The problem of the appearance of unwanted insects is especially relevant for people living in a private house or in the country. The innocuous, at first glance, tiny creatures do not pose a threat to humans, and can not be immediately noticed, however, if they created a home under the roof of the house, it is worth taking care of safety measures and considering ways to get rid of uninvited guests. The article will discuss hornets, how dangerous they are, and how to free the house from these insects.
Did you know? The largest hornets live in China and Thailand, and in Japan up to 40 people die from the bites of these huge insects annually. People get severe edema of the internal organs, which becomes the cause of their death.
Who are the hornets?
These are large representatives of the wasp family, belonging to the subfamily of public, as they build nests from paper, which they themselves produce, chewing wood and gluing it with their saliva. Individuals of this subspecies can reach a length of 55-60 mm, where 10% of the body is accounted for by a sting. A distinctive feature of the hornet is the size of the body, which is twice as large as the hornet, as well as the fact that it has a brown spot on its back at the base of the abdomen.
For their own protection, they release poison, which causes pain and severe intoxication. If an adult gets several bites of a hornet, he may die, as the degree of poisoning with each bite will increase. These insects are aggressive in nature, actively go to the protection of their counterparts, without leaving them in trouble.Hornets play an important role in the life of the garden, as they eat pests - they can kill aphids, ticks, flies, caterpillars, locusts, and also feed on old and sick wasps that they hunt after collecting honey. Hornets live in whole families in nests, which they like to equip under roofs in the country house and in the attics of houses, on fences, trees.
They can settle in hollows of trees, not far from apiaries and go hunting for bees and honey. In winter, all individuals of the family die, only one fertilized uterus of the insect remains, which subsequently gives new offspring. You can meet adults in late summer - early spring. Hornets are protected in many European countries and may be fined for their extermination.
Important! The powerful effect of the toxin with multiple hornet bites can cause anaphylactic shock and adult death. The reaction to its action depends on the individual characteristics of the body and the amount of poison received.
Why are hornets dangerous to humans?
- The substance released by the hornet for its protection is toxic to humans, as it can cause:
- severe allergic reaction;
- significant edema at the site of the bite;
- multiple hemorrhage;
- cardiopalmus;
- severe headache.
The insect attacks only in case of a direct threat to life. It will behave aggressively and try to sting many times until it releases all its poison. A single bite causes only edema and minor pain, while with a repeated bite a person may experience a severe allergic reaction. That is why the hornet’s hive should be destroyed if it appears on a suburban area or in a house. Children are in particular danger, because their active movements and loud screams can cause aggression of insects.
How to get rid of hornets with drugs?
To understand how to deal with hornets that have settled under the roof of a house, you need to know what drugs exist to deal with them. Such products have a toxic property and effectively help in the fight against various insects. It is better to choose a broad-spectrum drug that is recommended for combating hornets. The use of chemicals is usually shown if you do not know how to remove the nest, or it is impossible to get to it.
Important! Insecticide treatment is performed at night or in the evening when it is dark outside and the insects are in the nest. After the death of the inhabitants, the nest should be buried or burned.
Processing may occur as follows:
- if access to the nest is possible, it hangs on a branch or is attached to the ceiling, then an insecticide is sprayed in a plastic bag and the bag is put on the hornet’s house, tightly fixing it around the place of attachment to the ceiling;
- if it is impossible to fix the package at the base because the wide part of the nest is attached to the ceiling - a nest is covered with a packet of sprayed insecticide, fixing it to the ceiling with adhesive tape;
- if the nest is in the recess, then the drug is poured into it and the outlet is clogged with a rag soaked in a chemical.
The most popular drugs for fighting hornets are:
- "Karbofos";
- Tetrix
- Chlorpyrifos;
- Dichlorvos.
Important! Tools and utensils that were used for the use of insecticides should be properly treated with hot water and alkali after completion of the procedure.
Karbofos
This insecticide is in the form of a powder or liquid in cans. Advantages - efficiency and economy (inexpensive). Valid for 3-4 weeks. Belongs to hazard class 3 (medium hazard). The powder is diluted in water according to the instructions, dissolving 10 g of the chemical in a liter of water (a different concentration can be used to combat other types of insects). Then the nests are sprayed at a distance of 3-4 m. Karbofos has a paralytic effect on the insect, which gradually leads to the death of the hornet.
Tetrix
A professional tool that is practically not used privately. An insecticide produced in the Netherlands is used by the pest control or sanitary-epidemiological control services.
