Living With Wasps

If you aren't allergic to wasp venom, there are plenty of reasons to keep these critters around.

More from Gardening by the Yard
Filed under: Garden Pest, Gardening

The wasp trap, with its inner chamber filled with sugar water, is an effective centuries-old device.

Wasps are fairly easy to get rid of. A wasp trap — based on centuries-old technology — works pretty well. Just fill the inner chamber with a little sugar water, hang the trap in a tree and wait for the wasps to enter the trap from below in search of the sweet treat. Once inside the wasp can't get out.

But Gardening by the Yard host Paul James suggests reconsidering your ideas about the insect.

Wasps, including hornets, mud-daubers and yellow jackets, are predators, and they feed on many of the pests that are most annoying to gardeners.

Wasps, including hornets, mud-daubers and yellow jackets, are predators, and they feed on many of the most annoying pests, including aphids cockroaches, leaf miners, mealy bugs, ticks, and whiteflies. So rather than use poison sprays or traps, consider these tips to keep you and wasps at a safe distance.

Avoid perfumes and other strongly scented products when working the yard.

Don't wear brightly colored clothing.

Keep soft drinks or sugary snacks as well as meats covered at all times.

If a wasp does land on you, don't freak out. Instead, stay calm and either wait for the wasp to fly away (which it likely will) or gently brush it off with a piece of paper. Most wasps are actually fairly docile, although yellow jackets can be aggressive.

Of course, if you're one of the two million Americans who are hypersensitive to wasp venom, that's another story.

However, for the rest, wasps are really little more than a nuisance. And consider this — in all his years of working outside, Paul has never been stung by a wasp.

Products
glass wasp trap - Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply