Keeping Safe from Sugar Seeking Wasps

Now that the summer is winding down, wasps will be even more aggressive in their search for sugar. This means that sugar seeking wasps can become a bit of a problem. Here, we are going to look at how you can keep safe from wasps that may be paying you a visit to do more than just borrow a cup of sugar.

Never Swat At Sugar Seeking Wasps

The first thing to do to keep safe from sugar seeking wasps is to never act aggressively towards them. If you have sugary food or drinks, they will hover near you. However, don’t swat at them.

Sugar seeking wasps will emit a chemical if you try to hit them. This chemical alerts other wasps nearby who will all flock to the wasp‘s aid.

Keeping Sugar Seeking Wasps Away

There are plenty of ways you can keep sugar seeking wasps away from you and keep yourself safe. Let’s identify a few different ways you can prevent sugar seeking wasps from stinging you.

1. Avoid areas where you know there may be a wasps nest

When the queen is getting ready to go into hibernation, she will want plenty of sugar to get her through the winter. If you know there may be a wasp nest nearby, avoid that area.

Wasps are more likely to seek you out if you have sugary food and drinks. Especially if you are near their nest. Plus, if you get too close, they will angrily defend their nest too, resulting in more stings.

3. Use larger open topped cups

If you are going to be indulging in sugary beverages outside, try to avoid drinking out of the can. Wasps will immediately be attracted to the sugar in a fizzy drink, and will happily crawl inside your pop can without you noticing. This often results in quite a nasty sting to the lip. To avoid this situation, drink from an open topped, wide cup. Before you drink, take a look into the cup to make sure there’s no creepy crawly in there. When you’ve finished your drink, always dispose of the can and cup in a sealed bin so that sugar seeking wasps won’t be attracted to your leftovers.

3. Put away your food and throw away your rubbish

Fruits and other sugary foods are a huge attractor for wasps. To avoid a sugar seeking wasp causing chaos, cover up any food that you’re not eating.

Also clean up any rubbish you are done with when eating outdoors. This helps to keep you safe, as wasps will want to protect any sugary food they find with a good sting.

4. Use other foods to repel wasps

There are certain foods that will repel wasps instead. If wasps are attracted to sugar, they hate acidic and sour things. Lemons and garlic cloves are great deterrents because wasps hate the smell of them. Scattering these around your environment should help keep you safe from wasps seeking sugar.

5. Don’t wear floral or fruity perfumes

Perfumes that have a lot of floral or fruity notes tend to contain sugar that will attract wasps to you.

Wearing something that will attract wasps is the last thing you want to do if you are trying to stay safe. When you know there may be sugar seeking wasps around leave the perfume at home.

6. Create sticky traps

If repelling the wasps isn’t doing the trick, why not lay out a trap instead. A solution of sugar, salt and vinegar in the bottom of a bottle or container will draw the wasps towards your trap. Spray the inside with cooking oil so the wasps can’t escape. The vinegar and salt work together to kill the wasps trapped inside.

7. Use insect repellent

Finally, an obvious way of keeping safe from sugar seeking wasps is to use insect repellent. You can buy this from any local supermarket. Usually it is very effective for keeping you safe.

If you are experiencing problems with a wasps nest or wasps seeking sugars in your home or garden, you should seek the advice of a professional pest controller. London based Empire Pest Control are here to help with any of your wasp or other pest extermination needs. Remember that wasps should never be removed by yourself, as they can be extremely dangerous.