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Who does not love to spend summer evenings (any evening to that matter) in green yards around our homes, and gardens? The yards full of plants and flowers help freshen our minds and lighten our moods. Right then, little creatures such as flies and insects like wasps may ruin our evenings.
At times, the insects like wasps may even build nests in and around our homes, which may turn bothersome. Particularly, the fear of wasp stings would be extremely high and scary. Read through to learn the best ways to get rid of wasps.
What Are Wasps? How Do They Look Like?
Coming to their look, a wasp has a pinched waist and 2 pairs of wings. They get attracted to plant life, flowers, outdoor eating areas with spills, openly left garbage cans, gutters, soffits. They prey on spiders and insects.
Are Wasps Harmful?
These insects tend to make yard work difficult. They interfere with the outdoor activities. They generally do not sting, but may turn unfriendly when disturbed or threatened. Usually, the wasp stings are not threatening. However, for people who are allergic to wasp venom may suffer when they sting.
Types of wasps:
Each wasp species come with its own unique characteristics. They are broadly classified as:
1. Yellowjacket wasp (Vespula):
Yellowjacket wasps are known to be aggressive and will sting if threatened. They tend to defend their colonies. These wasps get attracted to perfume and colorful cloting.
2. Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula Maculata):
Bald-faced hornets are aggressive and may sting repeatedly if provoked. They are omnivores, feeding on caterpillars,flies and spiders. They squirt venom into the eyes of nest intruders, which may lead to temporary blindness.
3. Paper Wasp (Polistes Dominula):
They are comparatively less aggressive and feed on nectar, flies, caterpillars and beetle larvae. Paper wasps prefer to build nests in sheltered, dark, shady places.
4. Mud Dauber Wasp (Chalybion, Sceliphron):
These wasps rarely sting and are beneficial in keeping away other spiders and pests. Mud daubers are good at vision.
5. Ichneumon wasp (Megarhyssa Macrurus):
These wasps control pest populations. They feed on shrubs, nectar and trees. Most Ichneumon wasps does not sting humans.
Wasp stings can be painful. At times, chances are there for the wasp stings to cause life-threatening allergic reactions in some people. Hence, it is always better to deter wasps from your premises.
But the best part is that we do not have to use harsh sprays to get rid of wasps. Simple, natural ways can be employed to keep wasps away. Check below for effective home remedies to kill wasps.
How Can We Naturally Get Rid Of Wasps?
- Natural Insecticide Sprays To Kill Wasps
- Wasp Repellent Plants
- Peppermint Oil as Wasp Repellents
- Sugar Water Wasp Trap
- Vinegar For Killing Wasps
- Tea Tree Oil Wasp Repellent
- Baby Powder
- Cucumber Wasp Repellent
- Cayenne Pepper Wasp Repellent
- Peppermint Oil As Wasp Repellent
- Spicy Spray Wasp Repellent
Home Remedies To Get Rid of Wasps
1. Natural Insecticide Sprays To Kill Wasps:
2. Wasp Repellent Plants:
3. Peppermint Oil As Wasp Repellents:
Peppermint oil works effectively in removing wasps, according to a study published in the Journal of Pest Management Science in 2013. Make homemade wasp repellent by following these simple steps:
- Add a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton pad
- Strategically place the pads around your home like porch roofs, ledges, and crevices.
Note: Target spots where you’ve discovered old nests in the past. However, some types of wasps keep building new nests at new locations.
Another homemade wasp repellent can be made with essential oil blend with clove, lemongrass and geranium essential oils.
How To Make:
- Mix several drops of each oil in a spray bottle containing water.
- Add some squirts of dish soap.
- Spray and coat areas outside the house at the places where wasps build nests.
4. Sugar Water Wasp Trap:
These traps attract wasps to fly in the container containing sweet sugar water and make them get into the trap. This solution can be made in a few minutes.
How To Make:
- Cut the neck of the two liter bottle.
- Invert the neck inside the bottom of the bottle.
- Tape using duct tape or packing tape.
- Place sugar and water mixture inside the bottle.
- Hang the trap using a sting or fix using screws.
- The wasps enter the bottle for sugar water but will not be able to find a way to come out of it and eventually get trapped in.
- Add cooking oil along the steep edges of the trap for the wasps to lose their footing and fall in.
5. Vinegar For Killing Wasps:
Using readily available, cheap and natural ingredients like vinegar doesn’t just help getting rid of bothersome wasps like insects, but is eco-friendly and less-harmful for humans.
How To Make:
- Mix 2 cups sugar, 2 cups apple cider vinegar, and 1 cup water in a large bowl.
- Whisk or stir the mixture until the sugars get dissolved. This sweet combination is sure to attract wasps.