Chlorpyrifos
This is the basis of the widely presented means for chemical control of stinging insects, among which:
- “Get”;
- "Dursban";
- Forsban
- "Argan";
- Xulat.
Dichlorvos
A common and affordable insecticide with the active substance is pyrethroid. Issued by various trademarks. Belongs to the middle class of danger. Valid for 2 weeks. Dichlorvos is effective when sprayed in close proximity to the nest. It is recommended to apply by spraying into a bag and fixing it around the insect den.
How to get rid of a hornet's nest?
The nests of these insects look like large cones, which are often found under the roof of a house or in the attic. At first glance, it seems that they are made of clay, but in reality it is a dense, durable material, similar to paper, which hornets produce independently, processing wood.
Did you know? Hornets do not like suburban areas planted with mint, geranium and lemon balm - their mint aroma repels insects.
There are many ways to bring hornets, who have chosen a residential house or attic, and which pose a threat to humans. First you need to find their habitat, following the route of their movement. Next, take either physical methods of exposure, or those described above - chemical.You can also use the services of special organizations. The fight against these insects should occur quickly and smoothly, in compliance with safety measures. Hornets emit special substances, enzymes that transmit a signal to relatives about the danger, which can provoke an aggressive and massive attack on a person and cause serious harm to his health.
Physical methods of struggle
Based on the craving of these insects for sweets and on the features of their behavior, the following measures can be taken to combat them:
- Set a sweet bait. Thus, it is recommended that the fight be carried out with the discovery of the first individuals, as a rule, they are female and carry offspring in early April. To do this, cut the plastic bottle into two parts and fill it with sweet fermented syrup, the smell of which the insects will fly off and can no longer leave the bait.
- Pole or landing net which pick up the nest and put it in a bag, and then destroy.
- Small nests are removed with a vacuum cleaner. The dust bag is then burned.
- Fill the honeycomb with hornet mounting foam, which will plug all exits from the nest.
- You can blow out all openings of the socket with foam from a fire extinguisher. After this treatment, the hive is knocked down and destroyed.
- Flood the nest. To do this, it is immersed in a bucket of hot water. It also bred an insecticide, vinegar, add gasoline or kerosene or other aggressive liquid. Gradually, the nest is filled and saturated with moisture, insects die.
- Pour liquid poison inside the nest and plug the exits with putty or tape.
- Open space nest can be sprayed with gasoline and set on fire.
- Hang red chilli, the smell of which drives the hornets off the site.
If a nest is found under the roof, in order not to damage the living room, it is recommended that the hornet's dwelling is:
- Remove in winter or early spring, when it contains only the uterus, which does not pose a particular danger. Carefully remove all residual nests and dispose of it.
- Smoke insects by burning special insecticidal plates and achieving smoldering. At the same time, it is better for people to leave the premises so as not to poison themselves. The death of the family may not occur immediately, so the procedure may need to be repeated several times.
Preventive work is carried out in the winter:
- repair and close up cracks on the roof;
- blow out cracks in the roof and attic with foam;
- set up ultrasound to deter unwanted insects;
- regularly inspect the roof and attic to exclude the appearance of even a small nest of insects.
Important! If the hornets managed to break out during the struggle with their nest, they will behave aggressively - so you must immediately take refuge in a safe place.
Calling Related Services
Professional assistance is provided by special sanitary and epidemiological services or organizations providing disinfestation services (the use of comprehensive measures to destroy rodents, insects).
- Turning to specialists has several advantages:
- High-quality processing, which is carried out by specialists, taking into account the peculiarities of location, scale of the nest and room.
- Save time, because professional removal takes several hours, there is no need to wait for the winter or for a long time to collect hornets on the bait.
Deratization specialists can apply:
- professional insecticides by gas nests;
- hot and cold fog to destroy hornets;
- pheromone traps attracting adults.
Hornet Safety Rules
When destroying hornets nests on a site, you need to worry about your safety:
- put on tight, closed clothes with a hood (minimum open areas of the body);
- put a beekeeper hat or hat on the head with a net;
- wear gloves, preferably rubber;
- to cover the face with a mask, and if it is not, then wear protective glasses on the eyes;
- put on high shoes;
- have anti-allergic medicines.
To get rid of hornets, you can take both physical methods of exposure to insects and use chemical preparations. When removing the sockets on their own, safety precautions must be followed.