Wasp alert – how to keep these greedy insects away
It’s that time of year when wasps whizz about, stressing out unsuspecting diners in restaurants and gardens. Here’s why wasps are so numerous right now and what you can do to banish them.
Lovely! I’m sitting at a patio bar with a cold Coke and a juicy saltimbocca, looking forward to an enjoyable evening. Unfortunately, I’m not the only one with that idea. As I take my first bite, I’m joined by uninvited guests: wasps.
The gall! There they sit, right in the middle of the piece of meat on my fork, and refuse to budge. The waiter tells me that someone’s been getting stung almost on the daily lately, «even in the mouth». I can’t say I’m surprised. Wasps are particularly intrusive in late summer. So, it’s high time for a few tips for dealing with the pesky buggers that you can also use at home.
Tip 1: citrus fruits
You’re likely familiar with oranges studded with cloves from Christmastime. What smells heavenly to most of us is reportedly an olfactory nightmare for wasps (link in German). You might therefore want to try placing some citrus fruits on your garden table. Hey, it looks just as pretty four months before Christmas.
Tip 2: fragrant herbs
Plants such as lavender, mint and lemon balm are also beautiful and functional table decorations. Herbs with a strong scent, such as basil or oregano, also act as a wasp deterrent. Surprisingly, the same goes for the tomato plant. It exudes such an intense odour that is even said to repel mosquitoes.
Tip 3: essential oils
Speaking of fragrances, essential oils reportedly also repel (link in German). In tests, clove, lavender, mint, rosemary, thyme, lemongrass and tea tree have proved particularly effective. You can use a fragrance lamp or an electric diffuser to waft the fragrance about. Besides, lavender oil is said to have a calming effect and reduce stress in humans.
Tip 4 (with a caveat): coffee grounds
Coffee grounds aren’t suitable for the table, but you can place them nearby. Put them in a fireproof bowl and light them, and the wasps should disappear. Mind you, experts such as the biologist and wasp researcher Lars Krogmann (link in German) say this only helps to a very limited extent.
Tip 5 (with a caveat): overripe grapes
Students at «Jugend forscht», which encourages young talents in STEM, made the discovery that overripe grapes are a real magnet for wasps. You can place the fruit at a safe distance away and combine it with pears and a jam of your choice. But treat this tip with caution; you run the risk of attracting even more wasps. What’s more, it’ll take one to two weeks for the wasps to accept the grapes as an alternative feeding place.
Are poison and traps the solution?
Of course, you could go for the straightforward solution: pesticides. But this is best left to the professionals. Nests in particular can quickly become dangerous for us laypeople. Traps are also only recommended to a limited extent, as they usually only attract older wasps and will hardly decimate the active population.
Natural deterrents are preferable, except in extreme cases. As much as you may not like to hear it, wasps are, in fact, useful. They eat flies, mosquitoes, spiders, caterpillars, aphids and numerous other pests. And they themselves are food for birds and various mammals. They also recycle dead animal material and pollinate plants in search of sugar.
Tips for behaviour and emergencies
Here are some tips for how to coexist as peacefully as possible and avoid getting stung.
- Tempting as it may be, don’t wave your hands around.
- What’s less commonly known: don’t try to blow wasps away. Carbon dioxide can make them aggressive. The better alternative, despite only providing short-term relief, is to spray them with water.
- Take a good look at what’s on your fork before taking a bite.
- Serve drinks with straws and/or glass covers.
- Cover fruit and sweet foods.
- Clear plates quickly and wipe away any sticky residue.
If you do get stung by a wasp regardless, it’s important to act quickly – especially if you were stung in the mouth or throat area, which can swell up and hinder breathing. Suck an ice cube, wrap your throat in a cool compress and consult a doctor to be on the safe side. In the event of an allergic reaction, grab an adrenaline pen and call an emergency doctor stat.
Do you have any tried-and-tested methods for deterring wasps? Share them in the comments!
Header image: Shutterstock/victoras
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Darina Schweizer
Senior Editor
Darina.Schweizer@digitecgalaxus.chI like anything that has four legs or roots. The books I enjoy let me peer into the abyss of the human psyche. Unlike those wretched mountains that are forever blocking the view – especially of the sea. Lighthouses are a great place for getting some fresh air too, you know?
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