WASPS

Ian
I think I have a wasp’s nest in my bird house. It isn’t a real problem as it is far away from the house. I know that the environmental health people will come and remove it if I want but how can I make sure this doesn’t happen again? Thanks L.M by e-mail

Reply
Lining the under-roof area with aluminium foil can minimise this common problem. Use a staple gun to attach. Another option is to rub the under-roof area liberally with bar soap - ordinary soap will do. One application can last through an annual wasp season.


MORE ON WASPS

Wasps should be thought of as beneficial insects. They prey mainly on other insects, many of which are pests. In general, they avoid human activity and should only be considered a nuisance when nesting near homes or high traffic areas. The best way to prevent unpleasant encounters with social wasps is to avoid them. If you know where they are, try not to go near their nesting places. Wasps can become very defensive when their nest is disturbed. Using pesticides to control wasps can be effective, but these chemicals are harmful to the environment. Careless use of pesticides can also pose risks to the person applying them. Before reaching for the pesticide, see if these safer, natural methods help to alleviate the problem

Prevention
Seal entry points. Solitary wasps in the home can be a nuisance; daily sightings of wasps in the home may indicate inside nest building, and more attention to the problem is required. Searching for and sealing off their point of entry is the best line of defence. Check your house for cracks around windows and door frames. Observe the flight path of a wasp, especially in the morning, which may reveal the entry/exit point.

Remove food sources. In summer, wasps are attracted to protein foods. Any food left outdoors, such as pet food, picnic scraps, open rubbish bags or uncovered compost piles should be removed or covered. Wasps imprint food sources, and will continue to search an area for some time after the food has been removed.In late summer and early autumn, the wasp food preference turns to the sweet. Their behaviour is also more aggressive. Open cans of pop, fruit juice, fallen apples beneath fruit trees and other sweet food sources will attract wasps. Be sure to cover drinks and open food containers, keep a lid on the compost and avoid walking barefoot near fruit trees. Pick up and dispose of any fallen fruit rotting on the ground.

Avoid swatting. Swatting and squashing wasps is counterproductive. When a wasp is squashed, a chemical (pheromone) is released which attracts and incites other nearby
wasps. It's best to walk away from a hovering wasp.

Avoid wearing bright colours or floral patterns. If you look like a big flower, you may be attracting the curious wasp looking for nectar.

Minimize use of perfumes and other strong scents. In the later part of the summer, wasps are attracted to sweet smells. Hairspray attracts them too.

TRAPS
There are traps you can use but the best cause of action is to steer clear of them.
If you are being bothered at the barbeque, put a jar some way away from you with a blob of jam in it. This still probably make the matter worse. There is a container that you can use to trap the wasps but it does kill them unfortunately. Slice the top third off of a 2 litre plastic bottle. Turn the top section upside down and place it in the open section of the bottom part. Stick this together then add some water with washing up liquid in it. Put some sweet jam on the upturned lip. When the wasps come to it they will fall into the void and be drowned. My lad recons you could do it humanly by not adding a liquid then letting them go later by lifting up the top. Rather you than me!

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