How to Get Rid of Wasps in Your Garden

 

What do wasps do for the environment?

Wasps live in colonies, each of which can consist of hundreds or thousands of workers or drones, and a much larger queen, whose primary responsibility is laying eggs. These little engineers construct their nest from wood fibres chewed with their saliva to make a paste-like paper mache structure.

Wasps are carnivorous predators. They play a vital role in controlling the pest population of caterpillars, flies, aphids and beetles, which in turn can serve to protect crops. Their thirst for sweet liquid makes them valuable pollinators as they drink nectar from flowers.

Wasps are territorial and are less likely to occupy a space if there is another nest close by. Being proactive and hanging a decoy wasp nest may prevent a wasp invasion in the first place. But if you already have wasps on your property, here are some things you can do:

Leave them alone

If wasps are in an inconspicuous part of your property, it might be best to leave them alone. Minimize the risk of attracting them to your home by sealing trash cans, cleaning up fallen fruit or clearing any containers of water around your house. If you are having outdoor activities, keep food and sugary drinks covered.

Get in Gear

If the wasps on your property are a nuisance, your first strategy is finding their nest and evaluating the size. Wasps can have their nests in gardens, trees, undercrofts, and even in the ground. No matter the size of a nest, suiting up in protective gear is a priority. Ensure to cover as much surface area on your body as possible. Wearing a netted hat, long sleeves, gloves, and goggles, and tucking your pants into your socks is recommended. If a netted hat is not available, cover your hair and face with a handkerchief.

If you find the nest, do not swat! Wasps give off pheromones when threatened, signalling to other wasps close by to join in on the attack. Also, when inspecting a nest, do it at the coolest time of day – early morning or night. At that time, wasps will be less active, and most of the colony should be in the nest.