Wasps, as you are surely aware, can be a real pain to cope with when they invade your house. If you seek the methods to keep wasps away from your home, you could be looking for some effective solutions.
Wasps have a keen sense of the smell that they search for food. So you can use this trait to repel them with the scents they hate, such as geranium flowers, fragrant herbs, bay leaves, sliced cucumber, vinegar, geranium essential oils, clove, lemongrass, and peppermint.
Before we discuss how to use the scents to repel effectively, it is also crucial to know some information about the wasps.
Let’s start now!
What Are Wasps?
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Wasps are flying bugs that belong in the Hymenoptera order. They are somewhat related to bees and ants, and some wasps can also sting. Their body is slim and smooth, with thorax and abdomen connected by a slinky petiole. They are predators by nature, parasites, and will sting.
Why Do You Need To Repel Wasps? Are They Dangerous?
Paper wasps, solitary wasps, and yellow jacket wasps are common (and very much a pain) in the U.S. They will invade your garden and your home and make it their territory. These stinging flyers are very aggressive, and you guessed it – territorial too. When you invade “their space,” they will come to you with a vengeance and sting you like their life depended on it. So, even if they are the invaders, they will think that you are the one who is invading their home. Ironic, right?
Yes, they are very dangerous, and they will build a nest in your home if they see fit. When they locate a viable place for their nest, the whole colony will work on it until it is fully built. They use their saliva, papers, and wood to make one characteristic of the paper wasps. As for yellow jacket wasps, they want to nest in a home with lots of sugary sweet and protein foods out on display. They will ravage your garbage bins and compost piles. These wasps will even annoy you during your garden parties and gatherings. These wasps must be ended immediately before it becomes a real problem for you.
Wasps have a long stinger and can sting many times, unlike a bee. They also attack in groups, which can be deadly for a person with allergic reactions to stings. When the infestation is too severe, your only hope is the help of a pest control professional.
What Scents Repel Wasps?
Wasps hate, as in hate, scents listed below because it irritates them. These bugs are “hot-headed,” and if there is something different with their environment, they tend to “act out.” They also have an extreme sense of smell which is why they cannot handle very potent scents. These are:
- Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil cannot kill wasps, but they hate that smell or the scent given off by this essential oil. It is only a bug repellent and not a bug killer. The oil wears off after a period. You may have to spray it over and over again in the area where wasps stay for them to leave permanently.
- Lemongrass, Geranium, And Clove Oil
These oils are strong in smell. Wasps stay away from it fast, upon contact. Combine these three essential oils, and wasps will stay away from your home. Yes, it can be expensive, so you have to mix the oil with water and use a sprayer. Spritz it anywhere outside your house, especially the doors, windows, and other places where wasp colonies might nest.
- Herbs
If you can plant herbs in your garden, you can be safe from wasps. They hate the smell of mint, eucalyptus, thyme, citronella, basil, and wormwood, among others. Plant them in your backyard, and it is goodbye wasps in that area for you.
- White Vinegar
It has a strong odor, and so wasps hate it. White vinegar may be an effective repellent in your garden. Mix it with water and make it your bug spray. DO NOT USE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. It will attract wasps to your home and not repel it.
- Ornamental Wasps
Some ornamental wasps repel wasps like geranium. The plant is aromatic, and wasps cannot handle that kind of smell. It may not be an effective repellent all alone, though. The nest must be taken away so that the wasps will also leave.
- Cucumber
For us, cucumber is succulent and healthy. But for wasps, cucumber is acidic, and they cannot stand it. Slice it up and spread it all over your backyard. Downside: flies may invade you when cucumbers start to rot.
Dried Bay Leaves
Grind the dried bay leaves, add some cinnamon or chili powder, and then sprinkle it all over your garden. They will steer clear of the area.
Also Read: 12 Plants that Repel Bees and Wasps
How To Keep Wasps Away From The House
An expert on pest control recommend these methods on keeping wasps away from the house:
- There must be no sugary, sweet, or protein food traces outside your home or in your backyard and garden. Wasps are attracted to this and will swarm if you do not take it out.
- Your garbage bins must be sealed tightly. Wasps like it when there is garbage, and they will scavenge it for their sustenance.
- Clean all traces of pet food outside your house.
- Cut down your berry trees if wasps start to nest. They will flock around berry fruits, that’s why.
How To Prevent Wasps From Building Nests
It is not very difficult to prevent wasps from building nests in your house. Just follow the tips below:
- Take away all food sources outside your house. Just discard it if it will not be eaten.
- Always keep your doors and window closed. Or better yet, have a screen door and screens on your windows too.
- Use plants that have a wasp repellent feature like wormwood, geranium, basil, and more.
- Check your whole house for wasp nests and if there are already, call a pest control service to take it out.
- Keep your garbage bin closed at all times.
- Clean up your backyard, and do not leave trash unattended.
- Seal all holes, crack, and crevices wherein wasps may enter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Citronella Repel Wasps?
Yes. The citronella herb scent is a repellent for wasps. Bees and wasps might be irritated by its overwhelming odor.
Do Essential Oils Repel Wasps?
Yes. Essential oils like peppermint oil combined with water, and sprayed on the area where wasps may flock, can repel the insects.
Do Wasps Hate Cinnamon?
Yes. Cinnamon emits a strong smell that wasps cannot stand. Wasps dislike the eugenol essential oil, which is contained in cinnamon. So cinnamon can be sprinkled in the places where the wasps have been found to deter them.
Does Vinegar Repel Wasps?
Yes. White vinegar, and not apple cider vinegar, can repel wasps. You can add the white vinegar to the same amount of the water and then spray it around the places so that the solution can repel the wasps.
Does Peppermint Oil Repel Wasps?
Yes. Wasps are “allergic,” in a way, with a peppermint oil scent. So you can use peppermint oil as a natural method to keep bees and wasps away.
How Long Will Peppermint Oil Keep Wasps Away?
It will keep them away for good! Peppermint oil is a natural repellent. Spray on the area where wasps collect once every few days until they are gone. They hate peppermint scent and will not nest when their surrounding is potent of it.
