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Wasps are one of the insects that cause the most alarm when they are seen in gardens or terraces in general, and nobody wants to take one of those gif.webpts for which they are well known everywhere: their bites. Unlike bees, wasps are voracious predators that do not die when they sting, and they tend to have less qualms when it comes to choosing when to sting. This, coupled with the fact that they also do not produce honey, causes many people to see them as unpleasant and expendable insects. Nothing could be further from reality: wasps are very important to maintain the balance of the ecosystems in which they are found, because in addition to acting as pollinating agents, they prey on a large number of insects such as caterpillars and flies that, if they are not present, they would see their populations grow uncontrollably.
So while no one wants to get a painful sting, it is important to learn how to drive away wasps without killing them. In this Green Ecologist article we are going to teach you some home remedies for wasps, as well as tips so that you can keep them away from your outdoor areas without damaging them.
Aromatic plants
As always, one of our favorite remedies is to go to our friends from the plant kingdom. And precisely in the plant kingdom we can find a large number of allies when it comes to driving away insects: there are a large number of wasp repellent plants, which are not difficult to grow and will keep these insects at bay without harming them. In fact, these are most of the species that are already known for their effectiveness against mosquitoes, and that in many cases also work against wasps. The well-known citronella, lavender, bay leaf, basil, jasmine, mint or spearmint are some of the best known examples.
Locate these plants both in the access to your home as in outdoor areas where you do not want them to enter, making a natural barrier that will keep wasps away due to their smell, which on the other hand is very pleasant for humans.
Citrus and cucumber
Indeed, citrus and cucumber have an effect similar to that of aromatic plants, and that is that their smell keeps all kinds of insects away, wasps among them. It is one of the best remedies against wasps when it comes to having a picnic or eating quietly outdoors in areas frequented by them: leave some lemon or cucumber slices with cloves, the spice, in a plate on the table and you will prevent them from approaching to try to share your food.
Vinegar
Another very reliable wasp repellent is vinegar. Its strong smell is what drives them away, since they do not like it at all. This is due to the acetic acid that vinegar contains. It is a compound that is formed when the sugar begins to ferment, which indicates that the food is not in good condition and causes the wasps to move away from it.
Enough with dilute vinegar in water and leave it nearby or spray the mixture on the area to get them to stay away. Of course, be careful with the plants.
Naphthalene
Naphthalene is a very effective repellent, although its high concentration odor can also be unpleasant for people, especially at meal times. However, the glasses with mothballs strategically placed can help in how scare away wasps in the pool, keeping them away from the water, which they normally approach to drink or refresh.
Other remedies and tips to drive away wasps
In addition to the remedies described, there are several things you can take into account to avoid attracting the attention of these insects:
- Avoid bright colors- Wasps are attracted to bold colors, especially the warm hues that many flowers share. Avoid bright shades of yellow, orange, or red.
- Cover the food: If you are eating, keep food tightly covered. These omnivorous insects feed on all kinds of food, and are especially attracted to sweet smells such as soft drinks and fruits, and meat. Glasses and containers of clear water can also attract them.
- Close garbage bags and containers: if you have them open at home, it is very likely that odors that are imperceptible to us will attract bees to your home.
- Avoid sweet or floral perfumes: some perfumes, especially the very aromatic ones, can act as powerful attractants for them.
- Don't kill them: It is always better to avoid killing any animal, but in this case it is even more convenient, as a dead or injured wasp can release pheromones that attract others to combat the threat.
- If one bites you, leave: bee stings produce pheromones that cause the other wasps to repeat the attack. If you are near a colony, move immediately.
- Use a fake wasp colony: You can buy one or make one yourself with a cardboard bag without problems. Hang it high near your home, and since they are very territorial insects, they won't put their home near another colony.
If you found this article interesting and you want to know more about wasps and why they should not be killed, do not hesitate to read in Green Ecologist What are wasps used for.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to scare away wasps, we recommend that you enter our category of natural remedies.
