How To Trap Wasps But Not Bees To Your Garden

Wasps and bees are both common visitors to gardens, but they are different in their behaviors. While bees are known for their pollination skills and generally gentle manner, wasps can be more aggressive and often considered a nuisance. Hence,  if you’re looking forward to keeping wasps away from your garden, but still want to attract bees, there are a few things you can do.

Ways To Trap Wasps While Keeping Bees In Your Garden

There are numerous ways through which you can trap wasps in your garden, they include:

1.Using A Wasp Trap

The most effective way to trap wasps is to use a wasp trap. These traps are designed to lure wasps in with a sweet-smelling bait and then trap them inside. While bees may also be attracted to the bait, they are usually able to escape the trap without harm.

There are many types of wasp traps available on the market, ranging from homemade traps made from plastic bottles to more sophisticated models with attractant lures. Some of the most effective traps use a combination of sugar water and vinegar as bait, as this mimics the scent of rotting fruit which is a common food source for wasps.

2. Know The Difference Between Bees And Wasps

One of the steps to trapping wasps and not bees is to be able to distinguish between the two. Bees are rounder and hairier than wasps and have flat legs that they use to carry pollen. Wasps are slimmer and shinier than bees and have pointy legs that they use to grab their prey.

Bees are also less aggressive than wasps and are more focused on pollinating plants. Wasps, on the other hand, are more interested in scavenging for food and can become aggressive if they feel threatened.

3. Use Natural Repellents

Another way to keep wasps away from your garden is to use natural repellents. Essential oils such as peppermint, citronella, and eucalyptus are known to repel wasps, and can be added to a spray bottle with water to create a homemade wasp repellent.

You can also plant certain herbs and flowers that are known to repel wasps, such as basil, thyme, and marigolds. These plants not only repel wasps but also attract bees, making them a great addition to any garden.

4. Keep Sugary Food And Drinks Covered

 

Wasps are often attracted to sugary food and drinks, so it’s important to keep them covered when dining outdoors or within your garden vicinity. Use a mesh food cover or keep food and drinks in sealed containers to prevent wasps from landing on them.

You can also create a wasp-free eating area by placing a fan near your dining area. The breeze from the fan will help to deter wasps from coming near and will also keep you cool on hot summer days.

5. Remove Nesting Sites

If you have a wasp problem in your garden, it may be due to a nearby nesting site. Wasps typically build their nests in sheltered areas such as under eaves, in tree branches, or in the ground.

To prevent wasps from building nests near your garden, regularly inspect your property for potential nesting sites and remove them as soon as possible. If you do find a nest, it’s best to call a professional to remove it safely.

6. Keep Your Garden Tidy

Wasps are attracted to garbage and other sources of food, so keeping your garden tidy can help discourage them from visiting. Ensure that you dispose of any form of food scraps or trash properly, and keep your compost pile covered. Also, ensure that you harvest any ripe fruit or vegetables promptly, as overripe fruit can attract wasps.

7. Avoid Wearing Bright Colors And Perfumes Around Your Garden

Wasps are attracted to bright colors and strong scents like perfumes, so avoid wearing perfumes or bright clothing when you are in your garden. Instead, wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothing and avoid wearing strong scents. This will help minimize your chances of attracting wasps.

How To Prepare Homemade Wasp Trap

During late summer and fall, wasps normally search for sugary nourishment like soda, beer and other beverages. Hence those sugary items can be used as lure/bait. The wasp trap can be made using a 2-liter plastic bottle and a homemade lure. To do that follow these simple steps bellow:

  • Get a plastic bottle,remove its cap and discard the contents in it if any.
  • Use a knife or any sharp object to cut off the upper part of the plastic bottle.
  • Put the lure/bait to the bottom of the bottle
  • Now, turn the upper part down and put it into  the bottom section
  • Seal it with duct tape or packing tape
  • Finally, add a wire that will be used to trap from either tree or fence.

N/B:

1.The bait may be fruit juice or a homemade solution of 1 part sugar, leftover beer, a carbonated soda, fruit juice, 2 parts each vinegar and water, fruit juice or a homemade solution of 1 part sugar, and a banana peel.

  1. To enhance the lure attraction to wasps, add a little beer to homemade solutions; fortunately, bees and beer don’t mix, hence the pollinators are safe. However, ensure that you replenish the solution as needed to keep the stinging pests crawling inside the trap and drowning.
  2. Finally, hang the trap well away from the house and patio, it is best to hang the lure between the garden and nearby meadows or woodland where the wasps may have nests or papery hives hidden in a tree trunk, branches or eaves of another home.

Conclusion

Trapping wasps but not bees to your garden can be achieved by using traps, natural repellents, and keeping your garden tidy. Additionally, planting bee-friendly plants and avoiding wearing bright colors and perfumes can help attract bees while keeping wasps away from your garden.

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