Man dies after hornets attack as he helps friend tidy French garden
The man was stung multiple times on the head
You should call a professional pest control service if you have a wasp or hornet nest in your garden
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A 42-year old man has died after being stung multiple times on the head by hornets. He had disturbed a nest as he helped a friend to clear his garden in central France.
The man was not attacked by the invasive Asian hornet species but from European hornets, native to France.
These insects are found throughout France and are larger and more aggressive than European wasps, but less likely to attack than Asian hornets.
The incident happened in Clugnat (Creuse) on Wednesday (July 31) morning. The man was rushed to a hospital in nearby Guéret but died late on Wednesday night.
Read more: LIST: Does your French commune give free traps for Asian hornets?
Hornets and wasps tend to build their nests in tree trunks and stumps, attics, chimneys, dry stone walls and old straw bales, especially in rural areas, and it is advised to stay away from them.
What to do if you discover a nest?
If you discover a wasp or hornet nest, you should leave the area immediately.
Unlike bees, the animals are much more prone to use their stinger when they feel threatened, including if a person or animal is in close proximity to their nest.
This also means you should have the hives destroyed to stop the proliferation of the colony although generally you should leave beehives alone as bees are unlikely to cause any nuisance and are good for local pollination.
You should establish a perimeter around the nest, into which you and others avoid going, and use a professional pest control service to remove the nest.
The cost of a callout can vary, depending on the size of the nest and ease of access, for example removing a nest at the top of a tree as opposed to the side of a barn.
Average costs are between €75 for an easy removal and up to €200 for the more difficult.
Home insurance policies do not generally cover nest removal although you can often buy additional cover for this.
Note however, that if the nest is not attached to your property / land but in a public space (i.e a telephone pole on a road), it is the responsibility of the local mairie to deal with it, and you should contact them.
Read more: Which are the most dangerous animals in France and where are they?
