Dangerous Neighbours?!

As practice shows, there has been an increase in citizens' requests to destroy hornet nests on their property. Not only civilians but also organisations seek assistance from rescuers. Wasp nests are more common in urban areas, while hornets are found in rural areas and at dachas. Rescuers from the Lepel garrison respond almost daily to assist in the elimination of nests of these "dangerous" insects.

Rescuers remove insect nests free of charge from kindergartens, homes for the elderly and disabled, hospitals, and other social institutions. If a nest is discovered in a house or at a dacha and poses a direct threat to people's lives and health, Ministry of Emergency Situations employees will respond immediately and provide assistance.

Hornets are generally not very aggressive towards humans. When away from their nests, they very rarely attack first; moreover, these predators usually try to escape and fly away from a pursuing person. Hornets only attack when defending their home or when they realise escape from a pursuer is impossible.

Therefore, dealing with hornets on a dacha plot or apiary is only necessary in cases where they either pose a danger to people or prey on honeybees.

If one or several hornets simply fly into a garden in search of food, this is beneficial for the plot owner, as these predators kill many agricultural pests while foraging. However, if the insects establish themselves directly on the plot or, even more dangerously, in an outbuilding, it is necessary to consider as soon as possible how to get rid of the hornets and remove their nest quickly and safely.

It is possible to deal with hornets independently.

So, how to deal with them?

In most cases, dealing with hornets at a dacha involves three stages: first, the location of the nest is found; then, all adult individuals are eliminated; and finally, the nest itself is removed.

In the simplest case, when the nest is located under the ceiling of an outbuilding, a regular bucket is used. Water is poured into it beforehand, and then the hornet nest is submerged in the water. This container is then pressed against the ceiling and propped up from below with a block or a stepladder. As a result of these actions, all hornets in the nest die within half an hour.

Hornets at a dacha can also be eliminated using petrol or kerosene. To do this, pour the nest with the liquid or set it on fire, which will guarantee the extermination of the entire colony at once. However, this should only be done if it does not harm your dwelling.

Another method of getting rid of hornets is to spray the nest with an insecticide. To eliminate the predators, pour the insecticide into a bag and wrap it around the nest in such a way that the wasps cannot escape. Then, you just need to wait for all the hornets to die.

There are various ways to combat hornets independently: they are all quite simple to implement, but nevertheless dangerous, as there is always a risk of being stung.

Wasp stings, and especially hornet stings, are not just unpleasant and painful. They can cause a severe allergic reaction. Therefore, we recommend abandoning the idea of peaceful coexistence with insects immediately. May your war with stinging insects be successful and swift. If you realise you cannot cope on your own, contact the sanitary station or the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) by dialling "101" or "112".