Summer brings many familiar sights and experiences. One of them, unfortunately, can be the increased prevalence of pesky wasps. So, what is it that attracts wasps?
- Dead or untrimmed vegetation
- Unharvested fruit and vegetables
- Sugary, fruity drinks or food, and grilled meat. Put food away promptly after consumption.
- Garbage that is not tightly sealed
- Compost — when flipping the pile, be careful about disturbing a wasp nest that may be hidden.
- Pine sap
- Bird feeders containing sugary concoctions
And if wasps are already a nuisance for you, here are some ways to wage war on them:
- Make a trap with an empty 2-litre bottle filled with banana peel, apple cider vinegar, and sugar, or spray wasps with 2 tablespoons of dish soap and water.
- Hang wasp traps
- If a nest isn’t bothering you, leave it be. But if it’s necessary to remove it, do so when it’s late at night or in the early morning when wasps are least active by spraying a hose 15 to 20 feet away at the nest or using a commercial wasp spray. Wear protective clothing to minimize the chance of being stung. After it’s removed, check for signs of the nest being rebuilt in the same spot, which is not uncommon.
If you don’t want to risk being stung when removing a wasp nest yourself, are allergic, or if wasps are inside your home, hire a professional to remove it.
