Tips To Keep Wasps Away From Your Event Or Home

As much as we may find wasps to be a nuisance they are actually quite beneficial to our ecosystem. Wasps feed their young other insects which makes them great at keeping the insect population down. They also help to pollinate, just not to the same extent that bees are known to do. However, most people still don’t want wasps around especially when they are in the midst of an event or the comfortability of their home.

Natural Wasp Repellents

Essential oils have become wildly popular in the past decade or so and it seems there is a good reason for it. Natural oils derived from plants and vegetation are a safe source that helps aid in combating or supporting a variety of common issues humans tackle in their daily lives. When it comes to wasps, most people don’t want them around but where there is nice weather there are bound to be flying insects so the best we can do is try to keep these insects at bay. By using essential oils like Geranium, Lemongrass, and Clove along with a mixture of dish soap and water one can spray surrounding areas where they feel wasps will be attracted to help prevent them from coming around. Peppermint oil is also known to be a wasp deterrent as is just regular soap and water. Focusing on areas where old nests have resided or you have seen wasp activity is a good place to start.

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Wasp Traps

Wasp traps can be highly effective in eliminating wasps. So much so that even wasps passing through will most likely end up in your traps. However, though these traps can be effective in catching a good number of wasps it does not guarantee that the wasps trying to build nests around your home will be attracted to them. If you have a current wasp issue traps may be more effective if placed in the area the wasps are building their nests.

Keep Wasps Away With Home Maintenance

It’s always a good idea to wasp proof your home come early spring or late fall. Any crack, crevice, or small opening provides wasps a place to make a nest if they choose to do so. Sealing these areas will help keep them out. Siding, along with window frames, holes where power lines run through the attic space, and even holes in window screens should be sealed or fixed to prevent wasps from building on or inside your home. If they do get inside you will want to wait to seal everything up as you don’t want them trapped within your house. Wasps will search vigorously for a way out if they are trapped which will most likely end up with them coming out of your vents, ceiling fans, or even chewing through your drywall.

Keep Trash Bins Sealed to Prevent Wasps

Believe it or not, wasps are attracted to the smell of food. If you’ve ever had a picnic then you have probably been the victim of wasps interfering with your meal. One such food that they seem to love is fried chicken though that is not to say that is the only food source they are attracted to. In general, wasps are always attracted to protein sources but they are also attracted to foods that contain sugars like fruits or sodas. During the spring and summer months, wasps are in hunting mode and this is a time when you will want to be on top of keeping those trash and recycle cans cleaned and sealed up as best as possible. It may seem like a hassle but it will be worth the payoff.

Plants That Repel Wasps

As mentioned earlier, oils from plants work as repellents to wasps so naturally the plants that these oils come from can work in the same way. Plants like spearmint, eucalyptus, peppermint, citronella, lemongrass, geranium and wormwood are all known to help keep wasps at bay. These strong smelling plants aid as a deterrent so having them around your home will serve a purpose and brighten up the surroundings.

It may take some work to keep wasps from wanting to hang around your home or picnic but once you implement these tips you can enjoy the warmer seasons in peace. A good idea so that you don’t forget when you’re going on an outing is to have a spray bottle mixture of oils and water and even dish soap that you can use if wasps become a problem where you are. It’s also always a good idea to call a professional pest control technician for your wasp problem.