Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
The wasps are closing in on your backyard barbecue! Unfortunately, a wasp invasion will kill your party faster than a prairie fire with a tailwind. People don’t take their chances hanging around with a troupe of stinging insects.
Is this becoming a major problem for you? Then it’s time to learn how to keep wasps away with a few wasp control tricks for dealing with these highly undesirable insects.
1. Eliminate Food Sources
Many types of wasps, including the Great Black Wasp, eat protein-based foods. While the adult wasps are looking for flower nectar to drink, they are also keeping an eye out for other insects like katydids, crickets, and grasshoppers. They then paralyze the poor insect and bring it back for young wasp larvae to snack on — while it is still alive.
So, if you have a tantalizing slab of meat on your picnic table or an abundance of grill drippings, the wasps will be coming around to say hello.
Keep your food covered during outdoor gatherings and maintain a clean grill. Also make sure that your garbage cans are covered tightly and nothing else that could become a wasp buffet is left lying around.
2. DIY Wasp Spray
What if it seems impossible to keep the critters from stopping by during an outdoor gathering? Or perhaps you find a small wasp nest and are wondering what to do with it?
DIY wasp spray is an easy and effective solution. Simply mix together a couple of tablespoons of dish soap with water in a spray bottle. Spritz the critters when you spot them or douse a small wasp nest with the solution.
Did you know that wasps such as the red wasp actually breathe through their bodies? The soap clogs their breathing pores, making it impossible for them to breathe, causing them to die in a few seconds.
3. DIY Wasp Traps
A less hands-on option is to create a DIY wasp trap (or several) and leave them hanging near where the wasps like to gather, such as the wasp nest.
This is easy to do with an empty 2-liter bottle. First, add a couple of inches of sugar water to about a cup of apple cider vinegar and toss in a delectable banana peel for extra attraction. Next, cut a small hole in the top of the bottle. The idea is that the wasps will be attracted to the tempting concoction, then get stuck inside and drown.
If you have a lot of wasps, the traps can fill quickly so keep an eye out and change them regularly.
This method is effective for reducing the number of wasps that are trying to party with you. However, it only kills the wasps that get stuck in the trap. It won’t kill the queen wasp, which is important for eliminating a wasp infestation altogether.
4. DIY Wasp Repellent
There are a couple of natural ways to deter wasps from hanging out in your yard. First, choose plants like eucalyptus, lemongrass, and citronella to plant in your yard. Wasps don’t like these plant varieties so they will provide a natural level of prevention. Be sure to place them close to where you plan to spend time outside, such as the pool or patio area.
Second, mix up a DIY wasp repellent spray with essential oils. Start with a cup of warm water and add a couple of drops of liquid soap. Then add two drops of each of the following essential oils:
- Clove
- Geranium
- Rosemary
- Lemongrass
Swirl the bottle to mix it well then spray this solution generously around your sitting area. Wasps hate every ingredient in this concoction and will be less likely to rain on your parade.
How to Get Rid of Wasps the Safe Way
Does your stomach get queasy at the thought of handling wasp nest removal yourself? We don’t blame you. Nobody likes the idea of disrupting an angry horde of aggressive, stinging insects that fly to boot.
A safer way to handle your wasp infestation is to call for professional wasp removal. Here at Buckaroo Pest Protection, we’re committed to protecting your home (and you!) from the dangers of all sorts of pests. Let us help you remove your active wasp nest as well as safeguard your home against future wasp problems. We’ve found that the best form of wasp control is trying to keep them from showing up in the first place.
Schedule a service with Buckaroo today!