- Add 1/2 cup liquid dish soap to the mixture, and stir without bubble-formation. The dish soap act as a degreaser and can dissolve the wasps’ outer, protective coating. The fly’s ability to fly inhibits, thus, allowing the wasps to drown faster and feel suffocated over time.
- Pour the liquid mixture in a plastic, soda bottle. Add the rest of the mixture in a 16-ounce spray bottle, and add 2 tbsp liquid dish soap and 1/2 cup of water.
- Place the wasp trap i.e. the 2-liter, plastic, soda bottle on the ground in an easily accessible areas to the wasps.
- Alternatively, use a string around the bottle’s neck and hang it from a tree branch or fencing post.
6. Tea Tree Oil Wasp Repellent:
Tea tree oil is a popular natural way to repel bees and wasps. Tea tree oil works wonders a natural agent that keeps wasps away from stinging.
How To Make:
1. Dab a bit of tea tree oil on yourself.
2. It is helpful when you walk or be around any area with possibility of wasps and bees.
7. Baby Powder:
8. Cucumber Wasp Repellent:
9. Cayenne Pepper Wasp Repellent:
Yet another natural ingredient, cayenne pepper can be used to get wasps away from your surroundings.
How To use:
- Add water, 3 tablespoon of liquid cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon of dishwash liquid into a one-liter spray bottle.
- Combine the mixture well and spray it on areas with wasps.
10. Peppermint Oil As Wasp Repellent:
Peppermint oil too can be used to ward off wasps.
How To Make:
- Mix 1 tablespoon peppermint oil, 1-liter water, 1 tablespoon unscented shampoo in a spray bottle.
- Spray the solution around the areas that are frequent with wasps to wade then away.
11. Spicy Spray Wasp Repellent:
This is yet another cheap, home method to wade away wasps surrounding your home.
How To Make:
- Boil 3 cups water, add 2 chopped spicy chilli peppers and continue boiling for 2 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool down.
- Strain in a spray bottle and try spraying the spicy solution at bees to repel them.
Note: Ensure to keep yourself away and keep yourself protected when trying the spicy spray in your house as it may harm you and your family members if not protected.
How To Get Rid Of Wasp Nests?
12. Laundry Bleach For Wasp and Nests:
Laundry bleach may also be used as insect repellent. Check below for the procedure to use it on wasps.
How To Use:
- Combine 2 parts water and 1 part bleach in a lawn sprayer that is long enough to spray at 2-feet distance.
- Dress-up with thoroughly protected clothing, including gloves, glasses and a stocking cap.
- Move away from the lawn sprayer and the area where wasps swarm.
- Soak the wasp nest with bleach water. Minutes later check with a stick and knock to see if all the wasps are fallen dead.
- Knock down the nest, leaving no room for the other wasps to get into the nest again.
13. Soapy Water for Wasps:
Using plain soap water is an eco-friendly way of removing wasps that have already house in your property.
How To Make:
- Fill a spray bottle with water and add two tablespoons of dish soap.
- Spray the solution directly onto hanging wasp nests.
- Soap may work to clog the breathing spores and the wasps may instantly die.
In case of large nests, you may use a garden hose by just attaching the hose-end sprayer and filling it with same dish soap solution.
Ensure to wear protective clothing and stand fr away as this method may be a little messier. Allow the hose run for some time and then douse the nest with the soapy water. Wasps around may not try to stay around, but rather try to find a way to escape from the risk.
14. Smoke Them Out:
This method of using smoke to get rid of wasp nests may also work as a protective measure to get wasps away.
How To Make:
- Light a fire in a grill below the nest or build fire underneath.
- As the smoke rises up, it gets seeps into the nest.
- Thus, wasps suffocate and get evacuated.
- Let the smoke to rise for an hour or two.
- When you are sure that the nest is empty, knock it down with a stick.
- Keep a spray bottle with soap water handy so you can use incase of any live wasps.
However, this technique works best when wasp nest are hanging in air from tree branches or other exposed areas, but not in areas near to your home.
Preventive Measures To Drive Away Wasps:
Prevent attracting wasps at your yard or home by following a few simple measures:
- Keep removing unwanted food
- over trash cans
- Also keep cleaning pet food, bird food
- Sweet things attract wasps, like perfumes, nectars, etc.
- Get the repairs done to your home so that wasps do not find an opportunity to build nests
- Fill the rodent holes and burrows present around the house or in the yard, as they may serve as perfect locations to build nests.
- Buy or make wasp bee free natural and non-toxic wasp deterrents to place around the house.
In short, wasps around our premises may turn bothersome and may interfere with our life. Fortunately, it is easy to get rid of wasps and their nests from the yards using common household products.To deter them from around our homes, several different natural/homemade wasp repellents could be used. Select the ones that best fit your availability and effectiveness.