Asiatic hornets

[Hotrodder]

This is the third year we have had hornets nesting at the top of the chimney. I think they are in the space between the flue liner and the stonework itself. I read somewhere that once they leave the next they don't return the following year. This is clearly nonsense.
I don't know what kind of hornet they are but I would like to get rid of them.

[basquesteve]

"I don't know what kind of hornet they are" Asian Hornets do not fly at night

[Hotrodder]

Neither do I. I don't know if they fly at night but I see them all day.

[widge]

This is the third year we have had hornets nesting at the top of the chimney. I think they are in the space between the flue liner and the stonework itself. I read somewhere that once they leave the next they don't return the following year. This is clearly nonsense.
I don't know what kind of hornet they are but I would like to get rid of them.

I think asian hornets can overwinter and continue to use the same nest.

[exile]

According to the experts, Asian Hornets do not reuse old nests. In the case of @Hotrodder I think there is a simple explanation.

The nest is essentially paper and in a chimney when the fire is lit, it will be destroyed. So new nest in old position.

[basquesteve]

You said you do not know what species they are
It is very difficult at at a distance to see markings, I assume you see some creatures flying around your chimney use a torch and see if the activity stops at night

[Hotrodder]

According to the experts, Asian Hornets do not reuse old nests. In the case of @Hotrodder I think there is a simple explanation.

The nest is essentially paper and in a chimney when the fire is lit, it will be destroyed. So new nest in old position.

That is a plausible explanation but not applicable in this case. The activity continues even with the fireplace in use. The smoke certainly seems to p*ss them off but they don't leave. So I assume they nest in the space between the flue liner and the chimney column itself where it doesn't get hot enough to ignite the nest. They sometimes come all the way down the flue so we have to be careful when lighting the fire. It is our only source of heat.

[widge]

I found this a very informative and interesting read.
https://wildlifeinfrance.com/insects-fr ... -in-france

[Blaze]

@Hotrodder Are you sure they are hornets and not wasps ? Can you get a photo of one of the beasties ? It's easy to see the difference between a European Hornet and an Asian one - there are plenty of photos showing the difference. Asian hornets are much more aggressive when they feel threatened.

People are advised to get in a specialist to get rid of a nest and a specialist would tell you exactly who has taken up residence chez toi.
The pompiers haven't done nests for years now - there are plenty of désinsectisation businesses around who are very good.

[widge]

I have just found this on the wiki page,

"In the tropics, these nests may last year-round, but in temperate areas, the nest dies over the winter."

i know you are not in the tropics, but I wonder if the milder winters, and the fact that you give them central heating from your chimney when it is cold, has allowed them to over winter.