Wasps are not one of the most popular animals for many people. In order to keep the tabby predatory insects at bay while eating at the terrace table, it is worth knowing what you can feed them - to distract them from the table.
Wasps love sweet fruit
What wasps eat
The diet of wasps is quite clearly separated between young and old. The adult animals feed themselves quite differently than the larvae. In the preparatory stage for adult life, a wasp larva needs a lot of protein to grow and thrive. When the wasp is fully trained, it switches to predominantly vegetarian - especially sweet food.
Nature offers the wasps ample food sources in the form of flower nectar, plant sap, honeydew and other insects. Most wasp species are shy of people - but we know the less shy species, the German and common wasp, from their regular, greedy visits to the outdoor dining table. They can also find sweets and savory here, which is also easily accessible and doesn't even have to be hunted down.
How can the pests be kept away? There are mainly two methods:
- The defensive: consistent covering of food
- Flight forward: Lured away by distant food
Putting a lid on the jam roll or lemonade jar after every bite and every sip can spoil an outdoor breakfast or lunch a bit. Unfortunately, this is probably the most effective way to prevent wasps from coming in the first place.
You can use their fine nose, which allows them to head for our garden tables so purposefully, for distraction maneuvers: by offering them specific food - at the other end of the garden. This increases the chance that they will feed themselves where there are less waving hands.
We already know the culinary preferences of wasps. A tempting buffet can be set up for them with sweet and savory items. They are happy to accept a bowl of pure sugar water or lemonade. They also pounce on overripe fruit - grapes or bananas are best. They are also very tempted by raw meat or raw fish. Of course, it is questionable whether you want to sacrifice a piece of delicious salmon or a pickled steak for this purpose. It can also attract other animals like rats.