

thanks.i have just ordered 2 new epipens from the doctors surgery.in fact now that you mention it i remember the doctors comments after he prescribed epipens.he said "and i hope that you never have to use them " and the wasps,  i think they are ok as long as you are not threatening there queen ,but they don,t tell you where the queen is!thanks for the info john

[GUEPE]

hoverfrog .this is not hornet related .i just love your dog is he for real?have you a bigger photo of him or her ?

[hoverfrog]

she is a Patterdale terrier called Charlie. There are some pictures of her here

and some of the remaining puppies too! One is so like her I have to look what colour collar he has :)